William Thompson Martin (1823 - 1910)

Born 25 Mar 1823 in Glasgow, Barren, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Dunlop (Conner) Martin — married 5 Jan 1854 in Adams, Mississippi, United States

Died 16 Mar 1910 at age 86 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Steven Driskell [send private message]

Biography

William Thompson Martin was an American lawyer, soldier and politician. During the American Civil War, he was Colonel of the Jeff Davis Legion and a Confederate States Army Major General. After the war, he returned to his law practice in Mississippi, becoming a trustee of both University of Mississippi and Jefferson College in Washington, Mississippi. He served in the state senate, and was a delegate to four Democratic National Conventions. Martin was the president of the Natchez, Jackson, and Columbus railroad, of which he oversaw the construction in 1884.^[1]

Son of John Henderson Martin and Amelia Emily Monroe Kerr. Husband of Margaret Dunlop Conner.^[2] William passed away in 1910. Final resting place in Natchez City Cemetery, Natchez, Mississippi.^[3]

Parents: John Henderson Martin 1789–1841 Emily Monroe Kerr Martin 1800–1844

Spouse: Margaret Dunlop Conner Martin 1836–1920 m. 5 Jan 1854, Adams, Mississippi, USA

Children: Margaret Spencer Martin Shields 1855–1932 Emily Monroe Martin Lanneau 1856–1900 Jane Gustine Martin Balfour 1857–1936 Mary Conner Martin Chase 1859–1944 William Conner Martin 1861–1938 Ellie Lee Martin Luckett 1866–1938 Lewis Randolph Martin 1867–1929 Spencer Wood Martin 1869–1870 Farar Conner Martin 1871–1913 Caroline Ker Martin 1873–1939 John Henderson Martin 1874–1957

MARTIN, William Thompson MISSISSIPPI. Captain, Adams' Troop, First Virginia Cavalry, July 8, 1861. Major, Jeff Davis Legion, November 14, 1861. Lieutenant colonel, Jeff Davis Legion, February 13, 1862. Brigadier general, P. A. C. S., December 2, 1862. Major general, P. A. C. S., November 10, 1863. Commands. Commanding division composed of the cavalry brigades of Roddy and Crosby, subsequently composed of Colonels Hagan's and Russell's brigades. Commanding cavalry corps in East Tennessee, under General Longstreet, November, 1863, to February, 1864; subsequently commanding a division in Wheeler's Cavalry Corps, composed of the brigades of Brigadier Generals John T. Morgan and Alfred Iverson. Source: General Officers of the Confederate States of America Major-General Will T. Martin, one of the dashing cavalry leaders of the war, entered the Confederate service as captain of a company of cavalry. On November 14, 1861, he was commissioned as major of the Second Mississippi cavalry, attached to the Jeff Davis legion. Two days later we have a report of operations of his command in the neighborhood of Falls Church, Va. He surprised a body of the enemy at Doolan's, capturing prisoners, wagons and horses. For this he was mentioned favorably in reports of Gens. G. W. Smith and Joseph E. Johnston. Just before the Seven Days' battles at Richmond, Martin, who was now lieutenant-colonel of the Jeff Davis legion, accompanied Stuart in that daring raid in which he made the entire circuit of McClellan's army, bringing in prisoners, booty, and much information of great importance to General Lee. Gen. Wm. W. Averell, of the Union army, said of this expedition: " It was appointed with excellent judgment and was conducted with superb address. Stuart pursued the line of least resistance, which was the unexpected. His subordinate commanders were Colonels Fitz Lee, W. H. F. Lee and W. T. Martin, all intrepid cavalrymen." On December 2, 1862, Colonel Martin was commissioned brigadier-general in the provisional army of the Confederate States. He was then sent to Tennessee, where he was put in command of a division consisting of Roddey's and Cosby's brigades. He participated in Van Dorn's brilliant victory at Spring Hill, on March 5, 1863, and during the Tullahoma campaign did great service to the army, as did all the cavalry commands. When Longstreet went into east Tennessee, General Martin accompanied him and rendered very efficient service. On November 10, 1863, he was commissioned major-general. He was now placed in command of a division of Wheeler's cavalry corps, including the brigades of John T. Morgan and Alfred Iverson. He served through the Atlanta campaign, leading his division skillfully through the various cavalry engagements, his men fighting with equal valor as troopers and as infantry. Toward the close of the year 1864 he was assigned to the command of the district of Northwest Mississippi. Here he was employed until the close of the struggle, protecting the people against raiding bands as far as his resources would permit. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. IX, p. 264

Sources

1. ↑ William T Martin, Wikipedia.org, accessed April 9, 2020.
2. ↑ William Thompson Martin, FamilySearch.org, accessed April 9, 2020.
3. ↑ William Thompson Martin, Find A Grave: Memorial #11026, accessed April 9, 2020.

• Year: 1850; Census Place: Natchez (South), Adams, Mississippi; Roll: 368; Page: 5a
• Mississippi, U.S., Compiled Marriage Index, 1776-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:
• Year: 1860; Census Place: Adams, Mississippi; Roll: M653_577; Page: 144; Family History Library Film: 803577
• Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War General Officers [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:
• Year: 1880; Census Place: Court House, Adams, Mississippi; Roll: 639; Page: 78D; Enumeration District: 052
• Year: 1900; Census Place: Beat 1, Adams, Mississippi; Roll: 799; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 0001; FHL microfilm: 1240799
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11026/william-thompson-martin: accessed 15 October 2022), memorial page for Gen William Thompson Martin (25 Mar 1823–16 Mar 1910), Find a Grave Memorial ID 11026, citing Natchez City Cemetery, Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave .