William Gordon McCabe was born in Richmond, Virginia, August 4,
1841. He served in various capacities in the Confederate army
throughout the Civil War, since the close of which he has been
active as an educator and as a writer upon educational and general
topics.
“After the battle of Malvern Hill, Virginia (July 1, 1862), a soldier
was found dead fifty yards in advance of any officer or man, his musket
firmly grasped in his rigid fingers,--name unknown,--simply ‘2 La.’
(Second Louisiana) on his cap.” Malvern Hill lies near the James River,
about fifteen miles southeast of Richmond.