William Washington Woodward

Age 15, from Bibb County, he mustered as Private, Company B, 27th Georgia Infantry on 10 September 1861.

He was wounded and captured in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862:

This regiment was flanked by the enemy at Sharpsburg, but our young friend had not arrived at the discretion necessary for a timely use of his heels in such an emergency and stood his ground and kept up fire on the advancing enemy, until a conical ball struck him in the left breast just to the left of and above the nipple, and emerged from his back to the right of the spinal column.

He fell and was passed over by the foe. Half an hour afterward a Federal soldier offered to take him off the field, but he would not abandon a young comrade who had been badly wounded by his side. He remained on the field till next morning, but during the fight and while lying on the ground was struck in the right shoulder by another ball, and in the thigh by a grape shot, both of which inflicted painful wounds, but fortunately were well spent before striking him.

On the field he bled so profusely from his wounds and from his mouth as to become unconscious, but the next morning the Federals revived him with warm coffee, and took him to their hospital, where his wounds were pronounced necessarily fatal.

He was treated for gunshot wounds at a US Army hospital in Frederick, MD from 22 October to May 1863:

He received from the enemy the kindest attention and most scientific surgical treatment for nearly eight months, and his recovery pronounced due alone to his youth. His left arm unfortunately is useless, and the dreadful wound in his breast still but partially healed, but he talks of going back into the service again, and says he would rather be as he is now than to have been a lounger at home in the hour of his country's need.

He died young at age 25 in 1871.

Service from the Roster 1 via the Historical Data Systems database. Hospital details from the Patient List.2 The quotes above from the Macon Daily Telegraph of 17 June 1863, transcribed online by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Camp 1399, Warner Robins, GA. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

05/12/1846

10/30/1871; burial in Mount Olive Cemetery #2, Pinehurst, GA