William Briggs died at home in Fieldon, Sunday, April 27, 1902, age 63 years. The funeral was held from the Presbyterian church in Fieldon, Rev. I. D. Crawford officiating.
He was born in Greene County and was the 15th of 16 children.
William Briggs was a Lieutenant in Company E, 6th Mo. Inf volunteers. Burial was in Fieldon Cemetery.
Among one of the earliest ones to enlist for the service of his country, under the Union banners, at the breaking out of the Civil War. A company was formed composed of men from Greene, Jersey and Calhoun counties, but their services were not accepted by the government, as it was thought that no more assistance would be needed.
They were determined to enter the service, and enlisted as a body in the 6th Missouri regiment, under Colonel Bland at St. Louis.
They began service in Missouri and their first fighting was at Pilot Knob. From there they went up the Missouri River to Jefferson City, thence to Tipton, and were in the famous forced march of General Fremont from Tipton to Springfield. After finishing service there they went to Shiloh, and then to Corinth, which they captured. From there they went to Memphis, Tennessee, then to Chickasaw Bayou, where the regiment lost 85 men in ten minutes. Then to Arkansas Point, and settled down to the seige of Vicksburg, where our subject assisted in making the famous canal, while in charge of a fatigue squad. He was in the whole siege there and participated in the capture of the city. He was left in charge of the sick in his regiment for awhile and joined it later on at Camp Sherman on Black River. They came up the river to Memphis and marched to Chattanooga where they participated in the celebrated crossing of the river on pontoons, then went to Knoxville to relieve General Burnsides.
They wintered in Bridgeport, Alabama, and in the spring of 1864, Mr. Briggs re-enlisted and came home on veteran furlough. After 60 days he joined Sherman at Dalton, Georgia, and from that point was with him on his world-renowned march to the sea, participating in all the engagements. His regiment went with Sherman up through the Carolinas to Washington, and participated in the last grand review of Sherman's army at the National Capitol. His regiment then went to Louisville, Kentucky thence to Little Rock, Arkansas where they were discharged, and afterwards were mustered out at St. Louis, Mo., only 30 men being left out of 110 who enlisted. Mr. Briggs was 1st Lieutenant of Co E, 6th regiment of Missouri, when mustered out. He had been orderly sergeant from the end of his first year's service until the time of his promotion.
At the close of the war he came home, and in 1867 was married to Emily Dunham, daughter of Amos and Mary (Barr) Dunham.
Source: Jerseyville Republican, May 1, 1902. Unknown Contributor - Thanks!
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