William Terry (congressman)
| William Terry | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th & 9th district |
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In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 |
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| Preceded by |
James K. Gibson Rees Bowen |
| Succeeded by |
Eppa Hunton Auburn Pridemore |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 14, 1824 Amherst County, Virginia |
| Died | September 5, 1888 (aged 64) Wytheville, Virginia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Emma Wigginton |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer, Teacher, Soldier |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Virginia Confederate States of America
|
| Service/branch |
Virginia Militia Confederate States Army
|
| Years of service | 1861–65 |
| Rank |
 1st Lieutenant (Virginia Militia) Brigadier General |
| Commands |
4th Virginia Infantry Stonewall Brigade |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Terry (August 14, 1824 – September 5, 1888) was a nineteenth-century politician, lawyer, teacher, and soldier from Virginia and the last commander of the famed Stonewall Brigade during the American Civil War.
Born in Amherst County, Virginia, Terry attended an old field school as a child and went on to graduate from the University of Virginia in 1848. He taught school, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1851, commencing private practice in Wytheville, Virginia. He engaged in newspaper work for eighteen months as the editor and co-owner of the Wytheville Telegraph.
In 1852, he married Emma Wigginton of Bedford County. They raised four sons and three daughters. Terry joined the local militia, serving as lieutenant of the "Wythe Grays." He led his company to Harpers Ferry during the John Brown affair in 1859.
Following Virginia's secession from the Union, Terry enrolled in the Confederate Army as a first lieutenant in the 4th Virginia Infantry. In April 1861, he returned to Harpers Ferry, this time as a Confederate officer serving under Stonewall Jackson. He saw his first significant combat in the First Battle of Bull Run. Terry was promoted to major in the spring of 1862 and fought in the Peninsula Campaign at the battles of Gaines' Mill and Malvern Hill. He was wounded in the Second Battle of Bull Run and was cited for gallantry in the official report of his superior, William Taliaferro. He returned to the ranks to lead the 4th Virginia Infantry at the Battle of Fredericksburg. His regiment lost 140 of its 335 men in fierce fighting at Chancellorsville, but Terry escaped injury there, as well as in fighting at Culp's Hill at Gettysburg.
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