Charles Urquhart Williams

In August 1860 he was a 20 year old law student living with his wealthy parents in Richmond, and he enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Company, Richmond Howitzers on 26 May 1861. He was appointed Lieutenant and Drillmaster on 9 June 1862 and was a volunteer aide-de-camp (ADC) to General D.R. Jones by Second Manassas in August 1862.

From General Jones' Report:

Mr. Charles U. Williams, volunteer aide on my staff, was of much service to me. He was with me throughout the campaign, and never for one moment did he falter in his zeal for the service or in his conspicuous coolness. I heartily recommend him for a commission in the Confederate service.

He was with Jones to the General's death in January 1863. He was appointed Lieutenant and aide-de-camp to General Corse 28 December 1863 and was probably promoted to Captain, date not known. He was captured in action near Petersburg, VA in May 1864 and was a prisoner at Point Lookout, MD and Fort Delaware until exchanged on 1 March 1865.

He was admitted to the bar in October 1865 and by 1870 and to at least 1900 he was a lawyer in Richmond. By 1880 he was also a banker, in partnership with Aubin S. Bouleware, and he served a term in the state legislature (1875-77). He was President of the Richmond chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution - his father had been a minuteman in the Culpeper Militia - and was an active veteran, being the first Commander of R. E. Lee Camp, No. 1, Confederate Veterans (1883).

Service from Krick1 and the Confederate Military History.2 Personal details from a bio sketch in L.G. Tyler's Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography (Vol. 3, 1915), family genealogists, and the US Census of 1860-1900. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Alice Davenport (1847-1917) in August 1867 and they had 5 children.

Thanks to great-great-great-grandson Jerrold Johnson for a copy of a post-war photograph of Charles.

Some of his papers, including his Confederate commissions and wartime letters, are among the Williams Family Papers, 1861–1919 (Mss1W6767j) at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond.

12/27/1840; Richmond, VA

05/13/1910; San Francisco, CA; burial in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA