William Linn Tidball

(1820 - 1893)
Home State: New York
Command Billet: Commanding Regiment
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 59th New York Infantry

Before the Antietam Campaign:
He lived in Mansfield, Ohio from age 6. In his twenties he wrote for his father's newspaper, the Shield & Banner, and was its editor. He was a Lieutenant in the Third Ohio Regiment in the Mexican war. On returning he studied the law, later lived in Cincinnati, and in 1853 moved to New York City and practiced law there. By about 1854 he had written several 'popular adult' novels.

He helped raise and was commissioned first Colonel of the 59th New York Infantry. Enrolled on 20 April 1861 in New York City, to serve three years. He mustered in as Colonel on 23 October 1861.

In the Antietam Campaign:
He commanded the Regiment at Antietam.

The remainder of the War:
He was discharged on 8 January 1863, but re-enrolled on 1 August 1863 and mustered as Lieutenant Colonel. He was discharged on 19 November 1863. He was appointed Captain in the Veteran Reserve Corps in April 1865, and saw duty in the Freedmen's Bureau in Albemarle County, VA for two years, and was Judge Advocate at Vicksburg until he mustered out of the service in 1868.

After the War:
He returned to New York and continued his Law practice

References, Sources, and other notes:
Service information from State of New York1. Other details from family genealogists and a biographical sketch in the Richland (OH) Shield & Banner of 4 March 1893. He was christened William Duane Tidball, and changed his middle name as an adult. Probably brother of Captain John C. Tidball.

Birth Date: 12/15/1820 Place of Birth: Pittsburg, PA
Death Date: 01/29/1893 Death Place: New York City, NY

Notes

1 State of New York, Adjutant-General, Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York [year]: Registers of the [units], 43 Volumes, Albany: James B. Lyon, State Printer, 1893-1905, Issue 26 (for 1900), pg. 626 [AotW citation 8603]

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