William Scott Worth (January 6, 1840 October 16, 1904) was an American brigadier general of the American Civil War and the Spanish–American War. He was known for being the son of Major General William J. Worth and leading the 13th Infantry Regiment during the Battle of San Juan Hill.
William Scott Worth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 6, 1840 Albany, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 16, 1904 (aged 64) Clifton, Staten Island, New York, U.S. |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1898 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Unit | 8th Infantry Regiment |
| Commands | 13th Infantry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | |
| Spouse(s) |
Florence Mansfield (m. 1880) |
| Relations | William J. Worth (father) |
American Civil War
editWilliam was born on January 6, 1840, at Albany, New York as the only son of William J. Worth and Margaret Stafford Worth.[1] Before the American Civil War broke out, Worth was operating at a silver mine in New Mexico. When news reached upon the Confederate secession, Worth traveled to Washington, D.C. and was mustered as a 2nd Lieutenant within the 8th Infantry Regiment on April 26, 1861, and promoted to 1st Lieutenant on June 7, 1861. Worth was then made an Adjutant from September 5, 1861, to April 13, 1862, as well as being on the General Staff of Henry Jackson Hunt around the summer of 1862, participating at the Battle of Antietam. Around this time, a proposal was made to make Worth the aide-de-camp to Major General Joseph Hooker but continued to serve with Hunt, going on to participate at the Battle of Gettysburg with him. Worth was brevetted two times, once to captain on August 1, 1864, for "assault on the enemy's lines before Petersburg and in the operations in the campaign against Richmond, Va" and to major on April 9, 1865, for "gallant and meritorious service during the campaign terminating with the surrender of the insurgent army under gen RE Lee". Around this time, Worth was transferred to serve General George Meade within the Army of the Potomac until the end of the war.[2][3]
Frontier and Spanish-American War
editWorth remained in the U.S. Army and was promoted to captain on January 14, 1866. By 1869, the 8th Infantry Regiment was merged with the 1st Battalion of the 17th Infantry Regiment into the 23rd Infantry Regiment. He went on to serve at Arizona and Oregon for the next 25 years until he was promoted to major on March 9, 1881, within the 2nd Infantry Regiment.[3] Worth's regiment was transferred to Oregon during the Bannock War.[4]
In 1880, he married Florence Mansfield who was the daughter of The Reverend Delos Mansfield.[3] They had a son who died young.[4]
He was transferred to the 13th Infantry Regiment as its lieutenant colonel on November 26, 1894. He then lead the 2nd Brigade of the V Corps but was wounded during the Battle of San Juan Hill.[5] After being promoted to colonel of the 16th Infantry Regiment on August 11, 1898, he became a brigadier general of volunteers from July 12, 1898, to October 28, 1898, when he was given full generalship on October 29 and held that rank until his retirement on November 9, 1898.[2][6][7]
Later life
editBefore his death, Worth was a member of the Aztec Society, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, the General Society of Colonial Wars, the Society of the Army of the Potomac and the Society of the Cincinnati.[3]
Worth died on October 16, 1904 in Clifton, Staten Island at the home of a nephew.[4]
References
edit- ^ The Constitution and register of membership of the General Society of the War of 1812. Dalcassian Publishing Company. January 1, 1908. p. 245. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- ^ a b "Antietam: Lt William Scott Worth". Antietam on the Web. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
- ^ a b c d A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Interests of the New York Athletic Club. Vol. 13. 1904. p. 25. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Brig. Gen. Worth Dead after Long Service: Fought in Civil War, Against Indians and the Spanish" (PDF). The New York Times. October 17, 1904. p. 9. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge. Vol. 29. Encyclopedia Americana Corporation. 1920. p. 562. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- ^ Martha Summerhayes (January 1, 2010). Vanished Arizona: Recollections of My Army Life. Cosimo, Inc. p. 28. ISBN 978-1616402389. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- ^ The American Monthly Review of Reviews. Vol. 30. Review of Reviews. 1904. p. 541. Retrieved September 9, 2022.