Confederatevets.com

On the morning of December 24, 1919, Col. B. L. Farinholt died at his home in West Point, Va., after a short illness.

Colonel Farinholt was born near Yorktown, Va., May 26, 1839 and at the age of twenty-one married Miss Lelia M. Farinholt, a cousin. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army and served four years with Pickett's men in Armstead's Brigade, taking part in the battles of Seven Pine's, Suffolk, Seven Days' Battles around Richmond, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, and Gettysburg. During this time he received several promotions finally being made colonel of his regiment at Staunton River Bridge. On receiving his report of the engagement at this place General Lee wrote to him on July 16, 1864, thanking him for the skill and conduct with which he had executed the charge committed to him and saying: "Please express my thanks to the men and officers for the gallantry and determination with which they repelled every assault of the enemy."

Wounded in the battle of Gettysburg, Colonel Farinholt was sent as a prisoner Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, from which place he escaped after nine months of hard life and rejoined his command in Virginia. He also had a taste of prison life at Forts McHenry and Delaware. He was a member of the Lawson-Ball Camp of Confederate Veterans, at West Point.

After the war he was actively engaged in mercantile business in Tidewater, Va. In 1884 he moved his family to Baltimore, where he lived for a number of years, though still conducting his business in Virginia. He finally moved back to Virginia and made his home in West Point. Having given up his business, he spent much time reading and writing and was actively interested in all affairs of his country, and especially of Virginia. He and his wife celebrated the fifty-ninth anniversary of their marriage on October 24, 1919.

Colonel Farinholt is survived by his wife, five daughters, and seven grandchildren.

He was laid to rest in the old family burying ground in New Kent County with the loved ones who had passed on before.