Tenth Generation

75. Lieutenant James Espy WILLIAMS was born on 3 February 1833.^1,6 (The Williams family tree document lists his birth date as 5 Feb 1833.)

General Notes: James fought in the Civil War. He enlisted at Whitewater, Wisconsin 6-21-1861, at age 20 years, to serve for a period of 3 years. He was sent to Camp Utley near Racine, Wisconsin on 7-2-1861. His rank was private. He was promoted to 3rd Sargeant on 9-1-1861. On 4-12-1862 he was promoted from 3rd Sergeant to 2nd Lieutenant.

James and Louise C. Westover were married in Baltimore, Maryland on 1-14-1862. They were married by the Army Chaplain A. G. Barry. It was witnessed by Col. (later promoted to Brigadeer General) Herbert E. Paine, Mrs. Herbert C. Paine, Captain G. W. Carlson, and Captain C. C. (unreadable). They are listed on the marriage certificate.

On 11-19-1862, James was in the hospital at Carrollton, La. It was stated by the assistant surgeon, that he was debilitated and unfit for duty in consequence of chronic diarrhea contracted at Vicksburg, Mississippi in July of 1862. He had not been on duty since that time. He received an extra $10.00 per month for commanding the Co. from 6-17-1863 to 12-11-1863. He also recieved addional pay as Calvary for the same time period
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He was on special duty in the City of New Orleans in July and August 1863. On 9-28-1863, he was promoted to 1st. Lieutenant. He was stationed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with the 4th Wis. Calv. Vol on January 11, 1864. of January. He was a first lieutenant. Co "A" 4th Wis. Calv. Vol.

In a document signed by C.W. Wilson-Surgeon 4th Reg. Wis. Calv Vols., and H. Wells Rop, Cap't. Co. A 4th Reg Wis. Calv. Vols, it is stated that James "received a wound from the fire of the enemy, from the effects of which he died within a few moments. That the wound was caused by a musket ball entering just back of, and below, the right shoulder blades. He was about 6 miles from the post of Baton Rouge, Lousiana while in the discharge of his duty as an officer of the U.S.Army, namely while in command of a scouting party."

His military and pension records are on file in the National Archives.

He was shot by E. Harry Laycock, a noted guerilla in the Confederate Service. A copy of a letter written by E. Harry Laycock follows:

"In the Bushes", La. March 10th, 1864

Dear Dick,

Being pretty close to the Yankee lines, and having an opportunity to smuggle a letter in, I thought I would write to you, just to let you know that I am alive, not withstanding the Yanks have put a price upon my head and hunted me more like a dog than a human. I suppose you have heard my name in connection with such terms as assassin, thief, bush-whacker, etc. I have seen articles in the N. O. papers and others which you have probably seen. I hope you do not believe such things. I have been branded as an outlaw. Yes! outlawed by Gen'l Cooke, the Fed. Com. of B.R. and accused of crimes which I could not do if I wished.

It is true I have held lightly the laws of arms, but I lay that fault to the door of the enemy who have driven me to it. As for Gen'l. Cooke, I have had chances of injuring him but have not done so. But for those who have abused his ear, and set him against me, and made his name a warrant for driving me to extremity, I have some revenge on them and expect to have more. They say that I am desperate, and willing to do anything to close my career. It is false. Four months ago Gen'l Cooke offered me pardon for my offences and protection in future if I would lay down my arms. I refused. I would rather die and go to hell then have protection under the "stars and stripes". They have said that to dodge the Rebels. I am a sworn member of Scott's La. Cavalry "Creole Chargers". and have the authority to scout.

One thing more. You have probably seen in the papers an account of the "murder" of Capt. Williams U.S.A. I killed this captain in fair fight. He came to a farm-house with about 25 men after me. I saw them coming, and left the house in time to escape capture, and went down the road and lay in the cane-brake by it. He put a gaurd around 4 the house, and came down the road with 4 men. When they got even with me I shot and knocked him out of his saddle and run deeper in the brake and got away. They call this a cowardly murder, but I call it a good shot and a brave addition to the kingdom of Satan. Do they expect me to come out in the open road and fight 25 men, or do they expect me to run about with them after me and never to fire? He came to get me, and if he had done so he would have hung me to the nearest tree as he was ordered. But there is many a slip between the neck and the halter, and I am waiting for the next party with old Rory loaded with 12 buckshot.

