William Hays

He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1840, and promoted 1st Lieutenant in 1847, captain in 1853, and major in 1863. He served throughout the Mexican war with the light-artillery. He was wounded at Molino del Rey, and brevetted captain and major. From 1853 till 1854 he was engaged in the Seminole Indian wars, and was on frontier duty in 1856-'60.

He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel and aide de camp (ADC) of volunteers on 28 September 1861.

He commanded the Fifth Corps Reserve Artillery, stationed on the heights east of the Antietam Creek on the 17th, providing long range fire, mainly against Confederate infantry positions between the East and West Woods.

He was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers 29 Nov 1862. He was wounded and taken prisoner at Chancellorsville, 6 May, 1863, rejoined the army at Gettysburg, and in November was appointed provost-marshal of the southern district of New York. At the expiration of his term in February, 1865, he rejoined his regiment at Petersburg, and served with the 2d Corps, and in command of the Reserve Artillery until the close of the war.

He was mustered out of volunteer service 15 Jan 1866, and continued in Regular Army service (as Major) til his death in 1875.

Sources: Heitman, Francis Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army 1789-1903, Washington, US Government Printing Office, 1903; and
Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, edited by James Grant Wilson and John Fiske. Six volumes, New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1887-1889

1819; Richmond, VA

3/7/1875; Ft. Independence, MA