George L. Willard
| George Lamb Willard | |
|---|---|
Col. George L. Willard
|
|
| Born |
August 15, 1827 New York City, New York |
| Died | July 2, 1863 (aged 35) Gettysburg, Pennsylvania |
| Buried at | Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York |
| Allegiance |
United States Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1847–1863 |
| Rank |
 Colonel
|
| Unit |
15th U.S. Infantry 8th U.S. Infantry 19th U. S. Infantry |
| Commands held |
125th New York Infantry 3rd Bde, 3rd Div, II Corps |
| Battles/wars | |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Gould Plum Willard |
George Lamb Willard (August 15, 1827 – July 2, 1863) was an officer in the United States Army who served in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. He lost his life leading a brigade in the II Corps at the Battle of Gettysburg. Colonel Willard was the namesake of Fort Willard.
George L. Willard was born in New York City on August 15, 1827. In 1847 he enlisted in the 15th U.S. Infantry and served in the Mexican-American War. By the war’s end, Willard had reached the rank of sergeant. For his part in the war he was made a Second Lieutenant in the 8th U.S. Infantry. Willard served in the regular service until the outbreak of the Civil War, rising to the rank of captain. At the outbreak of the war Willard was unwilling to give up his regular commission and so he missed any chance to command a regiment of volunteers. He served with his regiment during the Peninsula Campaign.
In late 1862 Willard, by then a major in the 19th U. S. Infantry, organized and became colonel of the 125th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Willard was allowed to retain his commission in the regular army. He suffered misfortune while commanding his regiment at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in 1862. His raw recruits did not distinguish themselves in the Battle of Harpers Ferry, in which they fell apart under fire during the fighting on Bolivar Heights. They were too frightened, especially by the enfilade fire coming in from Loudon Heights to rally. When the garrison was surrendered to Stonewall Jackson by Col. Dixon S. Miles, Willard and his men became prisoners of war.
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Wikipedia