Joseph Eggleston Joseph Eggleston ( November 24 , 1754 – February 14 , 1811 ) was an American planter , soldier , and politician from Amelia County , Virginia . He represented Virginia in the U . S . Congress from 1798 until 1801 . He was the uncle of William S . Archer . Joseph was born in Middlesex County to Joseph ( 1721 – 1792 ) and Judith ( Segar , 1729 – 1806 ) Eggleston . In 1759 his parents moved to the newly built plantation house named " Egglestetton " in Amelia County . Joseph was tutored at home and then attended William and Mary College where he graduated with honors in 1776 . That same year he joined American Revolutionary War in the cavalry commanded by Henry " Light Horse Harry " Lee . Revolutionary War . Eggleston became a captain when Lee organized his own irregular unit ( Lee ' s Legion ) of the Continental Army in 1778 . He served with them throughout the war , but earned distinction in the Southern Campaign . He was cited for gallantry for his actions in the Battle of Guilford Court House on March 15 , 1781 . He won praise again in the siege of Augusta in June , as well as a promotion to Major . The initial American success in the Battle of Eutaw Springs in September came from Major Eggleston ' s attack of the British advance units . Unfortunately the outcome of the battle was indecisive , even though the British casualties were twice those of the American forces . Personal life . After the war Eggleston returned home to Egglestetton , and on February 23 , 1788 he married Sarah ' Sally ' Meade . They had three children , Joseph Everard ( 1790 ) , Charles ( 1791 ) and William ( 1792 ) . When his father ( Joseph Sr . ) died in 1792 he inherited the family seat and . Over the years he would buy land and expand his holding to . Sally died in 1794 , and in 1798 Joseph married again , to his first cousin Ann Cary Eggleston ( daughter of his uncle John ) . She gave him two more children : Francis ( 1798 ) and in 1802 a daughter they named Sarah Meade Eggleston after his first wife . Egglestetton was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 . Political career . Eggleston was elected to the Virginia state House of Delegates several times as a representative for Amelia County . In all he served thirteen years in the House ( 1785 – 88 and 1791 – 99 ) . He was in the state Senate when U . S . Congressman William B . Giles resigned that post on October 2 , 1798 . In a special election , Eggleston won the rest of the term . Then he won the regular election for the next term , to serve in the U . S . House in the Sixth Congress . Eggleston declined to be nominated in 1800 , so his service in Congress extended from December 3 , 1798 to March 3 , 1801 . He returned home , but was made a Justice of the Peace for Amelia County , and held that post until he died in 1811 . Joseph died at home and was buried in the Churchyard of St . John ' s Episcopal Church . The church was also known as St . John ' s of Grub Hill , and the cemetery is now known as the " Grub Hill Cemetery " . The main house at " Egglestetton " still stands in Egglestetton Road ( Route 630 ) about 4 km north of Amelia Court House . The home is on the National Register of Historic Places but is a private residence . The Civil War general , Joseph Eggleston Johnston , was named for him , since Johnston ' s father had served in Eggleston ' s command in the Revolution .