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University Micrdrilms International 300 N. Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 8407173 Charnley, Jeffrey Gordon "NEGLECTED HONOR," THE LIFE OF GENERAL A. S. WILLIAMS OF MICHIGAN (1810-1878) Michigan State University PH.D. 1983 University Microfilms International 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark V . 1. Glossy photographs or pages 2. Colored illustrations, paper or print 3. Photographs with dark background 4. Illustrations are poor copy 5. Pages with black marks, not original copy 6. Print shows through as there is text on both sides of page 7. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages. 8. Print exceeds margin requirements 9. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine 10. Computer printout pages with indistinct print 11. Page(s) lacking when material received, and not available from school or author. 12. Page(s) seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows. 13. Two pages numbered . Text follows. 14. Curling and wrinkled pages 15. Other University Microfilms International "NEGLECTED HONOR," THE LIFE OF GENERAL A.S. WILLIAMS OF MICHIGAN (1810-1878) By Jeffrey Gordon Charnley A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of History 1983 ABSTRACT "NEGLECTED HONOR," THE LIFE OF GENERAL A.S. WILLIAMS OF MICHIGAN (1810-1878) By Jeffrey Gordon Charnley Alpheus Starkey Williams of Michigan (1810-1878) led an eventful life as a lawyer, businessman, newspaper editor, civil servant, diplomat, politician, and citizen soldier. He should be remembered best as a prominent Union general in the American Civil War. This study is a biography of Williams which emphasizes his career in the War of the Rebellion. Williams was a keen observer, an excellent writer, and, most important, a participant as a division or corps com­ mander in many of the greatest battles of the war. He was primarily responsible for preparing Michigan's first soldiers for the conflict and was that state's first general. His date of rank, 17 May 1861, made him one of the senior gen­ erals as a brigadier in 1865. In the field and in battle, few Union generals exceed­ ed the scope of his service. As a division and corps chief, he developed a record of exemplary service and constant improvement as a fighting leader, a soldier's general. In the Army of the Potomac from 1861 to 1863 he fought in the Shenandoah Valley and at Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancel- lorsville, and Gettysburg. In the Army of the Cumberland Jeffrey Gordon Charnley in 1864 and 1865 Williams participated in the Atlanta Campaign, the "March-to-the-Sea,11 and the Campaign in the Carolinas. Unfortunately for the Michigan general, most of his commanders either failed to notice his efforts or did not act to get him promoted. Historians, too, have largely overlooked his role as a military leader who contributed significantly to the Northern war effort. Long service with few rewards became the epitaph of Michigan's foremost citizen soldier in the Civil War. In sum, his life was one of neglected honor. Dedicated to Krista Marie ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Several people have contributed immeasureably to this work. Professor Frederick D. Williams lectured on the Civil War with inspiration and stimulated my interest in the subject. His probing questions, thoughtful guidance, and considerable editorial skills were of great assistance in improving the manuscript. Professor Gordon Stewart added objectivity and perspective and gave an important psychological boost at a time when my interest lagged. Alice Dalligan and the staff of the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library provided able assistance which led to many important discoveries in the manuscript materials of the Alpheus Williams Papers. Their service does credit to the truly great archive they main­ tain. My relatives, Maryhelen and Bruce Feighner, provided many nights of gracious hospitality during my research in Detroit. My friends from the Netherlands, Rob and Hermien de Feber, opened their Virginia home to my family during weeks of research in Washington. To these, especially, I owe my thanks. J.G • C • iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES V INTRODUCTION 1-2 CHAPTER I Youth and Years of Travel 1810-1835 3-29 CHAPTER II Early Detroit Years 1836-1840 30-43 CHAPTER III A Crucial Decade of Change 1841-1849 44-71 CHAPTER IV The Uncertain 1850's 1850-1859 72-89 CHAPTER V A Citizen Soldier Prepares for War 90-100 1860-September 1861 CHAPTER VI General Williams and "the Elephant" 101-123 October 1861-May 1862 CHAPTER VII Fighting Stonewall Again: Cedar 124-150 Mountain and Antietam June 1862-September 1862 CHAPTER VIII The Transition to Total War 151-177 October 1862-May 1863 CHAPTER IX Gettysburg and the Aftermath 178-200 June 1863-September 1863 CHAPTER X A Total War General in "Uncle Billy's" 201-234 Army October 1863-May 1865 CHAPTER XI End of Military Life and Final Service 235-248 May 1865-December 1878 NOTES 249-297 BIBLIOGRAPHY 298-315 IV LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Map of Williams' Troop Movements in Virginia 123 Figure 2. Map of Williams' Troop Movements under Sherman 200 v INTRODUCTION A ceremonial sword of carved granite tops his modest gravestone in Detroit's Elmwood Cemetery. There is a large statue of the man on his war horse, but few, except the summer vacationers on Belle Isle, know where it is. Even fewer know anything about the man who should be remembered best as a prominent Union general in the Civil War. Alpheus Starkey Williams of Michigan led an eventful life as a lawyer, businessman, newspaper editor, civil servant, diplomat, politician, and citizen soldier. This study is a biography of Williams which emphasizes his career in the Civil War. To date, historians have written only short biographical sketches of him. Milo M. Quaife revived interest in the man in 1959 when he edited From the Cannon's Mouth; The Civil War Letters of General Alpheus S. Williams. These letters, part of the Williams Papers in the Burton Historical Col­ lection of the Detroit Public Library, are an important addition to the already vast source material of the Civil War. Williams was a keen observer, an excellent writer, and, most important, a participant as a division or corps commander in many of the greatest battles of the war. 1 2 Unfortunately, few historians have noted Williams' efforts in the War of the Rebellion. Historians of Michigan have failed to cite his role in preparing the state for the conflict. He was Michigan's first general in the war. In the Army of the Potomac he fought in the Shenandoah Valley and at Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. In the Army of the Cumberland Williams participated in the Atlanta Campaign, the "March-to-the- Sea," and the Carolina Campaign. Few Union generals ex­ ceeded the scope of his service in the field during the war. And yet, his role as a military leader who contri­ buted significantly to the Northern war effort has been largely overlooked. CHAPTER I Youth and Years of Travel 1810-1835 The people of Essex and Saybrook, Connecticut had little time to prepare for the attack. The British forces had achieved almost complete surprise in the early morning of 8 April 1814. They struck swiftly and devastatingly. The smoke from the flames of over twenty ships smudged the sky over Pautapoag Point and the conflagration could be seen for miles..This was little Alpheus Starkey Williams' first exposure to war. He was only three and a half years old.