Father is well and stays in Baton Rouge practicing medicine among the citizens, and gets along pretty well with the Yanks by letting them steal something every day. Fred is a Lieut. in Wheeler's Rebel Cavaly in Tenn. and went all through the Bragg-Rosencrantz campaign without injury. I send this scrap-book into B. R. to Father, and he will put it into an envelope (a thing which I haven't got) and send it to you. If you choose to answer this, write to me at Baton Rouge, care of Dr. L. L. Laycock, and he will get it to me.

Your friend till death,

E. Harry Laycock, C.S.A."

The previous letter was sent to Richard J. Greenhow who was formerly a school friend of E. Harry Laycock's at Vincennes, Indiana, and was forwarded from Vincennes to Washington, where Greenhow was a clerk in the Department of Interior. The envelope was lost.

A communication was sent from Assistant Secretary of War, C. A. Dana to the General. on April 4,1864. An excerpt read: "His father, (E. Harry Laycock) Dr. L. L. Laycock was entirely devoted to the rebel cause and was, in fact, an accessory to the crime of his son. The Ass't Secretary of War sent a copy of the letter written by E. Harry Laycock. He stated that 'as General Cooke seems to be exceedingly negligent respecting his picket lines, it is adviseable that the General should send to Baton Rouge an energetic officer to arrest Dr. Laycock. Otherwise he may succeed in escaping.' James was near his discharge date when he was killed in action. It would have been 4-11-1864. Only about a month to go."

The History of the Fourth Wisconsin Calvary.

It was organized as the 4th Wisconsin, Infantry Regiment at Camp Utley, Racine Wisconsin, and mustered into the service of the United Sstates on July 2nd, 1861. It left the state on the 15th of July, proceeding to Baltimore, Maryland, and into camp at the Relay House, MD, August 5,1861, remaining on duty there until early in November when the regiment was transferred to Baltimore.

It remained there until the latter part of February, 1862, when it proceeded to Newport News, Va., from which point the Fourth embarked on the 6th of March to join the "Army of the Gulf". It arrived at Ship Island below New Orleans March 12, 1862, and landed in New Orleans on May 1st. It was at once assigned to active service and took part with an expedition up the Mississippi River against Vicksburg in May, and another in June, and with this force occupied Baton Rouge, La., a little later in the year.

The forces there were employed in successful expeditions during that winter, and in May were collected with a view of capturing Port Hudson, La., in which siege and sanguinary contest the Fourth participated May 21 to July 8, 1863. This was the last service of the Fourth as a regiment of Infantry. On the 1st of September, 1863, the regiment was by order of the War Department equipped as a Cavalry regiment. Therefore, the Fourth regiment was actively and almost constantly engaged in scouting, picketing and accompanying expeditions of various points in Louisiana and Mississippi until July, 1865, when with other troops it was transferred to Texas near the Rio Grande. Companies of the regiment were detached to guard different points along the line of that river, and the whole command remained in this service until the latter part of May, 1866, when the regiment was transferred to Madison, Wisconsin, which place was reached June 14th and the regiment was soon thereafter mustered out of service of the United States and disbanded." Source: Wisconsin Veterans Museum
He died on 8 March 1864 at the age of 31 in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge County, LA.^1,6

Lieutenant James Espy WILLIAMS and Louisa Cornelia WESTOVER were married on 14 January 1862 in Baltimore (Independent City), MD.^1,6

Louisa received James' pension from the military. The pension was approved on 8-17-1864 and was became retroactive to 3-8-1864. She recieved $17.00 per month. This was granted under the Act of 7-14-1862.

She was living in Oconomoc, Wisconsin 11-4-1916, when she made new application for a raise under a new act of 9-8-1916. On Sept 8, 1916 the pension was raised to $20.00 per month. A new act was passed on 5-1-1920, which allowed her to recieve $30.00 per month. This was the amount she continued to recieve until her death. Her widow's pension certificate number was 28484.

She resided at 333 Silver Lake Street Oconomoc, Wisconsin. She never remarried.
Louisa was listed in the 1850 census for Milwaukee and in the 1860 census in Summit, Wisconsin.

Louisa Cornelia WESTOVER, daughter of Frederick Holmes WESTOVER and Phoebe MILLER, was born on 30 September 1837 in Manlius, Onondaga County, NY.¹ She died on 4 August 1923 at the age of 85 in Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, WI.^1,12 (Her death date may have been 11 Aug 1923.)