I have seen his middle name as Samuel and as Stephenson/Stevenson.
William S Bell was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. He served during the Mexican War. He married Elizabeth Keith Oct 23 1851 in McMinn County TN and had two children, Charles Keith Bell and Annie Bell Thornton. After the Mexican War he moved to Chattanooga where he was elected alderman (1857) and then mayor in 1858. He also owned Bell's Distillery and shipped whiskey throughout the state of Tennessee. He volunteered for service in the Confederacy and served in the medical division of General Polk's division. He was a surgeon and acting medical director at the time he was mortally wounded at New Madrid, Mo., March 13, 1862, and who died within twenty-four hours thereafter.
MILITARY SERVICE:
May 23 1861. Surgeon, McCown's Corps of Artillery (Tenn.) joined for duty at this date. Appointed by Governor Isham G. Harris and confirmed by the Senate Aug 14 1861. Stationed at New Madrid, Mo.
Aug 20 1861. Surgeon, Medical Director, Pillow's Div.
Sept 21 1861. " " " "
Oct. 31, 1861. " " " " at Columbus Ky.
Nov. 7 1861. On duty at Battle of Belmont, Mo.
Feb. 10 1862. Surgeon Bell writes to Maj. Gen Polk, stating that he has received an appointment in the Conf. Service.
Feb. 17 1862. Appointed Surg., from Tenn,; to take rank Aug 9 1861, to report to Surg. Cen.
March 12 1862. Appointed Med. Director, 1st Grand Div., Army of the Mississippi (Polk)
March 13, 1862. Killed at New Madrid, Mo
Laid to rest in Mayor Wheatley's vault on March 15, 1862.
The Memphis Daily Appeal
March 16 1862
Latest from New Madrid
...at 4 p.m. the enemy advanced a light battery within close range at Fort Bankhead, and poured a rapid fire into it. It was, however, repulsed very promptly by the guns of that fort...Among the killed on our side was Dr. bell, the medical director of the division, and well-known in Memphis. He was standing in the cabin of the Mohawk between Gen. McCown and the captain of the boat. The shot passed between the general's legs, cutting off both legs of Dr. Bell above the ankle and going out between the feet of the captain. Amputation being necessary, was performed by Dr. Gus Thornton; but the shock was too great, and Dr. Bell died at 5 a.m on Friday evening.
His loss is deeply lamented by the whole army, by whom he was so much loved, and who held him in the highest estimation. His body has been brought to this city.
The Athens Post (Tenn)
March 21 1862
Another Brave Man Fallen
We regret to learn that Dr. William S. Bell, formerly of Chattanooga, who was with the army at New Madrid, received a wound a few days since, from which death almost immediately ensued. We have no particulars further than that a shot from one of the enemy's guns struck him just below the knees, carrying away both legs, and that he survived but a few hours. Dr. Bell was a native of East Tennessee, and was universally esteemed as a warm hearted and true man, of high and chivalrous impulses. No more gallant spirit ever went forth to labor and to die in freedom's holy cause. He enjoyed a large professional reputation, and since the commencement of the war had occupied an eminent position in the medical department of Gen. Polk's division.
William S Bell was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. He served during the Mexican War. He married Elizabeth Keith Oct 23 1851 in McMinn County TN and had two children, Charles Keith Bell and Annie Bell Thornton. After the Mexican War he moved to Chattanooga where he was elected alderman (1857) and then mayor in 1858. He also owned Bell's Distillery and shipped whiskey throughout the state of Tennessee. He volunteered for service in the Confederacy and served in the medical division of General Polk's division. He was a surgeon and acting medical director at the time he was mortally wounded at New Madrid, Mo., March 13, 1862, and who died within twenty-four hours thereafter.
MILITARY SERVICE:
May 23 1861. Surgeon, McCown's Corps of Artillery (Tenn.) joined for duty at this date. Appointed by Governor Isham G. Harris and confirmed by the Senate Aug 14 1861. Stationed at New Madrid, Mo.
Aug 20 1861. Surgeon, Medical Director, Pillow's Div.
Sept 21 1861. " " " "
Oct. 31, 1861. " " " " at Columbus Ky.
