Army to Supreme Ct: USA Maj. Gen. William B. Woods

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. William B. Woods (b, 1824, d. 1887) One of two brothers to reach the grade of general in Federal service during the Civil War, William Burnham Woods was born at Newark, Ohio, Aug. 3, 1824. His brother, Charles, was born in February of 1827. William was educated at Western Reserve College and then graduated from Yale in 1845. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1847 and immediately became interested in politics. As a Democrat, he became mayor of Newark and later a member of the Ohio house. He ascended to speaker of the house At the start of the war, he was opposed to policies of the Lincoln government, but later became an ally. In February of 1862, Woods donned an army uniform as lieutenant colonel of the 76th Ohio, a regiment then commanded by his brother, Charles. Mustered Feb. 9., 1862, this regiment went right into action and participated in its first action, the taking of Fort Donelson. Woods fought at Shiloh April 6-7, 1862, and then was part of the forces besieging Corinth, Mississippi through the end of May. After that, the unit participated in campaign action which resulted in the sack of Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 4, 1863. In September of 1863, Charles Woods was promoted to brigadier general and William was boosted to colonel. By November of the year, the regiment was in Chattanooga. It participated in actions to clear the Confederates from around Chattanooga Nov. 23-25, 1863. He led a brigade in his brother’s division through the Atlanta Campaign and the March to the Sea and Carolinas Campaign. He received praise for actions at the Battle of Bentonville March 19-21, 1865. At the end of the war, May 31, 1865, Woods received a promotion to brigadier general of volunteers and was breveted to major general of volunteers. After the war, he stayed in the South, moving to Bentonville, Alabama. He practiced law and farmed cotton there. In 1869, President U.S. Grant appointed him circuit judge for the Fifth Circuit. In December of 1880, he was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by another fellow Ohio general from the Civil War, President Rutherford B. Hayes. He held his position until his death in Washington, D.C., May 14, 1887. He was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newark, Ohio, near his brother.

At least one OOB lists William Woods as commander of a regiment at Fort Donelson, although it's more likely that Charles Woods led the 76th Ohio in that campaign.

[Gil R.]

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