William Henry Gillespie (son of James Lee Gillespie and Mary Harrison Hall Gillespie) attended the Virginia Military Institute, having entered after a year in a boys college at Harrisonburg, in the second (junior) class at VMI in August 1860. Despite his father's Unionism, after Virginia's secession, the younger Gillespie was among the 47 cadets that remained at VMI to guard the arsenal, and also assisted in training the newly recruited Rockbridge Grays, and later eighty-five volunteers from the University of Virginia and other sections of the state. In May, he was temporarily appointed first captain in charge of the detail at Lexington. By July, the cadets that remained at VMI were sent home on leave, with orders to report again in September. Recommencement was shifted again to January, 1862; therefore, Gillespie and thirty-seven others were declared early graduates (effective December 12, 1861, seven months than earlier planned).
The biographical sketch of W.H. Gillespie that was written by Edward A. Miller, Jr. (VMI Class of 1950A) appeared in the VMI Alumni Review in Spring 1996, and suggested that from the date of graduation, "presumably, Gillespie was at his home in Page County from July until early 1862, when he said he received a 'highly complementary letter from Stonewall Jackson directing me to meet him at Winchester, Va., and promising me a commission as Lieut. of Engineers on his staff." The young Gillespie obeyed the order [it would seem, sometime around February 1862] and reported to Jackson at Taylor's Hotel in that town. Jackson subsequently told Gillespie to remain with the staff until the letter of appointment was received from Richmond. William Gillespie later wrote, "I slept by his [Jackson's] side in the 'fence corners' at night" during the retreat from Winchester on March 11, 1862. As Jackson's Valley Army made its way "up" the Valley toward New Market, Gillespie again inquired as to his commission, Jackson replying "curtly, that he did not know, unless it was because my father was accused of disloyalty."
Gillespie ultimately abandoned any interest in a commission in the Confederate army (though it was later received in the mail at the Gillespie residence in Page County), and joined the Union army, along with his father. W.H. Gillespie served in the 14th West Virginia Infantry as 1st lieutenant and adjutant, beginning August 22, 1862. William became embroiled in some unclear controversy (an accusation of cowardice) in the regiment and was placed under arrest on August 24, 1864. Though brought before a court martial, Lt. Gillespie was acquitted, but because of the tensions in the command, he resigned in the interest of the service on December 26, 1864.
Later member of the Ringold Post #68, Grand Army of the Republic in Sistersville, WV.
After the War, Gillespie went with his father to Iowa. In 1873, he returned to West Virginia. When he was about forty years old he married, and, to please his father, he took a course of medical lectures in Baltimore. He seems to have been ever a dutiful and devoted son, at least. He practiced medicine only a short while, giving it up for the real estate business. He died of pneumonia at
St. Vincent's Hospital, New York, on November 10, 1897.
The biographical sketch of W.H. Gillespie that was written by Edward A. Miller, Jr. (VMI Class of 1950A) appeared in the VMI Alumni Review in Spring 1996, and suggested that from the date of graduation, "presumably, Gillespie was at his home in Page County from July until early 1862, when he said he received a 'highly complementary letter from Stonewall Jackson directing me to meet him at Winchester, Va., and promising me a commission as Lieut. of Engineers on his staff." The young Gillespie obeyed the order [it would seem, sometime around February 1862] and reported to Jackson at Taylor's Hotel in that town. Jackson subsequently told Gillespie to remain with the staff until the letter of appointment was received from Richmond. William Gillespie later wrote, "I slept by his [Jackson's] side in the 'fence corners' at night" during the retreat from Winchester on March 11, 1862. As Jackson's Valley Army made its way "up" the Valley toward New Market, Gillespie again inquired as to his commission, Jackson replying "curtly, that he did not know, unless it was because my father was accused of disloyalty."
Gillespie ultimately abandoned any interest in a commission in the Confederate army (though it was later received in the mail at the Gillespie residence in Page County), and joined the Union army, along with his father. W.H. Gillespie served in the 14th West Virginia Infantry as 1st lieutenant and adjutant, beginning August 22, 1862. William became embroiled in some unclear controversy (an accusation of cowardice) in the regiment and was placed under arrest on August 24, 1864. Though brought before a court martial, Lt. Gillespie was acquitted, but because of the tensions in the command, he resigned in the interest of the service on December 26, 1864.
Later member of the Ringold Post #68, Grand Army of the Republic in Sistersville, WV.
After the War, Gillespie went with his father to Iowa. In 1873, he returned to West Virginia. When he was about forty years old he married, and, to please his father, he took a course of medical lectures in Baltimore. He seems to have been ever a dutiful and devoted son, at least. He practiced medicine only a short while, giving it up for the real estate business. He died of pneumonia at
St. Vincent's Hospital, New York, on November 10, 1897.
