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Civil War Soldiers - Williams
| Williams, Alpheus S.,
brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in Saybrook, Conn., in 1810. He
graduated at Yale college in 1831; began the practice of law in
Detroit, Mich.; was judge of probate from 1840 to 1844; from 1843 to
1847 was owner and editor of the Detroit "Daily Advertiser;" also
served as recorder of Detroit, and in 1849 was appointed postmaster of
that city by President Taylor. He was a lieutenant-colonel in the
Mexican war and on the breaking out of the Civil war he became a
major-general of militia, afterward becoming a brigadier-general of
volunteers in the army. He served on the upper Potomac and had command
of a division at Winchester. He succeeded Gen. Banks as a corps
commander and after Gen. Mansfield was wounded commanded the 12th
corps at Antietam. He took part in the battles of Chancellorsville and
Gettysburg and accompanied Sherman's army in the "march to the sea,"
during which he was made brevet major-general of volunteers. He was
minister resident in San Salvador from 1866 to 1869, was elected to
Congress from Michigan in 1874 and was reelected in 1876. Gen.
Williams died in Washington, D. C., Dec. 1, 1878. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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| Williams, David H., brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in the state of Pennsylvania. On July 23, 1861, he
was commissioned colonel of the 82nd Pa. infantry (known as the 31st
until after the battle of Fair Oaks), which was recruited largely from
the city of Philadelphia, but the regimental organization was effected
in Washington, D. C. It was assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division,
4th corps, and occupied the defenses of Washington for about six
months, engaged in drill, guard and fatigue duty. On March 9, 1862, it
advanced with the army to Manassas, returned again after a few days to
its old quarters, and two weeks later proceeded to Fortress Monroe,
whence it moved upon McClellan's Peninsular campaign. After being
detained for a month at Yorktown, Col. Williams crossed the
Chickahominy with his regiment May 22 and on the 31st engaged the
enemy at Fair Oaks, displaying commendable coolness and bravery.
During the retreat to Harrison's landing he was engaged at Charles
City cross-roads and Malvern hill, his regiment suffering severely in
the latter battle. He was in line but not active at Chantilly and was
only slightly engaged at Antietam. On Nov. 29, 1862, he was
commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers and served as such until
March 4, 1863, when, his commission having expired by limitation, he
left the service and returned to the pursuits of civil life.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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| Williams, Seth, brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in Augusta, Me., March 22, 1822. He was appointed
a cadet to the military academy at West Point in 1838, graduated in
1842 and received the appointment of brevet second lieutenant of
artillery. During this initiatory period of his military career he
showed those qualities of careful performance of duty by which he was
distinguished and well known throughout the service, and he gained an
honorable position in a class remarkable for its talent. In the
ordinary routine of promotion he became first lieutenant of artillery
in 1847, went with the army into Mexico, where he received the
appointment of aide-de-camp to Maj.- Gen. Patterson and won the brevet
of captain for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Cerro
Gordo. In Sept., 1850, Capt. Williams was appointed adjutant of the
military academy and served in that capacity until Sept., 1853, having
received in Aug., 1853, the appointment of assistant adjutant-general
with the brevet rank of captain in the adjutant-general's department.
In 1861 he was appointed major in the same corps, and in Sept., 1861,
brigadier-general of volunteers. In this last capacity he served as
adjutant-general of the Army of the Potomac under its different
commanders until the close of the war, when he was relieved, and after
serving upon several army boards, was appointed adjutant-general of
the department under Gen. Meade's command. In 1864 Gen. Williams was
transferred to the staff of Gen. Grant as acting inspector-general of
the armies of the United States, and the same year he was made
major-general of volunteers by brevet. He held the full rank of
lieutenant-colonel in the regular army, but was brevetted colonel and
brigadier-general "for gallant and meritorious services during the
war." Gen. Williams died of inflammation of the brain in Boston,
Mass., March 23, 1866.
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| Williams, Thomas, brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in New York in 1815. He was taken in youth to
Michigan, was graduated at West Point in 1837, served for two years in
Florida, taught mathematics at West Point, and was on the staff of
Gen. Scott 1844-50. In the Mexican war he was brevetted captain and
major for gallantry at Contreras and Chapultepec. He was commissioned
captain in Sept., 1850, served in various garrisons, again in Florida,
1856-57, in Utah in 1858, became major and inspector-general of the
Department of Virginia in May, 1861, and in September
brigadier-general of volunteers. He had command of Fort Hatteras till
the spring of 1862; then went south with Gen. Butler; led a brigade in
the Ship Island expedition; helped to open the lower Mississippi; led
the land forces in the first attempt on Vicksburg; and cut the canal
that was meant to supply a new channel for the river. After this he
was sent to Baton Rouge, La., which he held against a Confederate
attack under Gen. Breckinridge, and was killed while leading the
charge which won the day, Aug. 5, 1862.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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