The Boys of Williamsport

The Boys of Williamsport. . The town of Williamsport, like many of Maryland's small towns, furnished scores of its citizens for the war effort. The boys of Williamsport served with distinction in many of the states finest units like the 1st MD Cavalry, companies of the Maryland Infantry and the Potomac Home Brigade and participated in the war's largest battles and campaigns. Among the battlefields of Antietam, Gettysburg, Manassas and many others, the roughly 125 boys of Williamsport, clad in both blue and gray, proved their valor. Like other towns across Maryland and across the country, many of these boys paid the ultimate sacrifice for the cause they believed in., Captain Charles Russell, the "Fighting Parson,” was the town's Presbyterian minister who formed the 1st Maryland Cavalry Company I "Russell's Cavalry" who fought in local battles along with other major engagements. After escaping from Harpers Ferry in September 1862, Russell's Cavalry was tasked with assisting in burning the canal bridge and boats in Williamsport after the battle of Antietam. Many men from his company were local laborers, boatmen, lockkeepers, businessmen, and farmers of Williamsport., Williamsports Civil War Dead, According to Roger Keller's "Roster of the Civil War Soldiers of Washington County Maryland" second edition, William B. Kennedy , Major Co. A 3rd MD Infantry killed in action at Cedar Mountain 8/9/62, William H. Irwin , 1st Lt. Co. I 1st MD Cavalry died of disease 4/9/63, James Anthony , Private Co. I 1st MD Cavalry Killed in action at Brandy Station, VA 6/9/1863, William Atwood , Private Co. A 3rd MD Infantry died at City Point Hospital, VA 4/15/65, Daniel F. T. Castle , Private Co. I 1st MD Cavalry Killed in action at Brandy Station, VA 6/9/63, John E. Farrow , Private Co. I 1st MD Cavalry died 2/24/64, Samuel Fiegley , Private Co. M 1st MD Cavalry died 10/29/64, Daniel C. Hiteshew , Private Co. H. 1st MD Cavalry Mortally wounded at Maryland Heights 9/13/62, Samuel W. Long , Private Co. I 1st MD Cavalry killed in action at Deep Bottom, VA 8/16/64, Alfred Smith , Private Co. I 1st MD Cavalry killed in action at Deep Bottom, VA 8/16/64, James Stillwell , Private Co. I 1st MD Cavalry died 3/2/63, (captions) , Ruben L. Bowers enlisted with the Potomac Home brigade and was discharged with the 13th Maryland Infantry Company H. Photo courtesy of Sue Hoch, Drawing by Edwin Forbes depicts fighting at Brandy Station Virginia where Russell's Cavalry fought fiercely and many Williamsporters were killed and wounded. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, The boys of Williamsport served in several of Maryland's finest units including the Third Maryland Union Volunteer Infantry. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Sergeant William G. Parker, a painter from Williamsport who fought with Russell's 1st MD Cavalry Co. I. He was wounded at Deep Bottom, VA Courtesy of the Williamsport Town Museum