William Henry Gillespie (son of James Lee Gillespie and Mary Harrison Hall Gillespie) attended the Virginia Military Institute, having entered after a year in a boys college at Harrisonburg, in the second (junior) class at VMI in August 1860. Despite his father's Unionism, after Virginia's secession, the younger Gillespie was among the 47 cadets that remained at VMI to guard the arsenal, and also assisted in training the newly recruited Rockbridge Grays, and later eighty-five volunteers from the University of Virginia and other sections of the state. In May, he was temporarily appointed first captain in charge of the detail at Lexington. By July, the cadets that remained at VMI were sent home on leave, with orders to report again in September. Recommencement was shifted again to January, 1862; therefore, Gillespie and thirty-seven others were declared early graduates (effective December 12, 1861, seven months than earlier planned).
The biographical sketch of W.H. Gillespie that was written by Edward A. Miller, Jr. (VMI Class of 1950A) appeared in the VMI Alumni Review in Spring 1996, and suggested that from the date of graduation, "presumably, Gillespie was at his home in Page County from July until early 1862, when he said he received a 'highly complementary letter from Stonewall Jackson directing me to meet him at Winchester, Va., and promising me a commission as Lieut. of Engineers on his staff." The young Gillespie obeyed the order [it would seem, sometime around February 1862] and reported to Jackson at Taylor's Hotel in that town. Jackson subsequently told Gillespie to remain with the staff until the letter of appointment was received from Richmond. William Gillespie later wrote, "I slept by his [Jackson's] side in the 'fence corners' at night" during the retreat from Winchester on March 11, 1862. As Jackson's Valley Army made its way "up" the Valley toward New Market, Gillespie again inquired as to his commission, Jackson replying "curtly, that he did not know, unless it was because my father was accused of disloyalty."
Gillespie ultimately abandoned any interest in a commission in the Confederate army (though it was later received in the mail at the Gillespie residence in Page County), and joined the Union army, along with his father. W.H. Gillespie served in the 14th West Virginia Infantry as 1st lieutenant and adjutant, beginning August 22, 1862. William became embroiled in some unclear controversy (an accusation of cowardice) in the regiment and was placed under arrest on August 24, 1864. Though brought before a court martial, Lt. Gillespie was acquitted, but because of the tensions in the command, he resigned in the interest of the service on December 26, 1864.
Later member of the Ringold Post #68, Grand Army of the Republic in Sistersville, WV.
After the War, Gillespie went with his father to Iowa. In 1873, he returned to West Virginia. When he was about forty years old he married, and, to please his father, he took a course of medical lectures in Baltimore. He seems to have been ever a dutiful and devoted son, at least. He practiced medicine only a short while, giving it up for the real estate business. He died of pneumonia at
St. Vincent's Hospital, New York, on November 10, 1897.
The biographical sketch of W.H. Gillespie that was written by Edward A. Miller, Jr. (VMI Class of 1950A) appeared in the VMI Alumni Review in Spring 1996, and suggested that from the date of graduation, "presumably, Gillespie was at his home in Page County from July until early 1862, when he said he received a 'highly complementary letter from Stonewall Jackson directing me to meet him at Winchester, Va., and promising me a commission as Lieut. of Engineers on his staff." The young Gillespie obeyed the order [it would seem, sometime around February 1862] and reported to Jackson at Taylor's Hotel in that town. Jackson subsequently told Gillespie to remain with the staff until the letter of appointment was received from Richmond. William Gillespie later wrote, "I slept by his [Jackson's] side in the 'fence corners' at night" during the retreat from Winchester on March 11, 1862. As Jackson's Valley Army made its way "up" the Valley toward New Market, Gillespie again inquired as to his commission, Jackson replying "curtly, that he did not know, unless it was because my father was accused of disloyalty."
Gillespie ultimately abandoned any interest in a commission in the Confederate army (though it was later received in the mail at the Gillespie residence in Page County), and joined the Union army, along with his father. W.H. Gillespie served in the 14th West Virginia Infantry as 1st lieutenant and adjutant, beginning August 22, 1862. William became embroiled in some unclear controversy (an accusation of cowardice) in the regiment and was placed under arrest on August 24, 1864. Though brought before a court martial, Lt. Gillespie was acquitted, but because of the tensions in the command, he resigned in the interest of the service on December 26, 1864.
Later member of the Ringold Post #68, Grand Army of the Republic in Sistersville, WV.
After the War, Gillespie went with his father to Iowa. In 1873, he returned to West Virginia. When he was about forty years old he married, and, to please his father, he took a course of medical lectures in Baltimore. He seems to have been ever a dutiful and devoted son, at least. He practiced medicine only a short while, giving it up for the real estate business. He died of pneumonia at
St. Vincent's Hospital, New York, on November 10, 1897.
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
