Brigadier-General Daniel Adams Weisiger, in early manhood was a resident of Petersburg, Va., where he engaged in mercantile pursuits until November, 1846, when, the State of Virginia being called upon for a regiment for service in Mexico, he volunteered and aided in recruiting a company of 85 men, of which he was elected senior second lieutenant. He was finally promoted to the adjutancy of the regiment, which office he held until the close of the war, and his regiment was mustered out at Fort Monroe, in August, 1848. He returned to Petersburg and was again engaged in business until April, 1861. In May, 1853, he was unanimously elected colonel of the Thirty-ninth "regiment of Virginia militia, " which he commanded until 1860, when a battalion of volunteers, uniformed, armed and fully equipped for active service, was formed, and he was unanimously tendered the command. On April 20th he was ordered to move with his command to Norfolk. With his command and a battery of artillery, he arrived there in the afternoon of that day, and witnessed the evacuation of the navy yard that night. On May 9, 1861, he was appointed colonel in the Confederate States service, and his battalion of five companies was soon recruited to a full regiment, and designated as the Twelfth Virginia regiment. Upon the reorganization of the army in May, 1862, he was re-elected colonel without opposition. After the evacuation of Norfolk, he and his regiment took a position at Drewry's bluff, and there acted in support of the fort during the attack by the Federal gunboats, which was handsomely repulsed. Soon afterward the regiment was ordered to Richmond, and became a part of the army of Northern Virginia. Leading the Twelfth, Colonel Weisiger participated in the battle of Seven Pines, and on June 25th was engaged in a heavy skirmish at French's farm on the Charles City road. This proved to be the commencement of the Seven Days' battles around Richmond, which culminated in the battle of Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862, In that combat Weisiger's regiment was on the extreme right of the lines, occupied the last ridge in front of McClellan's army, and held that position during the night when the Federal army retreated to Harrison's landing on James river. Late in the month of August, 1862, the Twelfth was ordered to join the army of Northern Virginia. On August 30th they arrived at the field of Second Manassas, early in the morning, and were held in reserve until the afternoon, when they were ordered to the front and placed on the right of the line of battle. After passing over a burning rail fence, causing some confusion, which was soon rectified, the regiment encountered a heavy artillery fire in which Adjt. Gen. William E. Cameron was severely wounded by a piece of shell. In a very short time Brig. Gen. William Mahone was wounded and carried from the field, and the brigade came under the command of Colonel Weisiger. About this time Brig. Gen. A. R. Wright, of Georgia, reported that he was hard pressed and wanted Weisiger's assistance. The latter immediately complied, but in the movement was caught under a heavy fire and dangerously wounded and taken from the field. In consequence he was disabled for duty in the field. On May 6, 1864, the second day of the fighting in the Wilderness, General Longstreet was wounded and was succeeded by Gen. R. H. Anderson, he by General Mahone, and Colonel Weisiger was placed in command of the Virginia brigade as Mahone's successor. He commanded the brigade thenceforward, in the battles of the campaign from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor, and in nearly every battle around Petersburg from June 20, i864, until the evacuation. When the Federal troops occupied the gap in the Confederate works made by the terrific mine explosion Of July 3oth, he led his Virginia brigade, only 8oo strong, against about 5,000 of the enemy, with such gallantry and success that he was promoted to brigadier- general, to date from the battle of the Crater. During his military career he participated in over twenty battles and skirmishes, was wounded three times, and two horses were shot under him. He finally led his brigade on the march to Appomattox, and was surrendered with the army.
Confederate Military History, Vol. III, pp. 682-684.
