Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2961*and Robert, great-grandfather of Judge Westmoreland, establishing his homein South Carolina, where he became a substantial and influential citizen.There was soljmnized his .marriage, the family name of his wife having beenLenoir and she having been a sister of General Lenoir, one of the distinguished officers of the 'patriot forces in the War of the Revolution.One of the children of this union was John Westmoreland, who was agallant soldier in the .War of 1812 and who was the grandfather of JudgeWestmoreland. The latter's father was born in Greenville County, SouthCarolina, in 1808, and his entire mature life was one of close and successfulidentification with the great basic industry of agriculture, the while he wasa man of steadfast integrity and much ability, so that he wielded much influence in community affairs. For several years he served as magistrate in hisnative county and he held also the office of captain of a company in thestate militia of South Carolina. Prior to the Civil war he was a distinguishedand valued representative in the Senate of the South Carolina Legislature,and he was a member also of the historic legislative body commonly designated as the Wallace House, in 1876. He married Miss Martha V. Crymes,who was likewise born and reared in South Carolina and who was a representative of one of the oldest and most honored families of that commonwealth. They became the parents of eight children, and concerning thesons the following brief data are available: William M. C., who became aresident of Cuthbert, Randolph County, Georgia, was a gallant soldier ofthe Confederacy throughout the entire period of the Civil war, as was alsohis next younger brother, John L., deceased. Dr. Jesse M. likewise gaveeffective service to the Confederate States, first as assistant surgeon of theSixteenth South Carolina Regiment and later as a surgeon in one of themilitary hospitals at Staunton, Virginia. Judge Thomas P., to whom thismemorial is dedicated, was the next in order of birth and the younger sons,Preston Calhoun is deceased and George is a resident of Atlanta, and is individually mentioned on other pages of this publication.Judge Thomas P. Westmoreland was reared to adult age in his nativecounty, where he acquired his preliminary education in the common schoolsof the period. Thereafter he continued his studies in the Military Instituteat Columbia, South Carolina, and in 1861 he was matriculated in Emory-Henry College, but in June of the same year he withdrew from this institution to respond to the call of higher duty and give patent manifestation ofhis loyalty to the states of the South, which had just become involved inwarfare with those of the North. He entered the Confederate service as aprivate in Hampton's Legion, but later he became a member of the staff ofGen. W. H. Whiting, a position of which he continued the valiant andefficient incumbent for a period of eighteen months, when his impaired healthcaused him to be assigned to detached duty for the ensuing year. He thenresumed his position as a soldier in the field and he continued to serve gallantly in the command of General Johnston until the close of the war. It isworthy of special note that Judge Westmoreland had command of GeneralJohnston's escort and that he participated in the last battle of the greatconflict between the states, at Bentonville, North Carolina, in March, 1865.Among the other important engagements in which he took part may be notedthat of Seven Pines, the Seven Days' Battle in the vicinity of the City ofRichmond, and the battle of Gaines Mills, Virginia, a combat designated bythe Federal troops as Cold Harbor. In connection with the last mentionedengagement this valiant young soldier was complimented for his specialgallantry on the field, and in the later general report of the commandingofficer, General Whiting, the name of Judge Westmoreland was mentioned,with special commendation for his gallant and meritorious service.Immediately after the close of the war Judge Westmoreland entered FurmanUniversity, at Greenville, South Carolina, where he applied himself dili-