Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Augusta, Maine, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1842 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He served as an aide-de-camp to Major General Robert Patterson and for his actions during the Mexican-American War, was promoted a Captain. At the start of the Civil War, he was named as the Assistant Adjutant General for the Department of the Ohio and was promoted to Major. In 1862, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and was named as the Assistant Adjutant General for the Army of the Potomac, commanded by General George McClellan. For his service at the Battle of Gettysburg he was promoted Colonel. In March 1864, he was named as an Inspector General on the staff of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant and when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865, it was Williams who drafted the surrender documents. He was also present at the surrender and for his war service was brevetted Major General in the Regular Army on March 13, 1865. After the Civil War, Williams was named as Assistant Adjutant General of the Military Division of the Atlantic, but fell ill from what was described as a brain ailment and died one day after his 44th birthday in Boston, Massachusetts.
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Augusta, Maine, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1842 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He served as an aide-de-camp to Major General Robert Patterson and for his actions during the Mexican-American War, was promoted a Captain. At the start of the Civil War, he was named as the Assistant Adjutant General for the Department of the Ohio and was promoted to Major. In 1862, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and was named as the Assistant Adjutant General for the Army of the Potomac, commanded by General George McClellan. For his service at the Battle of Gettysburg he was promoted Colonel. In March 1864, he was named as an Inspector General on the staff of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant and when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865, it was Williams who drafted the surrender documents. He was also present at the surrender and for his war service was brevetted Major General in the Regular Army on March 13, 1865. After the Civil War, Williams was named as Assistant Adjutant General of the Military Division of the Atlantic, but fell ill from what was described as a brain ailment and died one day after his 44th birthday in Boston, Massachusetts.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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