He may have been a spy?

[kellbells74]

This is a photo of my ancestor, Captain Charles Williams.
Originally, this photo was believed to have been a Union soldier. When my Uncle went to re frame it to preserve it, apparently it was "charcoaled" over on the uniform. It turns out he was a Confederate soldier.

Upon doing ancestry, his wife Mary (Ayres) Williams and himself both disappear from the census records around 1860-1870, their children living with various relatives. According to my Uncle, the families spent a great deal of money trying to locate him & found nothing. And possible he may have been a spy working for both sides, but nothing was ever proven.

I am very curious to know more about White's Battalion, maybe finding some information on him and hopefully the family (good, bad and indifferent). It's a treasure to have this photo of our ancestor and we would love to do it justice to have his story to go with it for future generations.
Thank you in advance for any assistance, or advice, information!

The back of the photo is written: 1861 Capt Charles Williams of Whites Battalion Leesburg, VA, lost in service.

 

[JOHN42768]

Sounds like needed to disapear and was successful doing it.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

This is a photo of my ancestor, Captain Charles Williams.
Originally, this photo was believed to have been a Union soldier. When my Uncle went to re frame it to preserve it, apparently it was "charcoaled" over on the uniform. It turns out he was a Confederate soldier.

Upon doing ancestry, his wife Mary (Ayres) Williams and himself both disappear from the census records around 1860-1870, their children living with various relatives. According to my Uncle, the families spent a great deal of money trying to locate him & found nothing. And possible he may have been a spy working for both sides, but nothing was ever proven.

I am very curious to know more about White's Battalion, maybe finding some information on him and hopefully the family (good, bad and indifferent). It's a treasure to have this photo of our ancestor and we would love to do it justice to have his story to go with it for future generations.
Thank you in advance for any assistance, or advice, information!

The back of the photo is written: 1861 Capt Charles Williams of Whites Battalion Leesburg, VA, lost in service.
View attachment 196607

Start here:https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/supplemental/mcdonald/thirtyfifth.pdf

 

[Belle Montgomery]

may

This is a photo of my ancestor, Captain Charles Williams.
Originally, this photo was believed to have been a Union soldier. When my Uncle went to re frame it to preserve it, apparently it was "charcoaled" over on the uniform. It turns out he was a Confederate soldier.

Upon doing ancestry, his wife Mary (Ayres) Williams and himself both disappear from the census records around 1860-1870, their children living with various relatives. According to my Uncle, the families spent a great deal of money trying to locate him & found nothing. And possible he may have been a spy working for both sides, but nothing was ever proven.

I am very curious to know more about White's Battalion, maybe finding some information on him and hopefully the family (good, bad and indifferent). It's a treasure to have this photo of our ancestor and we would love to do it justice to have his story to go with it for future generations.
Thank you in advance for any assistance, or advice, information!

The back of the photo is written: 1861 Capt Charles Williams of Whites Battalion Leesburg, VA, lost in service.
View attachment 196607

He may have used and alias and/or changed his name and let's not forget the South lost so perhaps someone wanted to disguise him so they could put it out and say he was on the winning side, sort of like photo retouching today to make the subject appear better than real life. Pride is a peculiar thing.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

Start here:https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/supplemental/mcdonald/thirtyfifth.pdf

There were also 2 Charles Williams in the Va. Cavalry on the National Site. Maybe he consolidated with them? I hate to bring it up but deserters disappeared for fear of death by the home guard during the war or retribution by the locals after. Was he from Virginia or Maryland?

 

[kellbells74]

There were also 2 Charles Williams in the Va. Cavalry on the National Site. Maybe he consolidated with them? I hate to bring it up but deserters disappeared for fear of death by the home guard during the war or retribution by the locals after. Was he from Virginia or Maryland?

He was from Leesburg/Loudon County Virginia.

Yes, it does appear that the photo being charcoaled was to hide him, whether in pride or to protect. Apparently, the other half of the family was Union. So I'm certain there was conflict. (I bet Thanksgiving dinner was a hoot) But the idea that both him & his wife went missing at the same time is odd. I can understand him deserting & hiding, but why her as well over dissertion? It's interesting none the least. Frustrating for me though doing this research!

