William E. Woodruff (soldier) facts for kids
William E. Woodruff was an American soldier who served as a colonel in the 25th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War. Woodruff was given temporary command of larger groups of soldiers, like a brigade or a division, in the Army of the Cumberland. However, he was never officially promoted to a brigadier general. He left the army in January 1863 because he was frustrated about not getting promoted. After he left, another general, Thomas T. Crittenden, took his place.
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About William E. Woodruff
Early Life and Law Career
William E. Woodruff was born in Kentucky. He went to regular schools and then studied law. After passing his law exams, he started a successful law practice in Louisville. He also became very involved with the local Republican Party.
Military Service in the Civil War
At the start of the Civil War, Woodruff was the colonel of the 2nd Kentucky Infantry. In 1861, he was captured at the Battle of Scary Creek in western Virginia. He was held as a prisoner by the Confederate forces for nine months.
In April 1862, Woodruff was released as part of a prisoner exchange. He was then put in charge of the 25th Illinois Infantry. Later in 1862, he led a brigade in Jefferson C. Davis's division at the Battle of Stones River. During this battle, he fell from his horse. He broke his right ankle and badly hurt his right knee. These injuries kept him from fighting for several months. While he was recovering, he sent a letter to General Davis on January 19, 1863, to resign from the army.
Involvement in Freemasonry
Woodruff was also very active in a group called Freemasonry in Kentucky for fifty years. He held many different leadership roles in Clarke Lodge No. 51 in Louisville, eventually becoming its Master in 1855. He also worked on several committees for the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. In 1860, he helped start a new lodge called Falls City Lodge No. 376 in Louisville and was its first Senior Warden.
