During the most of the year 1864, he served on the staff of General R. D. Johnston, participating in the famous Valley Campaign of General Jubal A. Early, and towards the last of that year, after the battle of Winchester, he was transferred to the staff of MajorGeneral G. C. Wharton, who had succeeded to the command of General J. C. Breckinridge's Division when that officer entered the cabinet of the Confederacy. On March 2nd, 1865, at the battle of Waynesborough, he had his horse killed under him, and was captured by the enemy's troops under Sheridan. This time he was not exchanged, but remained in prison at Fort Delaware until after the war had closed, not receiving release until about June, 1865. Major James P. Smith, that gallant Christian soldier, who is now the editor of the Central Presbyterian, and who served with Captain Halsey on General Wharton's staff, writes of his capture as follows: "At the retreat from Waynesboro he and I were among the few officers that escaped the town. I overtook him on the east side of the Shenandoah and we rode together half-way up the mountain toward the mountain top, when a squadron of Federal cavalry came charging up behind us shouting and firing. His horse was wounded and he was captured. The head of the Federal column stopped to make him a prisoner, and that delay enabled me to get over the mountain into Albemarle." Major Smith also says he is sure that he was entitled to the rank of major, and it is certain that he was usually addressed as such by his comrades after the war, but as the writer is unable to secure definite information as to whether his commission as major was actually made out, he is referred to here by the designation of captain, as found in the official reports. General G. C. Wharton, in reply to a letter of inquiry about this, writes: "Your letter making some inquiries in regard to your gallant and honored father, and my personal friend, is received. Major Don P. Halsey was assigned to the division which I commanded when and after General J. C. Breckinridge assumed the duties of Secretary of War. This was the latter part of September, 1864. About the same time Major J. P. Smith was assigned as inspector-general. Major Halsey as adjutant-general served in this capacity until the unfortunate affair at Waynesboro, when General Early, thinking that Sheridan would take the same route to Lynchburg that Hunter had taken, viz: through Lexington, placed our troops on the west side of Waynesboro, with the river in our rear, effectually preventing any retreat. As we had only about 800 men to oppose 7,500 splendidly equipped cavalry, of course we had no show and fell an easy victim. Your gallant father had charge of my left wing and held his position as long as possible. When forced back he reported to me his old horse, that he so loved, was fatally shot, and when he rode up was about to fall. I told him to put 'old John' (I think he called his horse) out of the way, and try to get to a place of safety, as the Yankee cavalry was getting all around us, and all would be killed or captured. This was the last I saw of him, as in a few minutes the Federal cavalry was riding over or around our men and ordering them to halt and surrender. This was the end of our Division, as all, except a few who were with the baggage or on picket or by accident escaped, were captured. I am quite sure your gallant father held a commission as major, as I remember the order assigning named him major and adjutant-general as did the order of Major Smith as inspector-general. I esteemed your father most highly as a brave and cool officer and valued his advice. Our relations were most cordial and intimate." In a similar letter General R. D. Johnston wrote: "He was certainly a most capable and efficient man, and participated in all the engagements in which we took part with gallantry, and was commended in all the reports as well as I can remember. He was promoted to a majority, and assigned to a division as adjutant-general, I think, in 1864 or '65, and of course I did not see him again." After the war he took up the burden of life, as did most Confederate soldiers, under far more disadvantageous circumstances than would have surrounded him had the result of the war been different, and began the practice of law in Lynchburg. On the 7th of March, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ann Warwick Daniel, the daughter of Judge William Daniel, Jr., and the granddaughter of John M. Warwick, Esq., from whose house the wedding took place, and his home-life, as husband and father, was of the happiest and most exemplary character. For a while he was in partnership with Judge Daniel and his son, now Senator John W. Daniel, under the firm name of Daniel, Halsey and Daniel. Later on he decided to move to Richmond, where he resided several years, during which time he was the recipient of an extensive practice, being