 

[Cavalry Charger]

Welcome @kellbells74 . There could be an interesting story attached to this photo, in fact I'm sure there is. I wish you luck with your search

 

[Belle Montgomery]

This appears to be his son:

• Report issue

Name: Hamilton Howey Williams
Birth Date: 12 Aug 1859
Birth Place: Leesburg, VA
Death Date: 8 Feb 1922
Death Place: Hamburg, Calhoun, Illinois
Burial Date: 10 Feb 1922
Burial Place: Indian Creek
Death Age: 62
Occupation: Farmer
Race: White
Marital Status: M
Gender: Male
Father Name: Charles Williams
Father Birth Place: Unknown, W Virginia
Mother Name: Margret Agris
Mother Birth Place: Virginia
Spouse Name: Malissa Ellen Williams
Comments: res 40y
FHL Film Number: 1570830

He was from Leesburg/Loudon County Virginia.

Yes, it does appear that the photo being charcoaled was to hide him, whether in pride or to protect. Apparently, the other half of the family was Union. So I'm certain there was conflict. (I bet Thanksgiving dinner was a hoot) But the idea that both him & his wife went missing at the same time is odd. I can understand him deserting & hiding, but why her as well over dissertion? It's interesting none the least. Frustrating for me though doing this research!

I did a bit of research and saw he had two children, Hamilton and Jefferson. Seems we lose Mary too after 1860 which as you say, doesn't make sense. Perhaps he/she died and he/she left his children with those I saw in 1870 census? Hamilton's grave shows up in Ancestry etc. but nothing about his parents.

 

[James N.]

... I am very curious to know more about White's Battalion, maybe finding some information on him and hopefully the family (good, bad and indifferent). It's a treasure to have this photo of our ancestor and we would love to do it justice to have his story to go with it for future generations.
Thank you in advance for any assistance, or advice, information!

The back of the photo is written: 1861 Capt Charles Williams of Whites Battalion Leesburg, VA, lost in service.
View attachment 196607

Since he was in the cavalry, I presume this was the 35th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, popularly known as White's Comanches after their commander Lt. Col. Elijah "Lige" White. This was a famous unit (a battalion is smaller than a regiment and likely had fewer than the 10 or 12 companies of the latter) in the cavalry of Lee's Army. They accompanied the army to Gettysburg, but were poorly utilized in the absence of cavalry commander Jeb Stuart. They did much better in the rough-and-tumble mounted fighting in the battle at Brandy Station prior to Gettysburg; this print by artist Don Troiani titled White's Comanches depicts their charge in that battle:

 

[kellbells74]

This appears to be his son:

• Report issue

Name: Hamilton Howey Williams
Birth Date: 12 Aug 1859
Birth Place: Leesburg, VA
Death Date: 8 Feb 1922
Death Place: Hamburg, Calhoun, Illinois
Burial Date: 10 Feb 1922
Burial Place: Indian Creek
Death Age: 62
Occupation: Farmer
Race: White
Marital Status: M
Gender: Male
Father Name: Charles Williams
Father Birth Place: Unknown, W Virginia
Mother Name: Margret Agris
Mother Birth Place: Virginia
Spouse Name: Malissa Ellen Williams
Comments: res 40y
FHL Film Number: 1570830

I did a bit of research and saw he had two children, Hamilton and Jefferson. Seems we lose Mary too after 1860 which as you say, doesn't make sense. Perhaps he/she died and he/she left his children with those I saw in 1870 census? Hamilton's grave shows up in Ancestry etc. but nothing about his parents.

Hamilton and Jefferson were both his sons, Hamilton being the oldest, Jefferson the youngest. And Laura was my gr gr grandmother, she was the middle child.

 

[kellbells74]

Since he was in the cavalry, I presume this was the 35th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, popularly known as White's Comanches after their commander Lt. Col. Elijah "Lige" White. This was a famous unit (a battalion is smaller than a regiment and likely had fewer than the 10 or 12 companies of the latter) in the cavalry of Lee's Army. They accompanied the army to Gettysburg, but were poorly utilized in the absence of cavalry commander Jeb Stuart. They did much better in the rough-and-tumble mounted fighting in the battle at Brandy Station prior to Gettysburg; this print by artist Don Troiani titled White's Comanches depicts their charge in that battle:

Very cool! I'll have to do some more research on this. Thank you!

 

[kellbells74]

Welcome @kellbells74 . There could be an interesting story attached to this photo, in fact I'm sure there is. I wish you luck with your search

I am certain there is an interesting story. Now if I could just find out what it is! LOL

 

[lelliott19]

I ran across this carded record which may or may not be related......this guy Galle Lewis in "White's Cavy" listed as a "detective"