Richard L . T . Beale Richard Lee Turberville Beale ( May 22 , 1819 – April 21 , 1893 ) was a lawyer , three - term United States Congressman from the Commonwealth of Virginia , and a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War . Early life and career . Beale was born at Hickory Hill , Westmoreland County , Virginia . He attended two local private schools , Northumberland Academy and Rappahannock Academy , before attending Dickinson College in Carlisle , Pennsylvania . He studied law and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1837 . Two years later , he was admitted to the bar and established a law practice at Hague , Virginia . Beale was elected as a Democrat to the Thirtieth Congress ( March 4 , 1847 – March 3 , 1849 ) . However , he declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1848 . He served as a member of the Virginia constitutional reform convention in 1850 – 51 and in the State senate from 1858 to 1860 . Civil War . Upon the secession of Virginia in 1861 , Beale enlisted in the cavalry as a lieutenant . He was soon promoted to captain and then major , and placed in command of Camp Lee , near his hometown of Hague , on the lower Potomac River . Being commended for his intelligence and excellent judgment , he subsequently served under Col . W . H . F . " Rooney " Lee in the 9th Virginia Cavalry in what became the Army of Northern Virginia . When Lee was promoted to brigadier general , Beale was advanced to the rank of colonel and given command of the regiment , which included his sons . In December 1862 , he led a bold expedition throughout the countryside near the Rappahannock River , capturing the Federal garrison at Leeds without losing a man . Beale ' s service in 1863 earned him several written commendations and praises . On April 16 , he won the praise of Maj . Gen . J . E . B . Stuart for repelling the threatened raid of Maj . Gen . George Stoneman ' s Federal cavalry division , capturing several prisoners during a week of nearly continual fighting . During the Gettysburg Campaign , Beale led the 9th Virginia in a charge on Fleetwood Hill at the Battle of Brandy Station in June . He participated in Stuart ' s subsequent ride around the Army of the Potomac and the raid through Maryland and Pennsylvania . He participated in hard fighting at Gettysburg ' s East Cavalry Field in early July and during the army ' s retreat to Virginia . He briefly assumed command of Rooney Lee ' s brigade during fighting at Culpeper Court House and participated in the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaign s . In March 1864 , he made a forced march to intercept Union Col . Ulric Dahlgren and his raiders . A detachment of his 9th Virginia Cavalry successfully ambushed the Federals , and , with other units , captured about 175 men and killed Dahlgren . The papers found upon Dahlgren ' s person , revealing a design to burn Richmond and kill President Jefferson Davis and his Cabinet , were forwarded through Maj . Gen . Fitzhugh Lee to the Confederate government . These controversial papers discovered by Beale ' s troopers may have been a factor that influenced John Wilkes Booth in his decision to assassinate Abraham Lincoln . Beale led his regiment during the Overland Campaign , and captured two Union flags at the Second Battle of Ream ' s Station during the Siege of Petersburg . In August , upon the death of John R . Chambliss , Beale was assigned to command of Chambliss ' s brigade , although still with the rank of colonel . It was not until February 6 , 1865 , that he was finally promoted to brigadier general . He led the brigade through the end of the war . Postbellum activities . After the war , Beale resumed his political career during Reconstruction . He was elected to the Forty - fifth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Beverly B . Douglas . He was reelected and served in the Forty - sixth Congress from January 23 , 1879 to March 3 , 1881 . Finally retiring from public service , Beale resumed the practice of law . Beale died near Hague , Virginia , and was buried there at Hickory Hill Cemetery . Elections . 1847 Beale was first elected to the U . S . House of Representatives from Virginia ' s 8th District with 51 . 86 % of the vote , defeating Whig Willoughby Newton . 1855 Beale lost election to the U . S . House of Representatives from Virginia ' s 1st District , defeated by Democrat Thomas Henry Bayly . 1878 Beale was elected to the U . S . House of Representatives from Virginia ' s 1st District with 48 . 32 % of the vote , defeating Republican George C . Round and Independent Democrat John Critcher . 1879 Beale won a special election with 75 . 84 % of the vote , defeating Republican U . W . Douglas and Independents George C . Round and John W . Parker .