Col. William Elisha Peters Marker

HMdb.org

THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE “Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”

Home — My Markers — Add A Marker — Marker Series — Links & Books — Forum — About Us

Word or Phrase

Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print

Marion in Smyth County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Col. William Elisha Peters
Confederate Veteran and College Professor

Col. William Elisha Peters Marker Photo, Click for full size

By Craig Swain, September 5, 2010

1. Col. William Elisha Peters Marker

Inscription. Col. William Elisha Peters, 21st Virginia Cavalry, C.S.A., is buried in the cemetery to your left. He was born on August 28, 1829, in Bedford County, Virginia, attending New London Academy there, then entered Emory and Henry College in 1846, graduating in 1848. He taught at a private school in Lynchburg, Virginia, at the University of Virginia, and at Emory and Henry College. From 1856 to 1858, he studied ancient and modern languages in Berlin, Prussia, then returned to the college.

On April 17, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Smyth Dragoons (Co. A, 8th Virginia Cavalry) and was immediately elected lieutenant. He and his regiment joined Gen. John B. Floyd's brigade. He later became an infantry captain, was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 45th Virginia Infantry, then became colonel of the 21st Virginia Cavalry. He fought in southwest Virginia, Georgia, and finally with the Army of Northern Virginia in its campaigns. During Gen. Jubal A. Early's raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania in the summer of 1864, his regiment was ordered to burn Chambersburg after the citizens failed to pay a ransom levied in retaliation for the burning of three Virginia houses by Federal troops. Peters refused to carry out his orders, however, because the town was filled with noncombatants. He was arrested but soon released.

During the

By Craig Swain, September 5, 2010

2. Col. William Elisha Peters Marker

war, he was wounded three times. While convalescing at home in 1863, he was elected to the Senate of Virginia but soon resigned to return to the army. He surrendered with his command at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. After the war, he taught Latin at the University of Virginia until 1900. He died on March 22, 1906. A new dormitory at the university, completed and occupied in 1929, was named for him.

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails marker series.

Location. 36° 50.114′ N, 81° 30.845′ W. Marker is in Marion, Virginia, in Smyth County. Marker is on East Main Street, on the right when traveling west. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marion VA 24354, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Confederate Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Marion (approx. 0.4 miles away); Smyth County Revolutionary War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Smyth County War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of Colonial Home (approx. 0.9 miles away); Col. Arthur Campbell (approx. 0.9 miles away); Sherwood Anderson (approx. 1.4 miles away); Battle of Marion (approx. 1.6 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Marion.