William Henry Wood

He graduated from West Point in the Class of 1845 and was briefly in the 7th US Infantry. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Infantry in July 1845, and was with them in action in Mexico and on the frontier in Texas. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in September 1851, and continued on duty in the west, with a tour at the Academy as an instructor of Infantry tactics (1855-56). He was made Adjutant of the Regiment in May 1860, and was at Ft. Hamilton, NY when War opened in 1861.

He was promoted to Captain in April, and in June or July accepted appointment as one of the three Majors of the new 17th US Infantry, serving at Washington DC (to date from 14May). The other two Majors were Abner Doubleday, USMA '42, and George Andrews.

He was acting Provost Marshal General of the Army of the Potomac and commanded the Provost Guard at Headquarters, AOP.

He continued on Provost Marshal and administrative duties for the duration of the War, having been promoted into the 1st US Infantry as Lieutenant Colonel on 3 December 1863.

He was promoted to Colonel in the 17th Infantry in February 1869 and transferred to command the 11th US in December 1870. He served at Western posts for the remainder of his career, retiring on 26 June 1882 after more than 40 years in uniform.

His service from Heitman1 and Cullum2. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

01/25/1820; Quincy, MA

1/1/1887; Pass Christian, MS; burial in River View Cemetery, Portland, OR