★ Williams, Alpheus S.

Alpheus Starkey Williams​

Born: September 20, 1810

Birthplace: Deep River, Connecticut

Father: Ezra Williams 1779 – 1818

(Buried: Fountain Hill Cemetery, Deep River, Connecticut)​

Mother: Hepzibah Starkey 1784 – 1829

(Buried: Fountain Hill Cemetery, Deep River, Connecticut)​

1st​ Wife: Jane Hereford Larned 1818 – 1848

(Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan)​

2nd​ Wife: Martha Ann Conant 1823 – 1903

(Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan)​

Children:

Charles Larned Williams 1841 – 1919​

(Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan)​

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Irene Williams Chittenden 1843 – 1907​

(Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan)​

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Frederic Williams 1844 – 1857​

(Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan)​

Education:

1831: Graduated from Yale University Law School​

Occupation before War:

1832 – 1836: Traveler in United States, and Europe​

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Attorney in Detroit, Michigan​

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1836: Joined the Michigan State Militia​

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Wayne County, Michigan, Probate Judge​

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President of the Bank of St. Clair, Michigan​

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Owner and Editor of Detroit Advertiser Newspaper ​

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1847 – 1848: Lt. Colonel of 1st​ Michigan Infantry, in Mexican War​

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1849 – 1853: United States Postmaster in Detroit, Michigan​

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1859 – 1861: President of Michigan State Military Board​

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Major in Detroit, Michigan Light Guards​

Civil War Career:

1861: Brigadier General of Michigan State Volunteers​

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1861: Served under General Patterson, while in state service​

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1861: Commander of 3rd​ Brigade, 1st​ Division, Dept. of Pennsylvania​

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1861 – 1866: Brigadier General of Union Army, Volunteers​

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Served under General Banks in Shenandoah Valley, and Washington​

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1861 – 1862: Commander of 1st​ Brigade, Banks Division​

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1862: Commander of 1st​ Division, 5th​ Army Corps, Army of the Potomac​

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1862: Commander of 1st​ Division, Department of the Shenandoah​

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1862: Commander of 1st​ Division, 2nd​ Army Corps, Army of Virginia​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia​

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1862: Not fully engaged in the 2nd​ Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​

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1862: Commander of 2nd​ Army Corps, Army of Virginia​

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1862 – 1863: Commander of 1st​ Division, 12th​ Army Corps​

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1862: Acting Commander of 12th​ Army Corps, at Battle of Antietam​

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1862 – 1863: Acting Commander in 12th​ Army Corps​

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1863 – 1865: Commander of 1st​ Division, 20th​ Army Corps​

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1863: Division Commander at Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia​

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1863: Acting Corps Commander at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania​

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1863: Guarded the supply lines at Battle of Chattanooga, Tennessee​

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1864 – 1865: Commander of 20th​ Army Corps​

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1864: Division Commander in Sherman's March to the Sea​

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1865: Served in the Carolina's Campaign​

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1865: Served in the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina​

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1865 – 1866: Commander of District of Southern Arkansas​

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

Occupation after War:

1866: Unsuccessful Candidate for Governor of Michigan​

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1867 – 1869: United States Minister to El Salvador​

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1875 – 1878: United States Congressman from Michigan​

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1877 – 1878: Chairman of House Committee on District of Columbia​

Died: December 21, 1878

Place of Death: Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Cause of Death: Nausea and vomiting from food and apoplexy

Age at time of Death: 68 years old

Burial Place: Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan

 

[rpkennedy]

Probably the best division commander of the war who was never promoted to permanent corps command nor to major general.

Ryan

 

[Cavalier]

Well, whatever his martial abilities may have been, he sure knew how to groom a mustache. In an army amply supplied with well mustachieod warriors, his should get a prize.

John

 

[Pollaco]

Succeeded up the ladder to command of the 12th Corps upon the death of General Joseph Mansfield at Antietam.

 

[rpkennedy]

Succeeded to command of the 12th Corps upon the death of General Joseph Mansfield at Antietam.

And was the prime commander of the corps at Gettysburg (Henry Slocum was acting as a wing commander and delegated much of the responsibility for running the corps to Williams).

Ryan

 

[Pollaco]

His division guarding the supply lines during the battle of Chattanooga was due to General Slocum's refusal to serve under Hooker.

 

[John Wolf Smith]

Happy birthday.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Alpheus S. Williams! Salutes remembering General Williams on his birthday.

 

[rbasin]

One of the best of the unknown commanders

 

[Pollaco]

When brevetted as major general his notation read for "marked ability and energy."

 

[rpkennedy]

One of the best of the unknown commanders

Agreed. He was arguably one of the best non-West Point generals that the war produced.

Ryan