FORTUNE'S FAVORITE

Fortune seemed to smile upon William Thomas Morgans from a young age. Born in Bethel, New York, in 1844, by the time Morgans turned 15 the gifted youth take apart, repair and reassemble a watch. He also learned to speak, read, and write fluently in French and German. In Oct. 1862, at the age of 18, Morgans enlisted in the newly recruited143d New York Volunteer Infantry.

Morgans proved to be one of fortunes's favorites during his army career. too. He was chosen to drill the new recruits, and in short order was made color sergeant, proudly bearing the colors through the Atlanta Campaignin 1864 at the Battles of Resaca, Culps's farm, Peachtree Creek, and the siege of Atlanta. During the campaign, he was promoted to first sergeant and then sergeant major.

The young Morgans seemed to be immortal. His fellow soldiers liked to recount a daring deed he and Adjutant Rensselaer Hammond performed during the Battle of Bentonville, N.C., in March 1865. The regiment had been ordered to advance when word came that the men were out of ammunition. The troops were separated from their supply wagons by an open field that was subject to fierce fire. Bullets filled the air, and it seemed certain death to cross the field. Undaunted, Morgans and Hammond volunteered to make the dash. With Bullets whizzing around their heads, they crossed the field to the supply wagons and returned, each carrying a 156 lb box of cartridges. Fortune had never smiled brightly on one of her own.

Morgans was promoted to first lieutenant of Co. H in april 1865, and marched in the Grand review of the Armies that May. Duringthe parade, an old woman hailed Morgans, asking, " Bub, did you go through the whole war?" Morgans replied, "Well, reckon I did!"

Before mustering out in July 1865, Morgans was brevetted captain and given command of company H. After the war, his early mechanical proclivities came to the fore; he invented the Hercules printing press and established the Morgans and Wilcox Manufacturing Co. with H.K. Wilcox in Middletown, New York.

Fortune's favor was not to last, however. In 1882, Morgans contracted pneumonia and died at the age of 38, leaving behind a wife and eight children. The Rockland, New York. post of the Grand Army of the Republic bears the name Post Morgans in his honor. CWT


MORGANS, WILLIAM T.—Age, 18 years. Enrolled, August 21, 1862, at Monticello,
Sullivan County, New York to serve three years; mustered in as sergeant, Co. F,
143rd infantry, October 8, 1862; promoted first sergeant, July 23, 1864;
sergeant-major, September 1, 1864; mustered in as first lieutenant, Co. G, April
26, 1865; mustered out with company, July 20, 1865, near Alexandria, Va.

FORTUNE'S FAVORITE

Fortune seemed to smile upon William Thomas Morgans from a young age. Born in Bethel, New York, in 1844, by the time Morgans turned 15 the gifted youth take apart, repair and reassemble a watch. He also learned to speak, read, and write fluently in French and German. In Oct. 1862, at the age of 18, Morgans enlisted in the newly recruited143d New York Volunteer Infantry.

Morgans proved to be one of fortunes's favorites during his army career. too. He was chosen to drill the new recruits, and in short order was made color sergeant, proudly bearing the colors through the Atlanta Campaignin 1864 at the Battles of Resaca, Culps's farm, Peachtree Creek, and the siege of Atlanta. During the campaign, he was promoted to first sergeant and then sergeant major.

The young Morgans seemed to be immortal. His fellow soldiers liked to recount a daring deed he and Adjutant Rensselaer Hammond performed during the Battle of Bentonville, N.C., in March 1865. The regiment had been ordered to advance when word came that the men were out of ammunition. The troops were separated from their supply wagons by an open field that was subject to fierce fire. Bullets filled the air, and it seemed certain death to cross the field. Undaunted, Morgans and Hammond volunteered to make the dash. With Bullets whizzing around their heads, they crossed the field to the supply wagons and returned, each carrying a 156 lb box of cartridges. Fortune had never smiled brightly on one of her own.

Morgans was promoted to first lieutenant of Co. H in april 1865, and marched in the Grand review of the Armies that May. Duringthe parade, an old woman hailed Morgans, asking, " Bub, did you go through the whole war?" Morgans replied, "Well, reckon I did!"

Before mustering out in July 1865, Morgans was brevetted captain and given command of company H. After the war, his early mechanical proclivities came to the fore; he invented the Hercules printing press and established the Morgans and Wilcox Manufacturing Co. with H.K. Wilcox in Middletown, New York.

Fortune's favor was not to last, however. In 1882, Morgans contracted pneumonia and died at the age of 38, leaving behind a wife and eight children. The Rockland, New York. post of the Grand Army of the Republic bears the name Post Morgans in his honor. CWT


MORGANS, WILLIAM T.—Age, 18 years. Enrolled, August 21, 1862, at Monticello,
Sullivan County, New York to serve three years; mustered in as sergeant, Co. F,
143rd infantry, October 8, 1862; promoted first sergeant, July 23, 1864;
sergeant-major, September 1, 1864; mustered in as first lieutenant, Co. G, April
26, 1865; mustered out with company, July 20, 1865, near Alexandria, Va.