JAMES K. MARSHALL, OF FAUQUIER COUNTY, VIRGINIA; COLONEL, 52D NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY.
James Keith Marshall, son of Edward C. and grandson of Chief-Justice John Marshall, was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, on the 17th of April, 1839.

On the 21st of August, 1856, young Marshall entered the Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated with credit July 4, i860. While a member of the graduating class, he was first lieutenant of one of the cadet companies, and was chosen as final orator by the Society of Cadets. His oration gave evidence of a vigorous mind, and promise of a good speaker. About two months after graduation, Mr. Marshall accepted an invitation from Dr. Warren to take charge of a private school at Edenton, North Carolina. While here he employed that portion of his time not occupied by school duties in the study of law. But the pursuit of these quiet duties was broken up in the following spring by the call of his country to arms. Fired with patriotic zeal to battle for the Southern cause, he brought into the field, among the first, a well-drilled company, of which he was chosen captain, and was assigned to the regiment of Colonel D. H. Hill. Captain Marshall gained so much reputation by his skillful handling of his troops throughout the campaign of 1861, that, upon the* reorganization of the army in the spring of 1862, he was elected colonel of the 5 2d Regiment North Carolina Infantry, succeeding Colonel Vance, who became Governor of the State. At the time of his promotion, Colonel Marshall was but twenty-two years of age, and only known in North Carolina through his reputation gained in the field during the campaign of the preceding year.

Colonel Marshall's regiment remained with its brigade (Pettigrew's) in Tide Water, Virginia, during a greater part of 1862, and while here, in addition to much other arduous duty, was in several hard-fought engagements, of which the most memorable was the repulse of the land and naval forces of the enemy at Franklin, on Blackwater River. Being stationed at Petersburg, Colonel Marshall received information that three Federal gunboats were coming up the Blackwater, intending to co-operate with a land force coming in another direction, and then move on Franklin. At this period of the war the use of gunboats had given the enemy the victory upon so many occasions that the alarm became general, lest their exclusive possession of this means of attack might drive the Confederate Government from the defense of all towns on the water-courses.

Upon hearing of the approach of these gunboats, Colonel Marshall moved quickly to the Blackwater, and posted his riflemen at intervals along its bushy banks, with orders to shoot every man who made his appearance on deck. So effectively was this order executed that large numbers were slain, and the boats consequently forced to retire. Hurrying on to Franklin, Colonel Marshall easily drove off the land forces, who, being disheartened at the discomfiture of the gunboats, retreated in dismay. After this affair, Colonel Marshall remained with his command under General Pettigrew, in the defense of lower Virginia, until the brigade was ordered to join the army of Northern Virginia, when on its march into Pennsylvania.

The three days' fighting at and near Gettysburg distinguished the campaign of 1863, and proved to be the culminating period of the war. On the first day of these battles, July 1, 1863, Pettigrew's Brigade, numbering three thousand men, was engaged in hot encounter with the enemy, who made a fierce attack with powerful force upon them, and were only driven back after desperate effort. In the midst of this engagement General Pettigrew was called to the command of the division, Major-General Heth having been badly wounded, and Colonel Marshall succeeded to the command of the brigade.

The part taken by Colonel Marshall in the battle of the third day, July 3, is thus described in an extract from a communication published in the Richmond Enquirer ofthe 18th of March, 1864. This communication was a letter written to Major N. J. Baker by Captain Louis G. Young, aid-de-camp to General Pettigrew, at the solicitation of a meeting of delegates representing the different regiments of the brigade. The meeting was held for the purpose of having corrected the erroneous impressions which prevailed in regard to the part taken in the battle of Gettysburg by Pettigrew's Brigade:

"On the morning of the 3d of July, General Pettigrew, commanding Heth's Division, was instructed to report to General Longstreet, who directed him to form in rear of Pickett's Division, and support his advance on Cemetery Hill; and I presume that it was in consequence of this having been the first plan settled on that the erroneous report was circulated that Heth's Division was assigned the duty of supporting that of Pickett. But the order referred to was countermanded almost as soon as given, and General Pettigrew was ordered to advance upon the same line as Pickett. In the alignment of the division, Pettigrew's Brigade, under Colonel Marshall, was second from the right, and, with Archer's, advanced promptly and in good order, in continuation of Pickett's line. Subjected to a fire even more fatal than that which had driven back the brigade on our left, the men listening in vain for the cheering command of officers who had, alas! fallen, our brigade gave way-likewise, and simultaneously with the whole line.

"Colonel James K. Marshall, of the 52d Regiment, lost his life in the charge on Cemetery Hill. Prepared by a thorough military education for the sphere to which he was called, he possessed in no ordinary degree the qualities which make the distinguished soldier. To a remarkable aptitude for military matters was added the faculty to discipline and yet command the affections of officers and men. Modest in his demeanor, he nevertheless valued aright the power of earnest endeavor and unflinching determination, so that no-danger or difficulty seemed to him too formidable, and often he mastered circumstances which seemed impossible. His repulse of the enemy's land and naval force on the Black-water is the first recorded victory of riflemen over gunboats. In the battle of Gettysburg he manifested skill and dashing bravery. Great is the country's loss when such are taken from her."
Colonel Marshall had passed the stone fence, and while cheering his men received two balls in his forehead, which caused his immediate death.
(Source: Biographical sketches of the Graduates and Eleves of the Virginia Military Institute who fell during the war between the States, by Chas. D. Walker. Published 1875. Transcribed and submitted to Genealogy Trails by Linda Rodriguez)