Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-08-29

ln n cEit0rl1.:i.
Mr.. w. S. HOLLAND,

M II. w. =. ii OLI,AND,
Dear Sir:-I know of no greater
favor could do my dead friend and
comrade than by adopting the sug-
gestion which you offered the other
day, that is, that / should write a
brief sketch of his life for Il paper in
his county.
William Major Williams was born
in Accomac county, Va, about 1910
or al. At the opening of the war he
resided in Nansemond county, near
Suffolk, the county seat. Moved by
the impulses Of his youth and inf1u
enced doubtless by the prevailing en-
element of those Days, he enlisted
early in April, 1861, in the Ccnfeder-
ate Army.
His name was placed on the cont
pany roll of the marion Rangers u
company which after being assigned
to a regiment was known throughout
the war as Co. 4. 10Th Va. Infantry,
Mahone's Brigade, Anderson's Divis-
ion, Hills Corps, y. of n. Va.
Major Williams was fullyand fairly
tested in all the requirements and
duties of a ,ldier, and never founl
wanting in any duty assigned tnhim.
la the drndgerv ard he unpleasant
fatigue duties Of camp he was ready
and faithf, !; Oh the luarch for all
distances and in all weather he Wa;
ever in ranks, and i'll the dust, din
and danger OF battle he was always
at his post.
cannot recall that Major Williams
evcr mis- :ed g march or battle i'll
which our company WAS enga ged,
and being his mess and bunk mate
in bivouack end march the fact Of
lis absence would have been Impress
ed on my memory.
Major WAS bold without being rash
OF foolhardy; he did his duty with
cheerful aiacrity from q sense of right
and not for tlie love of praise or hope
Of reward; :nd he reached the cliinax
OF his manly life Just he. ore his death
when lie prote'sed and feg:n to prac
ice the p.occpts Of tic Christian re-
ligion.
For Lis general fidelity and superior
strength he vas made a men Der OF
the Ambulance Corps, not = promo
lion. but a detail witch carried with
ii artluous work anl sreat exposure.
On Tie march fro;r GCttsblrg we
formed :, line OF bate "ear he home
stead of II large farm known rs Cali
;;onia Spring in Il spur of tie Clm-
i,erland mountains in Pennsylvania,
and said to belong to eX-President
Jas. Buchauan. While there await
ing an attack Major WilliamS found
q small Bible which he carried in his
pocket till he was killed. He net
his death Willie bravcl'' carrying his
"stretcher' along with the line Of
battle us we were Just entering the
Federal breast-worlis on Gurley's
farm in front of Petersburg, June
aond. 1864 After capturing the breast
works we halted to make q new
alignment. 1t was there that l was
told Of Majors death. l found his
body lying just On the edge of the
ditch in rear Of the enemies bre lSt-
works, his left breast showing where
the deadly bullet went in. COM
posed his limos, took from his pocket
the little Bible, placed his hat over
lis face AID turned 1uournfully away
to my own fate and duty.
We held the breast works during
the night till our dead and wounded
were carried from the field.
The next day | revcrently wrapt
the body in The two pieces Of tent
which lie ard l had carried 50 long
and buried it il The edge of the fam
lily burying ground of the WillcoX's,
near the Jerusalem Plank Road, just
south of Petersburg.
He still rests there uncotfined in an
o,l-,,I l,,,t ar In t.n1
grave.
Major was intensely yirginian, and
as ali Eastern Shore people are, de-
voted TO that particular part of Vir-
Sinia.
He eemed TO have known little of
his family. | remember that he
spoke of his father and mother as
being dead, and Of q brother, but
these were all that remember.
Onancock and Drummondtown
wore the places most Intimately asso-
ciated with his hoyhood recol!ections.
Should this meet the eye of any
who knew and loved him, let nc give
them this assurance: He was Il true
fiiend, he died like II christian soldier,
he was laid to rest by kindly hands,
while q kindly remembrance of him
will ever remain with those who were
proud to b, his comrades in the terri
bic days of the war.
A more than friendly feeling guides
my hand and fills my eyes as l pen
these lines, and l recall with sad
recolIections the ready laugh, the
friendly grasp, brave step and high
Christian character Of William Major
Williams.
Co. A. 10th VA. REGIMENT.
Norfolk, Va, August Sth, 1881.