The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-03
TRUSTED AOJUTAAT
OF LEE GOES TO tWARO
Colonel Walter II. Taylor, Of Norfolk,
Passes Away In His Home mt
Norfolk.
Fu1Hl OF YEARS AND HoNoRs.
Was a Brave soldier, Leader In
Business and Finance In His City,
and An Author Whose Works Were
Standards On Confederate History.

Norfolk Va, March Colonel
Walter ii. Taylor, president of the
Marine Bank Of Norfolk, who served
through the War Between the States
as confidential staff officer Of General
Robert f. Lee, and who was known
as Lees trusted adjutant," died last
night at his home. 500 West YORK
Street, in his seventy eighth year.
Colonel Taylor had been in failing
health several months. His last Visit
to his office at the Marine Bank was
made about a month ago. Early thls
week the progress of disease maze II
evident that death was near and mem
hers of the family who were out OF
the city, were summoned to his bed
>Idn Through Tuesday Colonel Iay-
lor's strength failed steadily. The
ame peacefully at 11.35 last
Porn June 10, 1888.
,lpneI TAYLOR was born in Norfolk
juno 10, 1893, the son of Walter II.
TAYLOR and Cornelia w Cowdery, and
had lived here continuously since that
time with the exception of four years
during the War Between the States.
He was educated At the old Norfolk
Academy, later spending three years
at Virginia Military institute, which
he left a the death OF his father dur
ing the yellow fever epidemic OF 1885.
After returning TO Norfolk his first
business experience was at the Nor
folk branch OF the Bank of Virginia.
few years later ne was made auditor
Of the old Norfolk and Petersburg
Railroad. This road has changed
names many times and IS now known
as the Norfolk and Western.
He served the railroad as auditor
for a few years until made an officer
CT the virginia Bank. which at that
time was located on Main Street, OPP
pe.ite Commercial Place. He remain
ed with the bank until war was de-
clared
shortly before the war he enlisted
in the Virginia militia and was lteu-
tenant OF Company +, formed In Nor
folk.
when virginia seceded from the
Union he immediately went to Rich
mond 10 offer his services to the State
H.s cousin General r. L. Page, who
had resigned captaincy IN the Jnitef
States navy to serve his State. recon-
ucnded Mr.. Taylor to General Robert
f Lee who at once made him a
etaT of9cer. with the rank Of captain,
BEFORE the end Of the war he was
hreveted major and colonel for dis
t3nEuished service 70 Ihe Coufeder-
ing the entire war iu the Western
Virginia campaign. In South Carolina
end Georgia, and finally In SortherH
virginia and he was with General
g,e lo cynrg. enEaxeme nt In which that
commander participated YnouEh
under FIRE many times, he never once
was wounded
OFTEN Colonel Taylor spoke cf tho
g~eat privilege he had enjoyed IS an
Intimate friend " General Lee, but
RARELY could he I've induced 70 refer -
MS personal experiences I'm the war
and Information as 70 his individual
conduct under fire has come from
-nther sources,
At SpotsyIvanla Courthouse.
AT spo,sylvania Courthouse ten
Lee started for point where a
oof Ewell's front had been broken
O. u captured When he was urged -
-x1n In the rear. General Lee 70
.,eA Then YOU must see 10 II that
background Is recovered" il Was COL
orel Taylor, as representative Of GEN
eral Lee. who led the charge VIII ch
drove back the Federal forces and re
established The Con moderate lines,
In the battle around Petersburg in
March. 1875. the Federals by sudden
attack had gained the White oak
Road and threatened the flank 81
Lees army OF this incident the Ahhs-
Vile rs. ca Medium, IN 80, $ald' Al
this point Colonel Walter II Taylor. Of
General Lees staff dne looking
youn, man, distinguished for his
superb aaliantry, rode up .... He gal
loped in front and between IN" lines,
waved hts hat and shouted Come
ahead, hoys
'"The scene cannot be pictured and
the enthusiasm cannot he imagined.
with one redouhled and unceasing
cheer the line weJ forward and
crushed every thing in It's path
General Lee suggested, as the sur
render at Appomattox. thst Colonel
Tayi accompany him 10 meet Gen
eral Grant on the way 10 that meet
ing II became necessary that Colonel
Tnyior return TO the Confederate lines
10 give personal attt ntton to some
military details. and for that reason he
was not with his chief on that sad
occasion
The Close Of the War.
De- At the close OF the war he returned
IN the CITY of hts birth and entered the
hardware business with the firm, Fa"-
Tor A. Martin In few years the bust
ness was enlarged and the firm name
changed to Taylor, Elliot 4 Waters.
This later became w. Fl. TAYLOR & Co,
He gave UP the hardware business To
accept in 1877 the presidency OF the
Marine Sank, to which office he was
elected upon the death Of his cousin.
Richard Taylor. who preceded him as
rc-.-ttent He r1mai'ej rs president
NJ this bank until the time Of hts
death.
.,,.. mel Taylor represented Norfolk