Park View in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Brigadier General William Frederick Niemeyer
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, April 10, 2026
1. Brigadier General William Frederick Niemeyer Marker
William Frederick Niemeyer was in the class of 1861 at the U.S.Military Academy. He resigned on April 20, 1861 to return to his native state to offer his services. Governor John Letcher initially commissioned him a lieutenant in the Provisional Army of Virginia. On June 3, 1861 he received his commission as a lieutenant in the Confederate States Army and assigned as an instructor with the 16th Virginia Infantry. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on May 22, 1862 and transferred to the 7th Battalion Virginia Infantry which was expanded and on August 8, 1862 and became the 61st Virginia Infantry Regiment.
Colonel Niemeyer was prominent in all battles in which his regiment took part and was wounded in the ankle at Bristoe Station in 1863.
In April 1864 he was commissioned a Brigadier General but on the day before the commission papers reached him, he fell in the battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, 1864. This was his 24th birthday and he was being presented a fine horse, which had been captured by members of his command. As Colonel Niemeyer reached to take the reins he was shot by a sniper and instantly
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He married Sarah Campbell Smith in 1861 and they had one son born seven months after his father died.
Erected 2008 by Stonewall Camp # 380, SCV (Sons of Confederate Veterans).
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 36° 50.377′ N, 76° 18.439′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Park View. It can be reached from the intersection of Fort Lane and Enterprise Way, on the right when traveling north. The Marker is located in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Fort Lane, Portsmouth VA 23704, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads, specifically in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, April 10, 2026
2. Brigadier General William Frederick Niemeyer Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Colonel William White, IV (a few steps from this marker); This Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); John K. Cooke (within shouting distance of this marker); Mordecai Cooke (within shouting distance of this marker); CSS Virginia Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Fannie Murdaugh Downing (within shouting distance of this marker); Captain William H. Murdaugh (within shouting distance of this marker); Portsmouth Confederate Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, April 10, 2026
3. Brigadier General Niemeyer's grave
Credits. This page was last revised on April 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 13, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
