William served in the Confederate Army Co. E Black Eagle Rifles 18th Virginia Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant.
He was wounded at the Battle of Second Manassas, but survived and returned to his company after a leave of absence to recover from his injury.
During the third and final day of the Gettysburg battle, William's company became part of Pickett's Charge. William marched behind Gen. Garnett , who was on horseback because of an injured leg, making him an easy target. Gen. Garnett was killed by a Union cannonball and it's believed that William was also killed by the same cannonball because he was behind the general at the second of impact. William's brother, Edmund, was the captain of their company Black Eagle Rifles. He later stated that the last he saw of his brother was when they were lined up to march forward through the open field towards Seminary Ridge. William was about 80' down the line from him.
As the Confederate forces got closer to the Union forces and the chaos of battle increased, Edmund lost sight of his brother. Although Edmund tried to locate him after the battle, William's remains were never recovered. They are believed to be buried in one of the mass graves on the battlefield. It is not known if his body was one of those exhumed and transferred to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia a few years after the end of the war.
He was wounded at the Battle of Second Manassas, but survived and returned to his company after a leave of absence to recover from his injury.
During the third and final day of the Gettysburg battle, William's company became part of Pickett's Charge. William marched behind Gen. Garnett , who was on horseback because of an injured leg, making him an easy target. Gen. Garnett was killed by a Union cannonball and it's believed that William was also killed by the same cannonball because he was behind the general at the second of impact. William's brother, Edmund, was the captain of their company Black Eagle Rifles. He later stated that the last he saw of his brother was when they were lined up to march forward through the open field towards Seminary Ridge. William was about 80' down the line from him.
As the Confederate forces got closer to the Union forces and the chaos of battle increased, Edmund lost sight of his brother. Although Edmund tried to locate him after the battle, William's remains were never recovered. They are believed to be buried in one of the mass graves on the battlefield. It is not known if his body was one of those exhumed and transferred to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia a few years after the end of the war.
William served in the Confederate Army Co. E Black Eagle Rifles 18th Virginia Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant.
He was wounded at the Battle of Second Manassas, but survived and returned to his company after a leave of absence to recover from his injury.
During the third and final day of the Gettysburg battle, William's company became part of Pickett's Charge. William marched behind Gen. Garnett , who was on horseback because of an injured leg, making him an easy target. Gen. Garnett was killed by a Union cannonball and it's believed that William was also killed by the same cannonball because he was behind the general at the second of impact. William's brother, Edmund, was the captain of their company Black Eagle Rifles. He later stated that the last he saw of his brother was when they were lined up to march forward through the open field towards Seminary Ridge. William was about 80' down the line from him.
As the Confederate forces got closer to the Union forces and the chaos of battle increased, Edmund lost sight of his brother. Although Edmund tried to locate him after the battle, William's remains were never recovered. They are believed to be buried in one of the mass graves on the battlefield. It is not known if his body was one of those exhumed and transferred to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia a few years after the end of the war.
He was wounded at the Battle of Second Manassas, but survived and returned to his company after a leave of absence to recover from his injury.
During the third and final day of the Gettysburg battle, William's company became part of Pickett's Charge. William marched behind Gen. Garnett , who was on horseback because of an injured leg, making him an easy target. Gen. Garnett was killed by a Union cannonball and it's believed that William was also killed by the same cannonball because he was behind the general at the second of impact. William's brother, Edmund, was the captain of their company Black Eagle Rifles. He later stated that the last he saw of his brother was when they were lined up to march forward through the open field towards Seminary Ridge. William was about 80' down the line from him.
As the Confederate forces got closer to the Union forces and the chaos of battle increased, Edmund lost sight of his brother. Although Edmund tried to locate him after the battle, William's remains were never recovered. They are believed to be buried in one of the mass graves on the battlefield. It is not known if his body was one of those exhumed and transferred to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia a few years after the end of the war.
Family Members
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
