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Brig. Gen. Raleigh Edward Colston (b.1825 – d.1896) He was born in Paris, France on October 31, 1825 and was adopted by wealthy Virginians Dr. and Mrs. Raleigh Colston living in Europe. At the age of seventeen, he arrived in America in 1842 to further his education. He enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute in 1843 at Lexington, Virginia. Upon graduating from VMI on July 4, 1846, he became professor at the Institute and taught French, history and military strategy. In 1851, Major Thomas Jackson arrived at VMI as a new professor. The two were colleagues and later became friends during those years at VMI. He and Jackson were part of the command of the VMI cadet detachment sent to Harper’s Ferry to help with security during the trial and execution of John Brown in 1859. On April 21, 1861, Major Colston, under the command of Jackson, departed from Lexington with The Corps of Cadets from VMI and went to Richmond where they would be assigned to duty. The next month, he was commissioned as Colonel of the 16th Virginia Infantry Regiment. Later that year, he would be given command of a brigade and on December 24, 1861 was promoted to Brig. Gen. He was in Yorktown during the siege and under Gen. Longstreet, was at the battle of Williamsburg and Seven Pines. Upon becoming ill, he remained out of active duty until December 1862. Petersburg became his command for the next few months. At the request of Gen. Jackson, he joined the Stonewall Division to command Brig Gen Taliaferro’s brigade and also became the second-in-command of the division behind Gen. Trimble. On April 29, 1863, the Chancellorsville campaign began with Trimble absent from duty, so Colston became the commander of the Stonewall Division. He marched his division on Jackson’s flanking maneuver and on May 2, he led the division on the attack, second-in-line behind Rodes’ division. Colston said about his camp upon hearing the death of his friend and commander, Gen Jackson “the sounds of merriment died away as if the Angel of Death himself had flapped his muffled wings over the troops.” After the Chancellorsville campaign, he was transferred to Richmond and then later on to Georgia. In the Spring of 1864, he returned back to Virginia and served under Gen. Beauregard in the defense of Petersburg. Later, he was assigned to command the forces at Lynchburg, Virginia, where he remained until his surrender at the end of the war. After the war, he went on to North Carolina where he became part of a military academy. In 1873, he joined the Egyptian Army as a Colonel and lead exploring expeditions into the Sudan region. He was injured during an expedition in 1879 and returned to Virginia. From 1882 until 1894, he worked in the War Department. The last couple years of his life, he lived in a Confederate Soldiers’ Home in Richmond, Virginia. On July 29, 1896, he died and was buried in the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.

Looks good. Thanks.

And here's the last of them. Very interesting, about his association with Jackson:

Brig. Gen. Raleigh Edward Colston (b. 1825, d. 1896). Colston was born in Paris, France on October 31, 1825 and was adopted by wealthy Virginians Dr. and Mrs. Raleigh Colston while they were living in Europe. In 1842, at the age of seventeen, he arrived in America to further his education, and a year later enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Upon graduating from V.M.I. on July 4, 1846, he became a professor at the Institute and taught French, history and military strategy. In 1851, Maj. Thomas J. Jackson – later known to the world as “Stonewall” Jackson – arrived at V.M.I. as a new professor. The two colleagues later became friends during their years at V.M.I. They also began their service together then: Colston and Jackson were part of the command of the V.M.I. cadet detachment sent to Harper’s Ferry to help with security during the trial and execution of John Brown in 1859. On April 21, 1861, as the Civil War was breaking out, Colston, serving as a major under the command of Jackson, departed from Lexington with The Should the “the” really be capitalized? Is that how it’s traditionally done? Corps of Cadets from V.M.I. and went to Richmond where they would be assigned to duty. The next month, Colston was commissioned as Colonel of the 16th Virginia Infantry Regiment. Later that year, he would be given command of a brigade and on December 24, 1861 was promoted to Brigadier General. Colston served in Yorktown during the siege and under Gen. James Longstreet fought at the battles of Williamsburg and Seven Pines. Upon becoming ill, he remained out of active duty until December 1862. Petersburg became his command for the next few months until, at the request of Jackson, he joined the Stonewall Division to command Gen. William B. Taliaferro’s brigade and also became the second-in-command of the division behind Gen. Isaac R. Trimble. On April 29, 1863, the Chancellorsville campaign began with Trimble absent from duty, so Colston became the commander of the Stonewall Division. He marched his division on Jackson’s flanking maneuver, and on May 2 he led the division on the attack, second-in-line behind Gen. Robert E. Rodes’ division. It was at Chancellorsville that Jackson, his friend and commander, died, and Colston bore witness to the reaction in the camp, recalling that “the sounds of merriment died away as if the Angel of Death himself had flapped his muffled wings over the troops.” After the Chancellorsville campaign, Colston was transferred to Richmond and then later on to Georgia. In the Spring of 1864, he returned to Virginia and served under Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard in the defense of Petersburg. His final assignment was to command the forces at Lynchburg, Virginia, where he remained until his surrender at the end of the war. After the war, he went on to North Carolina, where he became part of a military academy. The previous sentence is ambiguous – was he teaching there or an administrator? In 1873, Colston joined the Egyptian Army as a Colonel and led exploring expeditions into the Sudan region, until an injury during one expedition in 1879 prompted him to return to Virginia. From 1882 until 1894, Colston worked in the War Department. During the last couple years of his life, he lived in a Confederate Soldiers’ Home in Richmond, Virginia. On July 29, 1896, Colston died and was buried there in the Hollywood Cemetery. (Bio by Andrew Thayer)

Leadership: 3
Tactical: 5
Initiative: 3
Command: 4
Cavalry:

Teaches: Disciplined (1)

Start date: 23

Response to notes: 1- began service together - Jackson was a professional soldier, veteran of Mexico War he earned his brevet major whereas Colston was only a graduate of VMI and then professor so he was given rank of major without military experience. The John Brown episode made many Virginians paranoid that they would be invaded again during the execution. Gov Wise ordered Col. Francis H. Smith(vmi superintendant) to send cadets for security. Col Smith ordered Major William Gilham(vmi commandant of cadets and veteran Mexico war) to go to Charlestown in charge of the detachment of cadets. Major Jackson was in charge of 2 howitzers + cadet gun crew. Colston was the adjutant general during the event. So I guess this was the first official service together as a state military force. VA in 1859, only had a some state militia units and vmi cadets.
2 - "the" does not have to be capitalized.
3 - I only found two sources that mentioned his post-war military academy in Wilimington, NC. a) "he established military school in NC", b) "he was engaged in lecturing and in the conduct of a military academy in NC." Could have been professor and/or administrator, wasn't sure with my limited info on that part of his life.

Thanks for the comments.

Hmm. How about: "The two colleagues later became friends during their years at V.M.I., and also played a small role in one of the cataclysmic events that precipitated the Civil War: Colston and Jackson both served in the command of the V.M.I. cadet detachment sent to Harper’s Ferry to help with security during the trial and execution of John Brown in 1859." Would that be better? If so, feel free to let me know if you want an adjective other than "cataclysmic."

3 - I only found two sources that mentioned his post-war military academy in Wilimington, NC. a) "he established military school in NC", b) "he was engaged in lecturing and in the conduct of a military academy in NC." Could have been professor and/or administrator, wasn't sure with my limited info on that part of his life.

So I'm safe just saying that he "established" an academy?

Your last suggestions to the bio sound good. I have two new bios of conner and cook almost done. I have been spending some time in the darkroom lately and not much on everything else.

Okay, great. Colston's now in the master file and ready to go.