Union VMI Graduates

[DesertFox]

Where there any VMI graduates which are know to have fought on the Union side during the American Civil War?

[BP]

The school's historical records say 19 did, many from West Virginia.

[Jim Martin]

Ah yes, West Virginia. Mr. Lincoln was so very opposed to the idea of secession that he let the western counties of Virginia secede from their mother state.....

[Mote]

That has constitutional provision and precedent with Maine however. Secession from the Union did not.

[KingSargent]

Ah yes, West Virginia. Mr. Lincoln was so very opposed to the idea of secession that he let the western counties of Virginia secede from their mother state.....

No, he let the western counties of Va. NOT secede with their mother state.

[DesertFox]

The school's historical records say 19 did, many from West Virginia.

 

Surprised they will admit to it even today

[Richard Lindquist]

James Robert Hall, Class of 1859, LTC 13th WV, KIA Cedar Creek

John Taylor Hall, Class of 1863, MAJ, 4th WV, KIA Logan County

 

The Halls were brothers. Their father was a major political figure and played a prominent role in the establishment of the state of West Virginia

 

John F. Henderson, class of 1852, PVT, 6th WV

 

Theodore Wilbur Boydston, class of 1864, 2LT, 14th WV

 

William Henry Gillespie, Class of 1862, 2LT CSA Engineers, attached to Stonewall Jackson's staff (deserted because the CS authorities imprisoned his father), 1LT, 14th WV

 

Charles Henry McLane, Class of 1893, Hospital Steward (SGT), 3rd WV Cav, while at VMI did not get along at all with Physics prof TJ Jackson

 

Augustus Berry Williams, Class of 1862, 1LT, 7th WV Cav, mustered out in 1862 for health (and inefficiency)

 

Ulysses D. Floyd, Class of 1864, reputed to have been a CPT in the WV Home Guard but no official record.

 

Edward Codrington Carrington Jr, Class of 1844, BG Washington, DC Militia

 

Charles Denby, Class of 1850, LTC 42nd IN, COL, 80th IN, resigned Jan 1863 because he could not support Emanicipation Proclamation, Democrat politician postwar, Minister to China 1885-1898

 

John Fulkerson Tyler, Class of 1859, COL serving as post commander at numerous minor posts in Missouri, dismissed in Jan 1865 for foinacial peculations

 

Samuel S. Malcom, Class of 1854, supposed served as Capt in a MO regt in US service, but no official record

 

Benjamin Sharp, Class of 1842, Member MO senate, COL, MO Volunteers, KIA Martinsburg, MO

 

James Seabrook, Class of 1864, PVT, 35th NJ, died while POW or during capture Meridfian MS campaign

 

Edmund A. Wallazz, Class of 1855, 1LT, 104th PA

 

William Carrington Cuyler, Class of 1864, 1LT/Bvt MAJ, 3rd US Arty

 

John Addy Thompson, Class of 1852, CPT, 4th US Cav

 

Stephen Dandridge Kennedy, Class of 1853, Surgeon, US Navy (USS Hartford)

 

James Brown Hamilton, Class of 1851, strong unionist, worked as a surveyor, locals thought his map-making was in support of a union invasion and had him arrested by authorities, held in CS prison as a spy, died in prison

[Kurt L]

For many years Pennsylvania has supplied the second largets number of VMI cadets after VA (including me.) Obviously this was not the case before the Civil War.

[BP]

For many years Pennsylvania has supplied the second largets number of VMI cadets after VA (including me.) Obviously this was not the case before the Civil War.

 

Fancying yourself another George C. Marshall?

[Richard Lindquist]

Here is a bit of VMI Civil War trivia for you.

 

Cadet Archibald P. Williams, Class of 1862, matriculated in the summer of 1858. He left VMI after one year deficient in "math, geography, and conduct", he enrolled in the Louisiana State Seminary of learning and Military Academy (now called LSU). One of his professors at VMI was Thomas .J. (Tom-Fool) Jackson (aka Stonewall). The headmaster of the Louisiana school was William Tecumseh Sherman. Williams often bragged that he was the only man to have been trained both by Jackson and Sherman.

 

Williams enlisted in the 2nd LA as a private and was promoted to SGT. WIA and captured at Chancellorsville (May 63). Exchanged Aug 63 and placed opn furlough due to ill-health. Appointed CPT, Transportation Branch, QM Dept. Paroled in Houston, TX as Maj IG of Cavalry. Died enroute home to Louisiana.