Alpheus S. Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alpheus Starkey Williams
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Alpheus S. Williams
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 1st district |
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| In office March 4, 1875 – December 21, 1878 |
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| Preceded by | Moses W. Field |
| Succeeded by | John Stoughton Newberry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 20, 1810 Deep River, Connecticut |
| Died | December 21, 1878 (aged 68) Washington, D.C. |
| Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Branch/service | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1847–1848, 1861–1866 |
| Rank |  Brevet Major General |
| Commands | XII Corps |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Alpheus Starkey Williams (born September 20, 1810 – died December 21, 1878) was an important American figure. He was a lawyer, a judge, and even a newspaper editor. He also served as a U.S. Congressman and was a brave Union general during the American Civil War.
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Early Life and Career
Williams was born in Deep River, Connecticut. He studied law at Yale University and finished his degree in 1831. When he was eight years old, his father passed away, leaving him a good amount of money. Between 1832 and 1836, he used this money to travel widely in the United States and Europe.
After his travels, Williams moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1836. Detroit was a fast-growing frontier town then. He became a lawyer and married Jane Hereford Larned. They had five children, but sadly, two died as babies. Jane also passed away young in 1848, at age 30.
Williams had many different jobs in Detroit. He was elected as a judge for Wayne County, Michigan. In 1842, he became the president of the Bank of St. Clair. He also owned and edited the Detroit Advertiser newspaper in 1843. From 1849 to 1853, he was the postmaster of Detroit.
When Williams arrived in Detroit, he joined the Michigan Militia. He stayed involved with military activities for many years. In 1847, he was made a lieutenant colonel in the 1st Michigan Infantry. This group was sent to the Mexican–American War, but they arrived too late to fight. He also led the state's military board. In 1859, he was a major in the Detroit Light Guard.
Serving in the Civil War
When the Civil War began in 1861, Williams helped train the first army volunteers in Michigan. He was promoted to brigadier general on May 17, 1861. His first job was leading a brigade in Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks's division. This was part of the Army of the Potomac.
Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia
From April to June 1862, Williams and Banks were sent to fight Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. Jackson was very clever and outsmarted them. He managed to trap their larger force in the Valley.
Later, Williams's division joined the Army of Virginia under Maj. Gen. John Pope. They fought in the Northern Virginia campaign. At the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Banks's Corps faced Jackson again and was defeated. Williams's division arrived at the Second Battle of Bull Run after the fighting had ended.
Antietam and Chancellorsville
Williams's division then rejoined the Army of the Potomac. They became the 1st Division of the XII Corps. They marched north for the Maryland Campaign to the Battle of Antietam. On the way, Williams's troops found a secret Confederate message. This message, called "Special Order 191," showed Gen. Robert E. Lee's plans. This helped Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan understand how to beat Lee's army.
At Sharpsburg (Antietam), Williams's division fought hard against Jackson's forces. The corps commander, Maj. Gen. Joseph K. Mansfield, was killed early in the battle. Williams then took temporary command of the corps. The corps lost many soldiers, about 25% of its men. After the battle, Maj. Gen. Henry W. Slocum took over as the permanent corps commander.
Williams's division missed the Battle of Fredericksburg. They were busy defending the Potomac River. At the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863, Stonewall Jackson's corps made a surprise attack. They hit the right side of the Army of the Potomac. Williams's nearby division quickly dug trenches. They managed to stop the Confederate attack before it could destroy the whole army. However, they suffered 1,500 casualties.
Gettysburg and Western Campaigns
At the Battle of Gettysburg, Williams's division arrived on July 1, 1863. They took positions on Culp's Hill, which was the right side of the Union line. Due to a misunderstanding, Williams took temporary command of the XII Corps for the rest of the battle. Brig. Gen. Thomas Ruger then led Williams's division.
On July 2, a huge attack by Lt. Gen. James Longstreet hit the Union's left side. The army commander, Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, ordered Williams to send his entire corps to help. Williams convinced Meade that Culp's Hill was too important to leave. He managed to keep one brigade there, led by Greene. Greene's brigade bravely held off a Confederate attack all night. The rest of the XII Corps returned later. On July 3, Williams attacked the Confederates who had taken some trenches on the hill. After a seven-hour fight, he got his original line back.
In September 1863, Williams's division was sent west. They guarded railroads in eastern Tennessee. Later, they joined Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's XX Corps. They fought well in the Atlanta Campaign, especially at the Battle of Resaca. Williams was wounded in the arm at the Battle of New Hope Church on May 26, 1864. His division followed Sherman through his famous March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign. During this time, Williams was given a special promotion to major general on January 12, 1865.
Williams's Horses
During the war, Williams had two horses: Yorkshire and Plug Ugly. Yorkshire was more flashy, but Williams often preferred the stronger Plug Ugly for tough duties. At the Battle of Chancellorsville, a Confederate shell exploded in the mud under Plug Ugly. Both the horse and Williams were thrown into the air! Amazingly, Williams was not hurt. Even more amazingly, Plug Ugly only had a few minor injuries. Plug Ugly eventually became too tired for more use. In 1864, Williams sold him for $50. Williams later learned that the horse died soon after the sale.
After the War
After the war, Williams worked as a military leader in southern Arkansas. He left the army on January 15, 1866. He went back to Michigan, but he had money problems. This led him to take a job as the U.S. Minister (a type of diplomat) in San Salvador. He worked there until 1869. In 1870, he ran for governor of Michigan, but he did not win.
Williams was later elected as a Democrat to the 45th United States Congress. He represented Michigan's 1st congressional district. He served from March 4, 1875, until December 21, 1878. During his time in Congress, he led the Committee on the District of Columbia.
Williams had a stroke on December 21, 1878, and died in the U.S. Capitol Building. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit.
Legacy and Honors
Alpheus Williams was a general who did not get much public fame. Even though he led important commands, he stayed a brigadier general for most of the war. There were a few reasons for this. First, he did not graduate from West Point. At that time, it was harder for non-West Point graduates to get top promotions. Second, he spent time in the Shenandoah Valley early in the war. This meant he was not as well-known to the top commanders when reputations were being made. Third, Williams was not good at promoting himself to the public through newspapers.
However, Williams wrote many letters to his family during the war. These letters were saved and published in 1959. The book, From the Cannon's Mouth: The Civil War Letters of General Alpheus S. Williams, is very well-regarded.
An equestrian (horseback) statue of Williams stands in Belle Isle Park in Detroit. It was made by sculptor Henry Shrady. Williams Avenue in the Gettysburg National Military Park is also named after him.
