Ware, William E.

Photograph of William Ware in uniform.

William Eliot Ware was born on September 16, 1841, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was mustered into the 27th Missouri as a second lieutenant and recruiting officer on August 27, 1862, and was commissioned a first lieutenant by Governor Hamilton Gamble on September 22, 1862. He spent the first part of 1863 in ...

Waters, Joseph W.

Photograph of Joseph W. Waters in uniforms.

Joseph Waters enlisted on August 30, 1861, and was mustered into the 3rd Battery Iowa Light Artillery on September 25, 1861, as a musician (bugler). The 3rd Battery Iowa Light Artillery mustered into service on September 24, 1861; the battery fought at Pea Ridge and Helena, and participated in the Little Rock campaign. Waters mustered out with ...

Watie, Stand

Stand Watie was born on December 12, 1806, in Oothcloga (near present day Rome, Georgia). Degadoga, or “He Stands,” was given the name Isaac S. Watie by his parents; he later dropped his Christian name and became known as Stand Watie. At age twenty-two he acquired a license to practice law and procured ...

Watson, Samuel Lee

Samuel Watson mustered into the 2nd Missouri Cavalry (“Merrill’s Horse) on September 1, 1861, as the regimental quartermaster sergeant. He was promoted to second lieutenant on July 1, 1862, and assigned to Company E, and was promoted to first lieutenant on November 17, 1862. The 2nd Missouri Cavalry was engaged in the pursuit of guerillas ...

Weaver, Omer R.

Photograph of Omer R. Weaver in uniform.

Born in Kentucky in 1837, Omer Rose Weaver and his parents came to Little Rock the following year. The Weavers were one of the most socially prominent families in the city. His father, Samuel Weaver, built one of the largest homes in Little Rock and served as Arkansas Secretary of State. Omer ...

Webster, Joseph Dana

Photograph of Joseph Dana Webster seated in uniform.

Joseph Webster was born on August 25, 1811, in Hampton, New Hampshire. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1832 and studied law; in 1835 he became a civil engineer and was employed and commissioned in the Regular Army’s Topographical Engineers. He served in the Mexican-American War, resigned with the rank of captain in ...

Wehle, George

Germany-born George Wehle, a resident of Wyanet, Illinois, enlisted on September 1, 1861, in Company D, 7th Kansas Cavalry at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The regiment was organized in September and October 1861, and mustered into service on October 28, 1861. Initially assigned to western Missouri, the 7th, known as “Jennison’s Jayhawkers,” became infamous ...

Weymouth, John E.

Drawing of John E. Weymouth

Hand-drawn sketch of Lieutenant John Weymouth, 18th Virginia Infantry, drawn by Major John C. Smith, 12th Arkansas Infantry, while both were prisoners of war at Johnson’s Island, Lake Erie, Ohio. Weymouth was wounded and captured at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. Smith, a native of Ireland, came to the ...

Wheeler, John B.

Photograph of John B. Wheeler in uniform.

John Wheeler of Troy, Kansas, mustered into the 13th Kansas Infantry as lieutenant colonel on September 20, 1862, at Atchison, Kansas, the same date the regiment was organized. The regiment fought in the 1862 battles of Newtonia and Prairie Grove. The 13th was involved in the capture of Fort Smith and several other ...

Wheeler, Mrs. John B.

Mrs. John Wheeler, wife of Lieutenant Colonel John B. Wheeler, 13th Kansas Infantry. Carte-de-Visite by A.S. Addis, Leavenworth, Kan. Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 31717

Wherry, William M.

Profile photograph of William M. Wherry in uniform.

William Wherry was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 13, 1836; he attended the University of Missouri and was a merchant before the war. After the Civil War began, Wherry became a first lieutenant in the 3rd U. S. Reserve Corps, Missouri Infantry, and served on the staff of General Nathaniel Lyon during ...

White, Frank J.

Frank White was commissioned captain of Company A, 10th New York Infantry in New York City in late April 1861. Described as “a scout by profession,” he scouted around Fortress Monroe, where he was involved in a number of small actions and won the admiration of General Benjamin Butler. He then came west and asked ...

Whitehead, Onesimus W.

Bust shot of Onesimus W. Whitehead in uniform.

Born in Licking County, Ohio, on December 29, 1828, Onesimus W. Whitehead married Mary Jane Davis in 1851 and was working as a farm laborer in Dry Point Township, Shelby County, Illinois, by the time the Civil War began. Whitehead enlisted in Company C, 35th Illinois Infantry on July 3, 1861, and was mustered ...

Whitney, David V.

David Whitney was commissioned as assistant surgeon of the 4th Missouri State Militia Cavalry on March 5, 1862; he was promoted to surgeon on April 28, 1862. During Whitney’s service, the regiment was involved in numerous skirmishes and scouts, including the Battle of Springfield and operations against General Joseph Shelby during his 1863 raid through Missouri. Whitney ...