The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-13
Captain Lamb in Presenting Painting and General Williams
in Receiving Pay Lofty Tributes to
Brilliant Young Officer

With a large attendance oof vet
Grams and their guests, Including many
ladies. and exercises OF an exceptional
ly interesting Character. the portrait
of Col. Reuben Beverly Boston. the
last Colonel Of the famous fighting
Fifth Virginia Cavalry, was presented
to Lee Camp. Confederate Veterans,
at It's weakly session in Friday night.
The presen taficn brough 10 the City
q number of old soldiers, who be-
longed to this gallant command, and
In the audience were many family
connections, including two nieces Of
the brilliant officer. These were Mrs.
Forbes Churchill and Miss Bette
Cooke. OF Red Hills, the ancestral
home of the Bostons in Fiuvanna.
Among those present was MIR. Hughes.
OF Gloucester county. who took the
pistol from the body OF Col. Boston
when he was borne from the field
at High Bridge, and who has recently
placed this as a relic in the custody
OF the Confederate Museum 1t was
q matter of regret that the surviving
brother and sister of Col. Boston, DIR.
Dudley X. Boston and Mrs Bette
Cooke. We're not able to attend the
exercises. The portrait, which Ii re-
sarded as strikingly good likeness,
is the gift OF the family and makes a
mighty priced addition 10 the splendid
collection or portraits which adorn the
walls OF the Lee Camp Hall.
Interesting Exercises.
The presentation was the closing
feature Of a very interesting and bttsi-
session or the Camp. The portrait was
presented by Congressman Jno. Lamb.
q great admirer of Col. Boston and
accented for the ~Gamn.AX Attorney
General Sam. W. Williams. who served
under Col. Boston, and is perhaps the
youngest member of the bloody Fifth
Mr.. Williams, who had been indis-
posed for several days, ieft a sick bed
against the advice OF his physician,
to pay his tribute to this splendid Viz
gtntan and gallant officer. AT the re
quest of MIR. Williams. Judge Geo. L.
Christian read very excellent paper
on the career OF Col. Boston. and the
record of the Fifth written by Mr.
+. J. White, 4 former Commander OF
Lee Camp. who took very deep inter-
est in arranging for the presentation.
Congressman Lambs address in
presenting the portrait was a splendid
tribute to the cavalry branch OF the
Army OF Northern Virginia and was
fitting to represent the Fluvanna OFF,
Ger who. after brilliant career in the
the closing scenes at Appomattox.
Captain Lamb said, In part:
Reuben Beverly Boston, the last
colonel of the Fifth Virginia Cavalry,
was born on the 2lst OF April, 1884, in
Fluvanna county, Va.
He was the son of Captain Reuben
Boston. man Of great courage and
viii power He was educated at the
best schools of that day and at the
University of Virginia; was lawyer by
profession, and engaged in the prac-
tice when he responded to the cali of
Virginia In 1861. He first Joined the
Albemarle Rangers. but soon return ed
to his native county and helped raise
q cavalry company. becoming the
captain OF the same. and 1t was known
a. Company Fifth Virginia Cavalry.
commanded by Colonel Thomas l..
Rosser.
1t Is shown by the records on file
in the War Department. that Reuben
h. Boston was elected First Lieuten-
ant OF Company ''F," Third virginia
Artillery. Confederate States Army.
February Is, 1869. and was promoted
10 tire Saptaisfess' Gee-said Company May
6, 1862.
The COMPANY was changed TO a Cav
airy organisation May s. 1859, and
IHHStcIeu d. a. SoHhpdAy III tile <Hu
Battalion Virginia Cavalry. On June
rs. 1862, it became Company l. Fifth
Virginia Cavalry. Captain Boston was
promoted to the colonelcy or that regi-
ment June Is. 1884.
Regiments Consolidated.
On November s. 1864. the Fifth and
Fifteenth Regiments Virginia Cavalry
were consolidated under the title of the
Fifth Virginia Cavalry. Colonel Boston
beir- retained as the Colonel of the
consolidated regiment.
This officer aerved In, the army OF
Northern virginia. commanded BY Cen
Heral Robert f. Lee. and Id the Shenl
andoahi Valley, under General Jubal
A. Early.
Returning from tho Shenandoah VAL
lar. Colonel Boston bora = part In the