The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-06

cldent to relate: May 1 be pardoned
for referring to my personal experience
dardy recoEnitioD in this regard,
amongst the bitterest Of my life. ! was
at ".rhc Salient" That IL, "rhe nloody
Angle of shotsylvnnih Of the 18th OF
May. 1894 and the promotion came, but
more than six months later, and then tho
commission gave mo rank, not from the
date OF the engagement. but from the
date of lts Issue, nor was there upon Its
face the slightest reference TO or connec-
ton With tie glorious 18th Of May. I do
not think I was ever SO disappointed and
indignant. I never saw my commission
again; my recollection is that 1 tore 1t to
tnttcrs." ]
After the War.
In the class of 1859 ut Yale, Major
Stiles captured the Det'orcst gold
medal. tho highest honor then obtain
able Mt tho institution When he won
the medal the die for 1t had not been
cast and the trustees or the fund
wcro advised that they were legally
compcllnblc to melt up ten gold eagles,
or at least 500 worth OF gold, in tho
general form Of medal and to have
engraved upon It the legend prescribed
In the legal instrument Of donation.
This they did and to use the recipients
own words the medal was in this
questionable shape" when It arrived.
II carried tho lump Of gold In my
pants pocket for months" says the
Major In his hook, "and as the mighty
/ conflict drew on, and ] grew more
moody and unhappy, I walked much
alone and used occasionally to phy
my golden disc at cats and other OBJ
1ccts until tho Inscription became bat,
tered and dcfaced beyond recognition.
To- ~f
clcs. Georgia cotton manufacturer,
heard the history OF the picc Of gold and
said to his nphcw Robert. You'd better
let mo take 1t South and put Gnvest) 1t
In cotton for you.'
This the young man agreed TO do,
and the metal PASSED, though no more
vas thought abont the matter for years.
In the fall Of 1865, just after the Major
had been released from prison, a letter,
referring TO the medal came from tho
Georgia uncle. 1t contained the accounts
Of the cotton merchant which was bal.
anced with a check for $3.50.
At the University.
with this money so strangely gotten
| Major stiles walked to the University
| of Virginia that night-he was in Abe
marie when he became SO suddenly en-
| richcd-and the next day entered the
! law class of John 3. Minor. IN this class
| with Major Stiles were Major John W.
| Daniel, Senator Thomas s. Martin Mr..
Marshall NJ. Gillian and others. who
| have since made their mark in the
| worlds affairs.
| The young ex.Confederate was quick
TO gain a prominent position at the
| bar and was In active practice almost
| ur to the time OF his death. For years
| he was associated with ex-Judge A. L..
| Holiday. the firm name being Stiles
| & Holiday. This firm was counsel for
| the Western Union Telegraph Company
| and figured in much other important It'll
| CATION involving corporations. More re-
| the practice OF law with his son, and
| with Mr.. Maurice A. Powers.
AS Man.
Major Stiles was big hearted man;
| filed with love for his fellow-men and
generous almost to fault, but with 1T
all he was so modest and so unobtrusive
ono would have to know him long time
in order to fully appreciate his sterling
Christian character. Tho one great love
Of his life was the laurel Rcformatory,
tho institution conducted under the au-
spIces Of the Prison Association Of Vir-
ginia, and designed to rescue seemingly
incorrlgible boys from o life Of crime.
He was really the originator of this
Institution, was its first president, and
for many years served on the board OF
managers 1t was his delight to visit the
place and to deliver heart to heart talks
With the erring youngsters. All OF them
knew and loved him, and his influence
and lavish contributions made him the
very genius of the Reformatory.
Major Stiles was a member OF the
yestry of st. Paul's church, and was a
leader In the ST. Andrews Brotherhood
The Bar Association to Meet.
At 5 o'clock this afternoon the Bar AS
ISOLATION OF Richmond will hold meet
Ing in their room at the City Hall to take
suitable action concerning the death OF
Major Stiles.