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Capt. W. E. Hudgins, prominent Confederate Veteran and citizen of Norfolk, Va., died in that city on July 27, at the age of eighty-two years. He was a man of public spirit, active in everything connected with the advancement and welfare of that section.

Captain Hudgins was the son of Robert K. Hudgins, of Mathews County, Va. In 1861 he was lieutenant in the United States revenue cutter service, resigning when Virginia seceded. He then had charge of drilling artillerymen and handling batteries, and his artillery covered the retreat of the army from Yorktown. At Richmond he was attached to General Winder's general court martial, but, desiring more active service, he was appointed second lieutenant under Commodore Barron, C. S. N., and was later detailed to the ironclad Savannah, under Commodore Hunter, commanding naval defenses at Savannah, Ga. The boat covered the retreat of the Confederates across the Savannah River, after which she was blown up by Captain Hudgins, who then began a foot journey to Charleston, S. C. He was then detailed to duty at the mouth of the Cape Fear River and later was with the Buchanan battery at Fort Fisher. When that fort fell he was badly wounded and captured. After his recovery and exchange, he reached Richmond just before the evacuation and left on the same train with President Davis. After General Lee's surrender, he started to join the forces of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, but was captured and released on parole, returning to his home at Portsmouth, Va. He was later in South American naval service, being with the navy of Peru at the time of her war with Spain. For a number of years he was collector of customs for the port of Norfolk, and at the time of his death he was harbor master there.

In 1871 Captain Hudgins was married to Miss Victoria Stone, daughter of Capt. E. E. Stone, U. S. N. He is survived by five sons and five daughters.