William H. Withington

William Herbert Withington (February 1, 1835 – June 27, 1903) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War.

William H. Withington
Member of the Michigan State Senate
In office 1891–1892
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office 1873–1874
Personal details
Born	William Herbert Withington February 1, 1835 Dorchester, Massachusetts
Died	June 27, 1903 (aged 68) Jackson, Michigan
Occupation	Military officer, manufacturer, politician
Signature

Biography

William H. Withington was born at Dorchester, Massachusetts on February 1, 1835.[1] He moved to Michigan and became a farm implement manufacturer.[1]

In May 1861, Withington enlisted as a captain of the 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3 Months).[1] He was wounded and captured at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861.[1] He was exchanged and mustered out of the volunteers on January 31, 1862.[1] He was appointed colonel of the 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment on August 11, 1862.[1] He resigned from the volunteers on March 31, 1863.[1]

On December 3, 1867, President Andrew Johnson nominated Withington for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, for his service at the Battle of South Mountain, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1868.[2]

After the war, Withington founded the Withington and Cooley Manufacturing Company, a maker of agricultural implements, in Jackson, Michigan.[3] Withington served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1873 to 1874, and the Michigan State Senate from 1891 to 1892.[4]

On January 7, 1895, Withington was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the First Battle of Bull Run where he remained on the field and took command from his wounded superior officer, Orlando B. Willcox, until he too was wounded and eventually captured.[5]

William H. Withington died at Jackson, Michigan, June 27, 1903.[1] He was buried at Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Michigan.[1]

See also

• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: T–Z
• List of American Civil War brevet generals (Union)

References

1. Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1. p. 578.
2. Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1. p. 760.
3. "Descendants of George Dyer of Dorchester, Mass". Retrieved April 15, 2012.
4. The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. XVII. James T. White & Company. 1920. p. 198. Retrieved January 1, 2021 – via Google Books.
5. John Griffith. "William H. Withington". Retrieved April 15, 2012.