Nov. 7 1861. On duty at Battle of Belmont, Mo.
Feb. 10 1862. Surgeon Bell writes to Maj. Gen Polk, stating that he has received an appointment in the Conf. Service.
Feb. 17 1862. Appointed Surg., from Tenn,; to take rank Aug 9 1861, to report to Surg. Cen.
March 12 1862. Appointed Med. Director, 1st Grand Div., Army of the Mississippi (Polk)
March 13, 1862. Killed at New Madrid, Mo
Laid to rest in Mayor Wheatley's vault on March 15, 1862.
The Memphis Daily Appeal
March 16 1862
Latest from New Madrid
...at 4 p.m. the enemy advanced a light battery within close range at Fort Bankhead, and poured a rapid fire into it. It was, however, repulsed very promptly by the guns of that fort...Among the killed on our side was Dr. bell, the medical director of the division, and well-known in Memphis. He was standing in the cabin of the Mohawk between Gen. McCown and the captain of the boat. The shot passed between the general's legs, cutting off both legs of Dr. Bell above the ankle and going out between the feet of the captain. Amputation being necessary, was performed by Dr. Gus Thornton; but the shock was too great, and Dr. Bell died at 5 a.m on Friday evening.
His loss is deeply lamented by the whole army, by whom he was so much loved, and who held him in the highest estimation. His body has been brought to this city.
The Athens Post (Tenn)
March 21 1862
Another Brave Man Fallen
We regret to learn that Dr. William S. Bell, formerly of Chattanooga, who was with the army at New Madrid, received a wound a few days since, from which death almost immediately ensued. We have no particulars further than that a shot from one of the enemy's guns struck him just below the knees, carrying away both legs, and that he survived but a few hours. Dr. Bell was a native of East Tennessee, and was universally esteemed as a warm hearted and true man, of high and chivalrous impulses. No more gallant spirit ever went forth to labor and to die in freedom's holy cause. He enjoyed a large professional reputation, and since the commencement of the war had occupied an eminent position in the medical department of Gen. Polk's division.
I have seen his middle name as Samuel and as Stephenson/Stevenson.
William S Bell was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. He served during the Mexican War. He married Elizabeth Keith Oct 23 1851 in McMinn County TN and had two children, Charles Keith Bell and Annie Bell Thornton. After the Mexican War he moved to Chattanooga where he was elected alderman (1857) and then mayor in 1858. He also owned Bell's Distillery and shipped whiskey throughout the state of Tennessee. He volunteered for service in the Confederacy and served in the medical division of General Polk's division. He was a surgeon and acting medical director at the time he was mortally wounded at New Madrid, Mo., March 13, 1862, and who died within twenty-four hours thereafter.
MILITARY SERVICE:
May 23 1861. Surgeon, McCown's Corps of Artillery (Tenn.) joined for duty at this date. Appointed by Governor Isham G. Harris and confirmed by the Senate Aug 14 1861. Stationed at New Madrid, Mo.
Aug 20 1861. Surgeon, Medical Director, Pillow's Div.
Sept 21 1861. " " " "
Oct. 31, 1861. " " " " at Columbus Ky.
Nov. 7 1861. On duty at Battle of Belmont, Mo.
Feb. 10 1862. Surgeon Bell writes to Maj. Gen Polk, stating that he has received an appointment in the Conf. Service.
Feb. 17 1862. Appointed Surg., from Tenn,; to take rank Aug 9 1861, to report to Surg. Cen.
March 12 1862. Appointed Med. Director, 1st Grand Div., Army of the Mississippi (Polk)
March 13, 1862. Killed at New Madrid, Mo
Laid to rest in Mayor Wheatley's vault on March 15, 1862.
The Memphis Daily Appeal
March 16 1862
Latest from New Madrid
...at 4 p.m. the enemy advanced a light battery within close range at Fort Bankhead, and poured a rapid fire into it. It was, however, repulsed very promptly by the guns of that fort...Among the killed on our side was Dr. bell, the medical director of the division, and well-known in Memphis. He was standing in the cabin of the Mohawk between Gen. McCown and the captain of the boat. The shot passed between the general's legs, cutting off both legs of Dr. Bell above the ankle and going out between the feet of the captain. Amputation being necessary, was performed by Dr. Gus Thornton; but the shock was too great, and Dr. Bell died at 5 a.m on Friday evening.
