William Otey Newsum

In 1860 he was a 17 year old doctor's son living with his father and 9 siblings in Tuscumbia, AL. He gave his occupation as clerk and age as 20 when he enlisted as a Private on 30 July 1861 in Company H, 4th Alabama Infantry at Camp Jones near near Manassas, VA. He was present at most engagements from First to Second Manassas, VA. He was appointed Orderly (First) Sergeant on 21 April 1862 and elected 2nd Lieutenant on 10 July.

He was present with his Company in action at Boonsboro (South Mountain) and Sharpsburg, MD in September 1862.

He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 10 March 1863, and was wounded by a gunshot, probably on the Gettysburg Campaign of July 1863. He was admitted to the CSA General Hospital in Charlottesville, VA on 26 July and returned to duty on 11 August.

He was back in the Charlottesville hospital, ill, from 16 to 28 April 1864, and wounded again, this time mortally, by a gunshot to his left thigh in the Wilderness, VA on 6 May 1864. His leg was amputated on the field, and he was admitted to the hospital in Charlottesville on 19 May, but he died on 21 May 1864 in the home (Pavilion VII on the Lawn of the University) of University of Virginia professor and doctor John Staige Davis.

His service from the State of Alabama,1 as W.O. Newsome, and his Compiled Service Records,2 online from fold3. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860. His gravesite is on Findagrave. Thanks to Kevin Donovan for his burial location, as well as his death details and correction to his death date, from records in the Jefferson's University - the Early Life Project (JUEL) database, University of Virginia.

His father William Henry Newsum (1802-1862) was born in Williamsburg, VA and received his MD from the University of Virginia in 1829. He built/funded St. John’s Episcopal Church [Highsmith photo] in Tuscumbia in 1852, and there are memorial windows for him and his sons William and Alexander in that church.

c. 1843; Franklin County, AL

05/21/1864; Charlottesville, VA; burial in University of Virginia Cemetery, Charlottesville, VA