especially popular with the large German element of that city on account of the facility with which he spoke their language. The wounds and hardships he had endured during the war, however, had left their mark upon him, the exposure and privations of long marches, the discomforts of camp life and the sufferings of his long confinement in prison, had weakened his system and sown in him the seeds of disease, and so in 1880 he was compelled to abandon the active practive of law, and retired to his farm. near Tye river, in Nelson county, in the hope that his health would improve. This hope was not to be realized, and in spite of the ministrations of the best medical talent in the country, he grew steadily worse. He was a splendid rider, and a most enthusiastic sportsman and fisherman, and much of his time at "Fern Moss," as his place was called, was spent in the open air. In the summer months he would sit for hours on the river bank, fishing, and as he was as skillful as he was enthusiastic, he rarely failed to bring home substantial evidence that he had not been unsuccessful. He was even fonder, perhaps, of hunting than he was of fishing, as he was an excellent shot, and during the hunting season he gave much time to this sport, generally shooting from horseback, which he did with such accuracy as to rarely fail in bringing down his bird. In the fall of 1882 he went to Philadelphia where he spent several weeks under the treatment of the eminent physician, Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, and upon his return home was apparently much improved. He caught cold, however, shortly after getting home, while attending church, and in his weak condition pneumonia set in, and other complications, which caused his death. On the 1st of January, 1883, in the 47th year of his age, surrounded by the faithful circle of his loved ones, the end came in perfect peace. He had ever been a steadfast Christian, and now when the time came for him to meet the last great enemy, he met him as he had ever met an enemy, with calm front and unshaken courage, and went out into the great beyond, murmuring the grand old hymn, "Just as I am.” His funeral services were conducted at St. Paul's Church, Lynchburg, of which he had at one time been a vestryman, by Rev. T. M. Carson, the rector (who spoke of him with great feeling and appreciation), assisted by Rev. E. S. Gregory, of Epiphany Church, who had long been a faithful friend of his and of his family. The interment took place at Spring Hill cemetery, where he rests in the family section, and hard by are the remains of his two little daughters, Carrie and Julia, who followed him to the grave in August of the same year in which he died. He is still survived by his widow and four sons. In appearance Captain Halsey was exceedingly prepossessing, being tall-fully six feet-and well proportioned, carrying himself with soldierly grace and erectness. His features were noble and intellectual, and his manners those of the Virginia gentleman of the old school, as courtly and polished as natural kindness of heart and cultivated refinement of mind could make them. As a lawyer he was able, learned and conservative, safe in counsel and sound in opinion, carrying weight with both court and jury for his strong reasoning and clear expression of legal principles. As a draughtsman of legal papers he was a master, while in the court room or office, wherever professional duty might call him, he ever evinced the broad learning and painstaking accuracy which made him one of the most accomplished lawyers of the bars at which he practiced. He made no pretensions as an orator, but there were few speakers who could excel him in the forcible and convincing expression of his views on any topic, legal, political or literary, while his powers of logic and polished purity of diction were such as to enable him to successfully compete in any forum or intellectual gathering. In conclusion, the writer feels impelled, not only in filial pride and devotion, but as the mature judgment of his mind, to say of him as Hamlet said of his father: "He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again." DON P. HALSEY (JR.) THE SWORD OF ROBERT LEE. Forth from its scabbard, pure and bright Far in the front of the deadly fight, High o'er the brave in the cause of Right Out of its scabbard, where, full long, Roused from its rest by the battle's song, Forth from its scabbard, high in air And they who saw it gleaming there, That where that sword led they would dare, Out of its scabbard! Never hand Or purer sword led braver band, Nor brighter land had a cause so grand, Forth from its scabbard! How we prayed And when our triumph was delayed, Forth from its scabbard all in vain Bright flashed the sword of Lee; 'Tis shrouded now in its sheath again, It sleeps the sleep of our noble slain, Defeated, yet without a stain, Proudly and peacefully. |