His loss is deeply lamented by the whole army, by whom he was so much loved, and who held him in the highest estimation. His body has been brought to this city.
The Athens Post (Tenn)
March 21 1862
Another Brave Man Fallen
We regret to learn that Dr. William S. Bell, formerly of Chattanooga, who was with the army at New Madrid, received a wound a few days since, from which death almost immediately ensued. We have no particulars further than that a shot from one of the enemy's guns struck him just below the knees, carrying away both legs, and that he survived but a few hours. Dr. Bell was a native of East Tennessee, and was universally esteemed as a warm hearted and true man, of high and chivalrous impulses. No more gallant spirit ever went forth to labor and to die in freedom's holy cause. He enjoyed a large professional reputation, and since the commencement of the war had occupied an eminent position in the medical department of Gen. Polk's division.
William S Bell was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. He served during the Mexican War. He married Elizabeth Keith Oct 23 1851 in McMinn County TN and had two children, Charles Keith Bell and Annie Bell Thornton. After the Mexican War he moved to Chattanooga where he was elected alderman (1857) and then mayor in 1858. He also owned Bell's Distillery and shipped whiskey throughout the state of Tennessee. He volunteered for service in the Confederacy and served in the medical division of General Polk's division. He was a surgeon and acting medical director at the time he was mortally wounded at New Madrid, Mo., March 13, 1862, and who died within twenty-four hours thereafter.
MILITARY SERVICE:
May 23 1861. Surgeon, McCown's Corps of Artillery (Tenn.) joined for duty at this date. Appointed by Governor Isham G. Harris and confirmed by the Senate Aug 14 1861. Stationed at New Madrid, Mo.
Aug 20 1861. Surgeon, Medical Director, Pillow's Div.
Sept 21 1861. " " " "
Oct. 31, 1861. " " " " at Columbus Ky.
Nov. 7 1861. On duty at Battle of Belmont, Mo.
Feb. 10 1862. Surgeon Bell writes to Maj. Gen Polk, stating that he has received an appointment in the Conf. Service.
Feb. 17 1862. Appointed Surg., from Tenn,; to take rank Aug 9 1861, to report to Surg. Cen.
March 12 1862. Appointed Med. Director, 1st Grand Div., Army of the Mississippi (Polk)
March 13, 1862. Killed at New Madrid, Mo
Laid to rest in Mayor Wheatley's vault on March 15, 1862.
The Memphis Daily Appeal
March 16 1862
Latest from New Madrid
...at 4 p.m. the enemy advanced a light battery within close range at Fort Bankhead, and poured a rapid fire into it. It was, however, repulsed very promptly by the guns of that fort...Among the killed on our side was Dr. bell, the medical director of the division, and well-known in Memphis. He was standing in the cabin of the Mohawk between Gen. McCown and the captain of the boat. The shot passed between the general's legs, cutting off both legs of Dr. Bell above the ankle and going out between the feet of the captain. Amputation being necessary, was performed by Dr. Gus Thornton; but the shock was too great, and Dr. Bell died at 5 a.m on Friday evening.
His loss is deeply lamented by the whole army, by whom he was so much loved, and who held him in the highest estimation. His body has been brought to this city.
The Athens Post (Tenn)
March 21 1862
Another Brave Man Fallen
We regret to learn that Dr. William S. Bell, formerly of Chattanooga, who was with the army at New Madrid, received a wound a few days since, from which death almost immediately ensued. We have no particulars further than that a shot from one of the enemy's guns struck him just below the knees, carrying away both legs, and that he survived but a few hours. Dr. Bell was a native of East Tennessee, and was universally esteemed as a warm hearted and true man, of high and chivalrous impulses. No more gallant spirit ever went forth to labor and to die in freedom's holy cause. He enjoyed a large professional reputation, and since the commencement of the war had occupied an eminent position in the medical department of Gen. Polk's division.
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