University of Virginia Library

R. H. T. ADAMS,

Son of Isaac and Susan (Duval) Adams, both now deceased, was born
at Lynchburg, on November 6, 1839. He married, on September 10,
1868, Rev. C. C. Bitting officiating, Sue L. Scott, born in Halifax
county, Virginia, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Adams) Scott. The
children of this union are eight, Annie S., R. H. T. jr., Charles S., P. H.,
James D., Sue, Lizzie D., and James Duval.

Mr. Adams entered the Confederate States Army on April 19, 1861,
in a company of Home Guards, which later became Company G, of the
11th Virginia Infantry. With this he took part in first Manassas battle,
and was in constant service about twelve months, or until, in 1862,
he received commission as captain in the Signal Service, and reported
to Gen. A. P. Hill, assigned to duty on his staff. He reported to Gen.
Hill at Cold Harbor, served with him until his death at Petersburg,
and remained with the Third Army Corps till the close of the war,
taking part in every one of its engagements, and surrendering with it
at Appomattox C. H. Captain Adams was in service four years, lacking
nine days, and during that time never lost a day's duty on account
of sickness; weight on entering service 110 pounds, on leaving service
160 pounds. He had three horses shot under him, was himself several
times struck, but never seriously wounded. Two reminiscences of his
service are of much interest, and are as follows: At the capture of
Harper's Ferry he was assigned to a pass on Loudoun Heights, in the
Signal Service, and this being an intermediate station, Gen. Jackson's
order of attack was sent over its line to Maryland Heights. This order
covered nearly one page of legal cap paper, and from the time it was
begun at Jackson's headquarters till it was completed at the Maryland
Heights end of the line only five minutes elapsed. Gen. Jackson
warmly complimented the Signal Service for this efficiency. The distance

to have delivered the order by courier would have been twenty
miles, causing dangerous delay. From Harper's Ferry Capt. Adams
went to Sharpsburg, where with the Third Corps he went into immediate
action, the Corps going in on the Confederate right, which had just
been turned by Burnside, and hurling him back with great loss. Capt.
Adams had one brother in the service.

After the close of the war, the first business in which Capt. Adams engaged
was coal and lumber and coal mining in the Alleghany mountains.
He followed this till 1875, and then entered on his present
business at Lynchburg, leaf tobacco and strips, for export. He has
been a member of the city council for two years, and is at present vice-president
of the Lynchburg Tobacco Association.