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For the American politician with a similar name, see William Henson Wallace.

William Henry Wallace
Brigadier General William Henry Wallace, CSA Wallace shown in his Confederate Army uniform when he was a colonel, between 1862 and 1864
Born	(1827-01-08)January 8, 1827
Died	August 27, 1871(1871-08-27) (aged 44)
Place of burial	Presbyterian Cemetery in Union
Allegiance	United States of America Confederate States of America
Years of service	1861–65
Rank	Brigadier General
Battles / wars	American Civil War

William Henry Wallace (March 24, 1827 – March 21, 1901) was an American farmer, newspaper publisher, lawyer, soldier, judge, and legislator. He served as a Confederate Army general during the American Civil War.

Early life and career

Wallace was born in 1827 in the Laurens District of South Carolina. He was a son of Daniel Wallace, who served in the state's legislature, was a South Carolina militia major general, and also was a U.S. Representative from 1849 to 1853. Wallace's grandfather, Jonathan Wallace, lived in Virginia and then South Carolina prior to the American Revolutionary War and saw service in the Continental Army during the conflict. Wallace graduated from the South Carolina College, now the University of South Carolina, in December 1849.

In the spring of 1850 Wallace married Sarah Smith Dunlap, a daughter of Robert Dunlap and native of Newberry, South Carolina. For the next seven years Wallace worked as a farmer in Union County. He then he began to publish the Union Times newspaper, and in 1857 he became a lawyer. By 1860 Wallace was serving in the state legislature, and he voted his support of the secession decision just prior to the start of the American Civil War in 1861.

American Civil War service

After his term in the South Carolina legislature expired, Wallace chose to follow his native state and the Confederate cause. In January 1861 he enlisted as a private of the 18th South Carolina Infantry, assigned to the regiment's Company A. When the regiment elected their officers in January 1862 Wallace was chosen, promoted to first lieutenant and then quickly to captain that month. Later on May 5 he was elected the regiment's lieutenant colonel.

Wallace and the 18th South Carolina was sent to Virginia, where they participated in the fighting near Malvern Hill that August. Wallace then fought during the Second Battle of Bull Run in late August, in which about half of the regiment became casualties and its commanding officer, Col. James M. Gadberry, was killed. On August 30 Wallace was promoted to colonel and given command of the 18th, part of the brigade of Brig. Gen. Nathan G. Evans. Wallace lead his regiment during the Battle of South Mountain on September 14 and the Battle of Antietam three days later. He then went with the brigade to help defend Charleston, South Carolina, until 1864.

In early 1864 Wallace and his regiment were ordered to the defenses around Petersburg, Virginia. His command was now part of the brigade led by Brig. Gen. Stephen Elliott, Jr., and participated in the Richmond–Petersburg Campaign. On July 30 during the Battle of the Crater, Wallace's regiment was part of the Confederate forces blown up when the mine was detonated—he lost four entire companies in the resulting explosion. Wallace was commissioned a "temporary" brigadier general on September 30,.

In September he was promoted brigadier-general, and up to the eve of the surrender he commanded the brigade, fighting gallantly at Gravelly run and Namozine church on the retreat. At Appomattox Court House, on the night of April 8, he was assigned by General Gordon to the command of Johnson's division, in which capacity he reported to Gen. Clement A. Evans and participated in the last action of the army on the morning of April 9.

After his parole he devoted himself to the practice of the law, the care of his plantation and the restoration of good government in the State. He was one of the few Democrats elected to the legislature in 1872, and was re-elected in 1874 and 1876. In 1877 he was chosen judge of the Seventh circuit, a position in which he continued to serve with honor and ability until 1893, when he retired from public life.

He fought at Second Manassas (Bull Run), South Mountain, and Antietam.

Postbellum career

Wallace in later life

He was re-elected to the South Carolina Legislature in 1872 and served three terms. In 1877, Wallace was appointed circuit judge until his retirement in 1893.

References

• Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
• Warner, Ezra J., Generals in Gray: The Lives of the Confederate Commanders, Louisiana State University Press, 1959, ISBN 0-8071-3150-3.
• Wright, Marcus J., General Officers of the Confederate Army, J. M. Carroll & Co., 1983, ISBN 0-8488-0009-5.
• findagrave.com Find a Grave site biography of Clanton.

External links

• Kresock/Sandbox 3 at Find a Grave: Retrieved on 2009-09-21.

Category:1827 births Category:1901 deaths Category:Confederate States Army generals Category:People of South Carolina in the American Civil War Category:1827 births Category:1871 deaths