Civil War Biographies Page Brigadier General William Richard Terry Brigadier-General William Richard Terry was born at Liberty, Bedford county, Va., March 12, 18I7. After his graduation by the Virginia military institute in 1850, he devoted himself to agricultural and commercial pursuits until the secession of Virginia, when he promptly entered the military service as captain of a company of cavalry organized in Bedford county. He led his men to Manassas, and after serving at Fairfax Court House, participated in the cavalry charge which demoralized the broken right wing of the Federal army on the night of April 21st, continuing until midnight in pursuit of the enemy.
History has no example of a more daring charge.
Under Terry's leadership the regiment fought with the same heroism at Second Manassas, and after the wounding of Colonel Corse, then commanding Kemper's brigade, Colonel Terry succeeded him in temporary command. He was with his regiment in all its battles, and was seven times badly wounded. One of the most desperate of his wounds was received at Gettysburg, in the memorable assault of Pickett's division. He commanded Kemper's brigade from the fall of 1863 until nearly the close of the war, with promotion to brigadier-general in May, 1864. Assigned to the department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia with Pickett, he took part in the expedition against New Bern, and in May, i864, bore a worthy part in the gallant stand made, against Butler at Drewry's bluff.