★ Wells, William

William Wells​

Born: December 14, 1837

Birthplace: Waterbury, Vermont

Father: William W. Wells 1805 – 1869

(Buried: Hope Cemetery, Waterbury, Vermont)​

Mother: Elizabeth Carpenter 1810 – 1873

(Buried: Hope Cemetery, Waterbury, Vermont)​

Wife: Arahana Richardson 1845 – 1905

(Buried: Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont)​

Children:

Bertha Richardson Wells Jackson 1873 – 1954​

(Buried: Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont)​

Education:

Attended Barre Academy, and Kimball Union Academy​

Occupation before War:

Assistant in his father's Extensive Business​

Civil War Career:

1861: Enlisted as a Private in Company C, 1st​ Vermont Cavalry Regt.​

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1861: Helped raise Company C, 1st​ Vermont Cavalry Regiment​

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1861: First Lt. of Company C, 1st​ Vermont Cavalry Regiment​

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1861 – 1862: Captain Company C, 1st​ Vermont Cavalry Regiment​

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1862: Served in the fighting at Orange Court House, Virginia​

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1862 – 1864: Major of 1st​ Vermont Cavalry Regiment

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1863: Commanded Second Battalion at Battle of Hanover, PA.​

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1863: On the third day, leads a desperate cavalry charge on Big Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg​

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1863: Wounded by Sabra Cut at Battle of Boonsboro, Maryland​

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1863: Charged the Confederate artillery at Culpeper Court House, VA.​

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1863: Wounded during the Battle of Culpeper Court House, Virginia​

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1864: Served in the Kilpatrick Raid in Virginia​

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1864: Commanded the 7th​ Michigan Cavalry Regiment for one month​

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1864: Cavalry Battalion Commander at Battle of Yellow Tavern, VA.​

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1864 – 1865: Colonel of 1st​ Vermont Cavalry Regiment​

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1864: Participated in the Battle of Tom's Brook, Virginia​

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1864: Served in the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia​

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1865: Brevetted to the rank of Brigadier General​

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1865 – 1866: Brigadier General of Union Army Cavalry​

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1865: Served in the raid of Richmond, Virginia​

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1865: Served in the last charge at Appomattox Court House, Virginia​

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1865: Sheridan called him "My ideal of a cavalry soldier"​

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Last ranking officer of Cavalry for the Army of the Potomac​

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1865: Commanded Second Cavalry Brigade at Grand Review in D.C.​

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1866: Honorably muster out of the Union Army on January 15th​​

Occupation after War:

Partner in a firm of wholesale druggists in Waterbury, Vermont​

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Partner in a firm of Wholesale druggists in Burlington, Vermont​

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1866 – 1872: Vermont State Adjutant General​

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Collector of Customs in the State of Vermont​

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Leader in the Wells Richardson Company in Vermont​

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Manufacturer of Paine's Celery Compound​

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Vermont State Senator​

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President of Vermont State Reunion Society of Vermont Officers​

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1889 – 1890: Member of Gettysburg Commission​

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President of Burlington Trust Company​

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President of Burlington Gas – Light Company​

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Director of Rutland Railroad Company​

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Recipient of the Medal of Honor "for distinguished gallantry at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863."​

Died: April 29, 1892

Place of Death: New York City, New York

Cause of Death: Angina Pectoris

Age at time of Death: 54 years old

Burial Place: Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont

 

[Pollaco]

From private to brevet major general.

 

[Pollaco]

Immediately after the war He commanded the 1st Separate Brigade, 22nd Corps, Department of Washington for a very short while.What exactly is the Separate Brigade?

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Wells was offered a commission in the Regular Army at the end of the war, but turned it down, preferring to go home. Sheridan called him "my ideal of a cavalryman." Wells is a guy whom I admire a great deal.

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Is there a good biography or memoirs written by him? He died young.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

There's a published set of his letters.

 

[tomlamarcooughlin]

What is a sabra cut-is it perhaps saber?


1863: Wounded by Sabra Cut at Battle of Boonsboro, Maryland

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

What is a sabra cut-is it perhaps saber?


1863: Wounded by Sabra Cut at Battle of Boonsboro, Maryland

Correct--typo. That specifically refers to the July 8, 1863 Battle of Boonsboro during the retreat from Gettysburg.

 

[John Hartwell]

The Montpelier Argus and Patriot, May 4, 1892:

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General William Wells! Remembering General Wells on his birthday.

 

[Sheltowee]

Manufacturer of Paines Celery Compound and MOH recipient. He did it all…..

 

[Pollaco]

4 Wells Brothers enlisted in 1861.

 

[Pollaco]

Sheridan was to have remarked "He is my ideal of a calvary officer."

 

[Pollaco]

Wells was said to have participated in 70 Cavalry engagements, 18 as a commander of a brigade or division.