1st Lt. Franklin Williams, Co. B,
b. 1841 (age 24 at parole in 1865), son of H.C. Williams
m. ?
d. ? 1909?Frank Williams was one of the earliest new recruits to Mosby's command, joining around February 6th of 1863, around the same time as Walter Frankland, George Whitescarver, and Joe Nelson joined and James "Big Yankee" Ames defected from the 5th NY Cavalry.
In his biographical listing at the back of the Keen and Mewborn book, it does not list any Wartime service prior to his joining Mosby. He was apparently from Fauquier County before the War, as this was listed as his residence on his parole at the end of the War, so presumably he joined Mosby as a recruit from the local area.
His parole papers also describe him as being 5'6" with a dark complexion and hazel eyes.
His first engagement with Mosby was the February 11 scout to Herndon Station. He also was involved in he next majjor action, the February 26 attack on a picket post at Thompson's Corner and in the famed Fairfax Courthouse Raid and capture of General Stoughton. In the Fairfax Raid, he was part of the group of five that accompanied Mosby to the Gunnell House, along with Joe Nelson, William Hunter, George Whitescarver and Welt Hatcher. As General Stoughton dressed in haste to accompany his captors to be taken to his West Point classmate Fitz Lee, he forgot his watch. Williams handed him his watch at the door before they departed.
Frank Williams narrowly escaped capture in June 1863 at Jamison Ashby's house near Piedmont (now Delaplane) a "safe house" where Rangers were boarded. Actions he was involved in also included the August 24, 1863 fight at Gooding's Tavern near Annandale on the Little River Turnpike, where Col. Mosby was wounded.
Initially in Company A of the Battalino, he was transferred and promoted on October 1, 1863 to First Lieutenant of Company B. On October 22,he led a scout to Fairfax Courthouse and Annandale and again narrowly escapted capture and was wounded slightly in the February 18, 1864 skirmish at Scuffleburg while being pursued by Yankee cavalry. He also led a skirmish in May 1864 near Waterford.
Throughout 1864 he lobbied heavily for appointment as captain of Company B, including getting his father to write a letter to the Adjuctant and Inspector General on his son's behalf. Col. Mosby did not respond well to such heavy handed lobbying and passed Williams over the first time the position became vacant. The second time he was passed over in January 1865, Williams resigned his commission. He was paroled on April 21, 1865 at Winchester, the day that Mosby disbanded the command, which suggests that he was NOT present at Salem on that day.
After the war he lived in Vienna, Virginia from 1895 through 1909 and is buried in a private cemetery in Vienna.
Mentions in various references:
(incomplete, more to be added)Virgil Carrington Jones, Ranger Mosby (1944):
84, 85, 94, 95, 116Links Online:
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