301

BRIGADIER-GENERAL JAMES J. ARCHER BUILDING.—This building contains
on the lower floor the Raleigh C. Thomas memorial hall; on the second floor a
store room and servants' sleeping quarters.

General James J. Archer was born in Harford County, Maryland. Colonel of the
Fifth Texas Regiment, commanding Texas Brigade at Evansport batteries, March 21, 1862;

Acting Brigadier-General at West Point, Virginia, May 7, 1862; promoted to Brigadier-
General, June 2. 1862, and assigned command of Fifth Brigade, Hill's Division : June 4,
1862, assigned to Hatton's Brigade, Whiting's Division; June 26 and 28. 1862, engaged in
the battles of Mechanicsville and Gaines' Mill; August 9, 1862, in battle of Cedar Mountain;

August 26, 1862, engagement at Manassas Junction; August 28. 29 and 30, 1862, second
Manassas; September i, 1862, Ox Hill; September 15, 1862, at Harper's Ferry; September
17, 1862, Sharpsburg; September 20, 1862, Shepherdstown; December 11-15, 1862, Freder-
icksburg; May 3, 1863, Chancellorsville; July i, 1863, Gettysburg, where he was wounded
and captured.

General Early in his report said : " The service lost at this time that most gallant
and meritorious officer, Brigadier-General Archer, who fell into the enemy's hands." His
death resulted from his wounds and his imprisonment on Morris Island, South Carolina,
where eight hundred officers were imprisoned in the line of the fire from the Confederate
batteries and forts.

RALEIGH C. THOMAS MEMORIAL HALL.—The Thomas memorial hall was
furnished by the family and friends of Raleigh C. Thomas, who was a gallant
soldier in Company C, First Maryland Cavalry, and who was much beloved by his
comrades. This room, which is 50x27 feet, is used as a reading room. It is
furnished in old oak with most comfortable and handsome furniture, tables, arm
chairs and rockers. The ceiling is of oak, and the equipping of the room involved
an expense of about $1,000. It is a handsome tribute to the memory of the
deceased, who died in Baltimore in 1887. A fine painting of Mr. Thomas is on the
wall. The library contains 1,000 volumes, contributed at various times by kind
friends from all over the State, about one hundred newspapers are on file, which are
kindly sent free by the press of the State.

ADMIRAL RAPHAEL SEMMES BUILDING.—This building contains the R. E. Lee
and Warfield memorial rooms.

Admiral Raphael Semmes was born in Charles County, Maryland. September 27. 1809.
He entered the United States Navy as midshipman at the age of seventeen : was promoted
to Lieutenant ten years later, and rose to the rank of Commander at the age of forty-six.
During the Mexican war he served on hoard ship and as an aid to General Worth : February