★★★ Watts, William

William Watts:​

Born: December 20, 1817

Birthplace: Campbell County Virginia
Father: General Edward Watts 1779 – 1859
(Buried: Fair View Cemetery Roanoke Virginia)
Mother: Elizabeth Breckinridge 1794 – 1862
(Buried: Fair View Cemetery Roanoke Virginia)

Wife: Mary Jane Allen 1825 – 1855
(Buried: Fair View Cemetery Roanoke Virginia)

Children:
Edward Watts 1853 – 1854
(Buried: Fair View Cemetery Roanoke Virginia)
John Allen Watts 1855 – 1904
(Buried: Fair View Cemetery Roanoke Virginia)

Education:
1840: Graduated from University of Virginia

Occupation before War:
1842 – 1850: Attorney in Roanoke County Virginia
1850 – 1861: President of Branch Bank of Virginia

Civil War Career:
1861: Major of 19th​ Virginia Infantry Regiment
1861: Transferred to 28th​ Virginia Infantry Regiment
1861 – 1862: Major of 28th​ Virginia Infantry Regiment
1862 – 1863: Lt. Colonel of 28th​ Virginia Infantry Regiment
1863: Helped led the 28th​ Virginia Infantry at Battle of Gettysburg
1863 – 1865: Colonel of 28th​ Virginia Infantry Regiment
1864: Absent from the Army due to bad health
1865: Paroled at Lynchburg Virginia on May 24th​

Occupation after War:
1865 – 1877: Attorney in Lynchburg and Roanoke Virginia
1875 – 1877: Member of Virginia State House of Delegates


Died: May 1, 1877
Place of Death: Oakland Plantation near Roanoke Virginia
Age at time of Death: 59 years old
Burial Place: Fair View Cemetery Roanoke Virginia

 

[lupaglupa]

I don't think I've ever seen a death notice before that included a concession that the deceased had faults!

 

[Pollaco]

The Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad that he served as director on after the war was formed by former general William Mahone.

 

[Pollaco]

Only 3 officers and 51 men of the 28th Virginia survived to surrender on April 9, 1865.

 

[Pollaco]

The unit he led at Gettysburg lost it's regimental flag to the 1st Minnesota and is still in Minnesota.

 

[Pollaco]

Before his transfer to the 28th , while still a Major, Watts' unit(19th Virginia) became part of a brigade that became known as the Gamecock Brigade. It consisted of the 8th, 18th, 19th, 28th and later the 56th Virginia Infantry units.

 

[Luke Freet]

The unit he led at Gettysburg lost it's regimental flag to the 1st Minnesota and is still in Minnesota.

What was left of the 1st Minnesota, I think they brought 260 men at Gettysburg, and had lost about 220 on day 2.

 

[Pollaco]

What was left of the 1st Minnesota, I think they brought 260 men at Gettysburg, and had lost about 220 on day 2.

I read somewhere that 28% of that loss was deaths.