{⋆★⋆} BG Williams, John Stuart

John Stuart “Cerro Gordo” Williams

:CSA1stNat:
General Williams.jpg


Born: July 10, 1818

Birthplace: Mount Sterling, Kentucky

Father: Samuel L. Williams 1781 – 1872
(Buried: Machpelah Cemetery, Mount Sterling, Kentucky)​

Mother: Frances “Fannie” Cluke 1797 – 1855
(Buried: Machpelah Cemetery, Mount Sterling, Kentucky)​

1st​ Wife: Ann Patton Harrison 1823 – 1844
(Buried: Winchester Cemetery, Winchester, Kentucky)​

2nd Wife: Henrietta H. Lindsay 1827 – 1916
(Buried: Machpelah Cemetery, Mount Sterling, Kentucky)​

Children:

Mary Elliott Williams Holloway 1843 – 1933​
(Buried: Winchester Cemetery, Winchester, Kentucky)​

Education:

1839: Graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio​

Occupation before War:

Attorney in Paris, Kentucky​
1846 – 1848: Served in the Mexican War rising to rank of Colonel​
1851 – 1853: Kentucky State Representative​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1863: Colonel of 5th Kentucky Infantry Regiment
General Williams after war.jpg
Served in Southwestern Virginia, Confederate Department​
1863 – 1865: Brigadier General in Confederate Army, Cavalry​
Commander of the Department of Southwestern Virginia​
Commander of Cavalry Brigade in invasion of Eastern Tennessee​
1864: Cavalry Commander during the Atlanta, Georgia Campaign​
1864: Received Confederate Congress for his role in the Battle of Saltville, North Carolina​
1865: Surrendered with the Confederate Army​

Occupation after War:

Farmer in Winchester, Kentucky​
1873 – 1875: Kentucky State Representative
IMG_0309.JPG
1875: Unsuccessful Candidate for Governor of Kentucky​
1876: Democratic Party, Presidential Elector​
1879 – 1885: United States Senator from Kentucky​
Became Involved in land development in Florida​

Died: July 17, 1898

Place of Death: Mount Sterling, Kentucky

Cause of Death: Unknown

Age at time of Death: 80 years old

Burial Place: Winchester Cemetery, Winchester, Kentucky

IMG_0311.JPG
 
Last edited by a moderator:
He was involved in the battle of Saltville, NC but he was also involved in the defense of the saltworks near Abingdon, Virginia. Is this the same incident?
I haven't found anything on the NC event; but here is a bit on the Va battle:

http://www.thomaslegion.net/battleofsaltville.html

[Excerpts]

The First Battle of Saltville, [VA] October 2, 1864, was the third of five attempts to destroy what was referred to as the salt capitol of the Confederacy.

…All available units, meanwhile, were ordered to report to Echols at Saltville. Maj. Gen. Breckinridge, who had been fighting in the Shenandoah Valley under Lt. Gen. Early, was returning to his old command at Saltville. Confederate Brig. Gen. Johns S. Williams also responded from Bristol, TN, and was moving his vanguard force of 1,700 soldiers into southwestern VA, while 300 Virginia reserves, under Lieutenant Colonel Preston, were en route by train.

The Battle of Saltville began around 11 a.m., Sunday, October 2, and lasted until 5 p.m. Arriving just earlier that morning at 9:30 with 1,700 men, Confederate Brig. Gen. John S. Williams commanded Saltville's 2,800 defenders during the fight. Williams and the other Southern field commanders handled their troops well for the six hours of the battle

Brig. Gen. John S. Williams summed up the fight in one sentence: "We whipped the enemy badly." Although a decisive Confederate victory, Union forces would subdue the saltworks in two months on December 21, 1864, during the Second Battle of Saltville.
 
It was an opponent in a political race, Roger W. Hanson, that gave him the nickname "Cerro Gordo". This was the race he won a seat for the Kentucky House of Representatives.It was probably meant to be sarcastic but Williams took and kept it as a badge of honor. Williams won that race but this was probably the same Roger Hanson who had been his Lt. in the Mexican War.
 
Before being promoted to brigadier Williams served under Generals Humphrey Marshall, William Loring, and John Echols. When he was promoted he was replaced by Gen. Samuel Jones.
 
His and my old school- Miami University- had a high degree of southern sentiment, for a school in Ohio. Same town produced the Moon sisters.
 
It was an opponent in a political race, Roger W. Hanson, that gave him the nickname "Cerro Gordo". This was the race he won a seat for the Kentucky House of Representatives.It was probably meant to be sarcastic but Williams took and kept it as a badge of honor. Williams won that race but this was probably the same Roger Hanson who had been his Lt. in the Mexican War.
I assume that it was the same Roger W. Hanson that commanded the Orphan Brigade at Stones River?

Ryan
 
Back
Top