William R. Terrill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Rufus Terrill
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | April 21, 1834 Covington, Virginia |
| Died | October 8, 1862 (aged 28) Boyle County, Kentucky |
| Place of burial |
West Point Cemetery
|
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1853–1862 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | Bleeding Kansas American Civil War * Battle of Shiloh * Battle of Perryville † |
William Rufus Terrill (born April 21, 1834, died October 8, 1862) was a brave soldier and general in the United States Army. He fought for the Union during the American Civil War. Sadly, he was killed in a battle called the Battle of Perryville.
His brother, James, fought for the Confederate side and was also killed in the war. It was very rare for two brothers, both leading groups of soldiers (called brigades), to be killed in action during the same war.
Contents
Early Life and Military Training
William Terrill was born in Covington, Virginia. He grew up in Warm Springs. His father, William Henry Terrill, was a lawyer and a member of the Virginia government.
William Terrill started training at the U.S. Military Academy in 1849. This is a famous school for training army officers. He graduated in 1853, ranking 16th in his class.
While at West Point, he had a fight with another student, Philip Sheridan. This fight caused Sheridan to be suspended for a year. However, they later met again and served together during the Civil War.
After graduating, Terrill joined the U.S. Artillery, which uses cannons. He worked in different army bases. He also taught math at West Point for a short time. He served in Florida during the 3rd Seminole War. He also worked for the U.S. Coast Survey, which maps the coastlines. In 1856, he became a first lieutenant. In May 1861, he was made a captain in the 5th Regular Artillery.
Service in the Civil War
When the Civil War began, many officers from the Southern states left the U.S. Army. They chose to join the Confederate side. However, William Terrill made it clear he would stay loyal to the United States of America.
On April 29, 1861, he sent a message saying he would always be true to his oath and his country. He quickly went to Washington, D.C., to continue his service. He was one of only sixteen officers born in Virginia who chose to fight for the Union.
His younger brother, James B. Terrill, joined the Confederate States Army. Their father also supported the Confederacy. He wrote a very strong letter to William, telling him he was wrong to fight against his own family and state.
William Terrill first worked as an assistant inspector general in Washington, D.C. Later, he led a group of cannons (an artillery battery) in the Army of the Ohio. He fought in the Battle of Shiloh.
In September 1862, William Terrill was promoted to brigadier general. This meant he was now a high-ranking officer. He took command of the 33rd Brigade in the Army of the Ohio. Some soldiers in his brigade did not like him because he was from Virginia and was very strict. However, other officers thought highly of him.
Death at Perryville
General Terrill led his new troops into their first big battle at Perryville. Around 4:00 PM, a cannonball exploded close to him. A piece of metal from the explosion hit him in the chest. It went through his left lung.
He was taken away from the battlefield, but he died that night. The night before the battle, General Terrill had been talking with two other officers, General James S. Jackson and Colonel George Webster. They were discussing how unlikely it was to be killed in battle. Sadly, all three of them died in the Battle of Perryville.
Family Losses
The Civil War caused great sadness for the Terrill family. In 1864, William's brother, James B. Terrill, who was also leading a brigade, was killed in battle. He died at the Battle of Bethesda Church. He was given a promotion to brigadier general after his death.
Another younger brother, Philip Mallory Terrill, was killed in Virginia in November 1864. The fourth brother, Dr. George P. Terrill, survived the war.
William R. Terrill was buried at the West Point National Cemetery.
