GEN. V. D. GRONER.
General Groner was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on September 7, 1836.
He married, in New Orleans, Louisiana, in April, 1866, Katherine
Campbell, who was born in Mobile, Alabama, and who was a daughter
of Justice John A. Campbell, formerly a Judge of the United States
Supreme Court, and who, during the Confederacy, was associated with
Vice-President A. H. Stephens, and Hon. R. M. T. Hunter, Senator from
Virginia, as commissioners to meet President Lincoln and Secretary of
State Seward, at Hampton Roads, just before the close of the war.
Their children are three sons: John A. C., Duncan Lawrence and Robert
Newell.
At the age of eighteen the subject of this sketch, who had previously
graduated at the Norfolk Military Academy, organized a military
company, known as the "Independent Greys," and in the succeeding
year he was made lieutenant-colonel of a regiment of Virginia militia,
at Norfolk. After studying law one year, he entered into a business
life, and was two years agent for an express company, then for a time
in the employ of the New York & Virginia Steamship Co. In 1859 he
went to Texas, where he was the guest of Gen. Sam Houston. There
he tendered his services to Baylor's Texan Rangers, and assisted in
subduing the Comanche Indians, and other hostile tribes.
On the election of Lincoln, he left Texas with the intention of returning
to Virginia, but at the request of Governor Pettus of Mississippi
he went to New York, and performed the delicate and valuable service
of purchasing and shipping arms for Mississippi. This accomplished
he returned to Virginia, and perfected a secret organization for the
capture of Fortress Monroe, which would have been successfully accomplished
but for the interference of Governor Letcher. He then returned
to Mississippi, and was tendered commission as adjutant-general of
Mississippi by Governor Pettus, which commission he declined. Going
to Montgomery he was commissioned and appointed captain and
assistant-adjutant general of the regular Confederate States Army, and
assigned to duty at the seat of government, the fifth military appointment
made by the new government. He remained in this service at
Montgomery and in Richmond until after the first battle around the
latter city, when he was directed to take charge of the archives of the
government, which he removed by canal, in the direction of Lynchburg.
During this trip the James River overflowed, and when its waters
receded the canal banks were washed out. Knowing the importance of
this feeder for supplying troops at Richmond, General Groner appealed
for aid to the farmers, and by the labor they furnished, had the canal
thoroughly repaired in twenty-four hours, a work for which he was
warmly commended by the President of the Canal to President Jefferson
Davis.
While the second battle around Richmond was being fought, he
reported on the field to General R. E. Lee, with whom he remained until
after Malvern Hill battle. As a part of his service in the Adjutant
Department, he had charge of the Organization Bureau, and the entire
Confederate Army, so far, had been organized through his office.
Desirous of more active service, he was now assigned to the 59th North
Carolina Cavalry, with headquarters at Franklin, Virginia, and with
this regiment he was engaged in the fighting around Suffolk. At the
time the Army of Northern Virginia was in Maryland, he was made
colonel of the 61st Virginia Infantry, and took charge of the same at
Warrenton, Virginia, defending the bridges both at Warrenton and at
Rappahannock Station.
When Lee's Army moved back from Maryland into Virginia, General
Groner was ordered to Fredericksburg, his command then consisting of
his own regiment, the Norfolk Blues Battery, and a Mississippi Battery,
to which, after he reached Fredericksburg, a portion of Ball's Regiment
of Virginia Cavalry and a Battalion of Mississippians were added.
Arriving in Fredericksburg, he took possession at Falmouth Ford, just
as Burnside's Army reached the opposite shore. He at once engaged
in an artillery duel, so defending the fort until Lee's Army reached
Fredericksburg, two days later.
Shortly after, his regiment was assigned to Mahone's Brigade, with
which he took part in all the subsequent gallant fighting of the Army
of Northern Virginia, except when absent some two months with severe
wounds received at Spotsylvania Court House. While yet on crutches,
he rejoined the army around Petersburg, and engaged in battles there
when he had to be assisted to mount his horse, his wound preventing
the use of his limb. In a number of battles he commanded the brigade.
He surrendered at Appomattox Court House.
After the war was ended he returned for a short time to his home in
Norfolk, then went to New York City, where he and Gen. Joe Davis
(nephew of President Davis) were together some months. He then for
a time accepted the management of a steamship line running between
Virginia and New York, then was a short time general agent at Norfolk
for the Norfolk & Petersburg R. R., and was then appointed general
agent of the Merchants' & Miners' Transportation Co., a position he
has ably filled ever since.
During reconstruction periods, General Groner was a zealous conservative,
and he was largely instrumental in the election of Hon. Gilbert C.
Walker to the Governorship, and received from him tender of commission
as State adjutant-general, and also the tender of post of private
secretary, both of which he declined. He was once candidate for
Governor of Virginia, and has been several times endorsed by his city
for United States Senator. He was president of both branches of the
Norfolk City Council from the re-organization of the city government,
after the war, to about 1880. During his administration, the bonds of
the city appreciated from 47 to 107, and he was instrumental in saving
the city a large amount of interest, for which, as well as for other acts
in the interest of the city, he was, and still is, held in high esteem.
General Groner gives little attention to politics, being immersed in
business, holding the following positions, at once onerous and honorable:
President of the National Compress Association; President of the
Steamship Line run by this Association between Norfolk and Liverpool;
General Agent of the Merchants' & Miners' Transportation Company,
running steamers to Boston and Providence; General Manager of the
Washington Lines, running daily boats between Washington City and
Norfolk; and actively engaged in many other enterprises. Norfolk as
a shipping port is greatly indebted to him.
