The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-19
oAPT. w. 9. mATTHEWs.

Sketch of His Life-Senator of the
Twentieth District and Secretary
and Treasurer of the Wrightsville
and Tennile Railroad.
William Collins Matthews was born at
Bonny Doom, jefferson county, Georgia,
July 25 1899 and died at Tennille, Ca,
Sept. 10, 1894. He was the first son
of Levin c. and Elijah A Matthews.
His grandfathers were Lieut. William
Matthews of the First Georgia regiment
of the American revolution and Eli Hud-
son, who lived and died at jacksonville,
in jefferson county, a noted place IN those
days. Until 10 years of age he lived with
his parents at Benny Doom moving with
them to Washington county, near Riddle
vile. After residing there for a term
of three years they returned to Hudson
Vile in Jefferson county, where they
lived three years. The death of his
mother then necessitated a removal to
Washington county. His father was
married the second time to Mrs. M. A.
Gilmore, settling this time four miles
from Sandersville. During the intervals
he attended the common schools of the
country laGer on he was prepared for
Emory college under the tutorship of the
late DR.. A. G. G. Thompson of Sanders
Vile,
While at Emory College. junior. half ad-
vanCed, the first tocsin of the war was
sounded, and being member of the gal
liant old Washington Rifles, which was the
first company ordered out, he left Emory
to join them. He went through the mem
orable campaign IN Virgins; was in the
terrible retreat at Laurel Hill, the battles
of Green Briar river, Cheat Mountain
and Montery; was mustered out of serv-
ice at the end of twelve months. The
war was still raging; the Rifles were
again reorganized and he was elected
third lieutenant, being attached
to the Twenty second Georgia.
Some dissatisfaction arose and he re-
signed, leaving for the Army of Northern
Virginia, and joined Company G., 3Sth
Georgia, as private. In few days he
was elected toia heuteuantcy, and in
short period was promoted to the cap
taincy At the close of the war he was
major Of the 3Sth Georgia, although he
never received his commission as such.
His regiment was attached TO the famous
John b. Gordon brigade. He was fire.
quently Gen. GOrdon's adjutant general
pro tenn.
He fought through all those terrible
battles of the campaign of 1862 and 1858.
Sharpsburg, Malvern Hill, Second Manas-
sas, Winchester, Port Republic, Har-
per's Ferry ana at Gettysburg he was
wounded three times ana captured. He
was imprisoned at Fort Delaware and
later carried to Johnson's Island, near
Sandusky, Ohio, on Lake Erie remaining
there until Just before the close Of the
war He then returned ~ his command
and was at AppomattoX when Lee sur
rendered.
He was truly an encyclopedia OF the
late war, and knew more about il than
any living man. lilo has delighted thou
sands who never grew tired as he told Of
the great struggle and those who bore the
most conspicuous part. At the close of
the war the late Gov II. V johnson
secured him an appointment as collector
OF internal revenue tax which office he
held until the republicans and negroes
caused him 10 resign. He then settled
down on his fathers late homestead and
began to farm. A vacancy occurred in
the Central railroad office at Tenniue and
Gen. A. K. Lawton secured him the
agency az Teunille, it then being
the most important way station in the
system. lie held this place twenty two
years, and during the time was one of the
promoters Of the Wrightsville aud Ten
mile railroad, and 1t was largely 20 his