Brigadier-General Ellison Capers, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 5, South Carolina
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

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[662] it twelve months, three as first lieutenant and nine as captain, having been promoted to the captaincy in May, 1861, at Columbia, to succeed James H. Whitener, who had been promoted to major. He carried his company to Virginia and commanded it in the battles of First Manassas, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, and Frayser's Farm. He was seriously wounded at the latter place by a ball that struck him full in the breast and which rendered him unfit for duty for several months and came near costing him his life. When he became able to re-enter active service, he was promoted major of the Palmetto sharpshooters. Joining his regiment at Fredericksburg, he served with distinction as its major until the close of the war, taking part in the campaigns of Suffolk, Va., and Knoxville, Tenn., the battles of Will's Valley, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Second Cold Harbor, Bermuda Hundred, Fort Harrison, and the siege of Petersburg. His command was ordered to Richmond, and left Petersburg the day before the explosion of the mine under the fort which it had just vacated, thus escaping heavy casualties on the day of the battle of the Crater. He received a slight wound at Spottsylvania Court House, but aside from this the last three years of his career as a soldier were passed without injury. He was a brave soldier and enjoyed the love and confidence of his men. It seemed that when he was in command his men knew no fear and thought of nothing but to go forward and follow his gallant leadership. By reason of his peculiar fitness as a leader of men he was almost always in command of the pickets and of the skirmish line, and as such he never failed to do his whole duty. As a citizen Major Humphreys took high rank in Anderson, after the war, being repeatedly elected to positions of honor and trust, and his success as a lawyer and politician was as pronounced and decisive as his career as a soldier was brilliant. He was elected commissioner in equity in 1865, holding the office until it was abolished in 1868, when he was elected probate judge. He held that office successively until 1882, declining a re-election. He then became president of the Savannah Valley railroad, in the promotion and construction of which he had been a prime mover and leading spirit. He was intendant of the town in 1878, and made a good mayor, and in the same year was appointed brigadier-general of militia, and in 1880