William Allen Parham (1830-1866) was a Confederate colonel who commanded the 41st Virginia Infantry Regiment and, briefly, Mahone's Brigade during the American Civil War.
W. A. Parham | |
|---|---|
 The only known photograph of Parham | |
| Born | 1830 Sussex County, Virginia, United States |
| Died | July 2, 1866 (aged 35–36) Warrenton, North Carolina, United States |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States |
| Branch |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861 – 1865 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands | 41st Virginia Infantry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War
|
Biography
editParham was born around 1830 at Sussex County, Virginia and initially worked as a planter in Virginia.[1][2] When the American Civil War broke out and Parham's home state seceded, Parham joined the Sussex Riflemen.[3] He then enlisted as 1st Lieutenant of Company A of the 41st Virginia Infantry Regiment.[4] He was later promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 41st Virginia on May 3, 1862, and would go on to participate at the Battle of Williamsburg.[3] After that the 41st would be stationed at Petersburg, Virginia but wouldn't see any combat until the Battle of Seven Pines and the Battle of Glendale. Parham himself was injured at the Battle of Malvern Hill.[3][5][6]
After his injury on his right iris, he was promoted to Colonel on July 25, 1862[1] and would go on to participate in the Second Battle of Bull Run. Parham would then serve in the Battle of Crampton's Gap. Afterwards he commanded William Mahone's Brigade during the Battle of Antietam before being wounded again in the latter.[1][7][8][5] Parham's last major operation would be at the Battle of Chancellorsville and his final battles would be at the Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of Bristoe Station and the Battle of Mine Run[5] before it was finally realized that his health wouldn't be restored at all. Accordingly, he was transferred to Weldon, North Carolina, serving as provost marshal. During the later half of 1863, he attempted to run for the Confederate States Congress but failed to get admission.[2] He would also serve as provost marshal at Richmond, Virginia in October 1864 and commanded the post at Hicksford, Virginia.[5] On March 31, 1865, he was retired to the ´ Invalid Corps[4] before surrendering at Raleigh on May 29, 1865.[3] After the war, he retired to his wife's house at Warrenton, North Carolina before dying from his wounds at Malvern Hill on July 2, 1866.[1][3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Ezra A. Carman; Thomas Clemens (Feb 15, 2017). The Maryland Campaign of September 1862: The Battle of Shepherdstown and the End of the Campaign. Vol. 3. Savas Beatie. p. 269. ISBN 978-1611213034. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ a b Bruce S. Allardice (2008). Confederate Colonels: A Biographical Register. University of Missouri Press. p. 298. ISBN 978-0826266484. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Colonel William Parham's Frock Coat". www.oldsouthantiques.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ a b George S. Bernard (2012). Hampton Newsome; John Horn; John G. Selby (eds.). Civil War Talks: Further Reminiscences of George S. Bernard and His Fellow Veterans. University of Virginia Press. ISBN 978-0813931838. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Antietam: Col William Allen Parham". Antietam on the Web. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "American Civil War Research Database". Civil War Data. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "Army of Northern Virginia - Right Wing, part 1 - Antietam National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service)". National Park Service. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "Anderson's Division of the Army of Northern Virginia December 1862". Civil War in the East. Retrieved March 12, 2022.