Schley-Cobb County GaArchives Obituaries.....Black, Col. William Thomas January 9, 1863
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Clyde Watson clyde.nell@gmail.com November 10, 2010, 7:49 pm

Savannah Republican 
                        COL. WILLIAM THOMAS BLACK 
     While this telegraph is almost silent as to the casualties of our Georgia
troops in the late battles in Tensessee. It has brought one message of deepest
sorrow, in its announcement of the death of Col. W. t. BLACK,  of the 5th
Georgia Regiment.
     Abler hands than mine can alone do justice to his memory. He received a
military education at Marietta, and after graduating with the highest honor, he
remained a year or two in the institution as Instructor, with the rank of Captain.
     There being in the time of peace little prospect of advancement in a
military career, he left Marietta and studied law with Col. Dudley of Americus,
Ga., and at the commencement of the war was a steadily acquiring  an honorable
reputation in the practice of his profession and at the same time filling, very
acceptably, the very responsible office of Ordinary of Schley County.
     Entering the war as a private, his merits were to conspicuous to allow his
remaining in the ranks, and while at Pensacola, no officer attracted more
general and favorable notice than the gallant Adjutant  of the gallant 5th
Georgia regiment.
     In the affair of Santa Rosa Islands, he behaved with great courage and
calmness, capturing with his own hands , the Sergent of the Guard and bringing
him safely away with all his papers, many of which were of great value. For this
act he was commended in GENERAL ORDERS  by President Davis, and promoted to the
office of First Lieutenant in the Regular Army of the Confederate States of
America.
     From Pensacola his regiment was moved to CUMBERLAND GAP, and thence to
CORINTH, where on the reorganization of the regiment, at the expiration of its
original term of enlistment, he was elected Colonel.
     On the ever memorable retreat from Kentucky, under General Bragg, he
endeared himself to his men by his consideration in affording rest and comfort
to them, when there were so few opportunities for enjoying either. To this fact
his general officers after-wards bore flattering testimony, and at the same time
pronounced a high encomium on his worth as a commander.
     The first general engagement in which his regiment participated was the
late battle near Murfreeboro, where he made his last sacrifice, by surrendering
a most precious life to the cause of his country's liberty.
    The subject of this brief notice was the oldest son of that noble-hearted 
man, Major William A. Black, of Schley county, Ga.; and while our country has
sustained a great loss in this additional victim to the horrors of a horrid war,
who can realize the loss that has befallen the bereaved family, of whose pride,
whose warm affections and high hopes he was in life, the center, and the happy
object. All,said it they are not few, whose privilege it has been to enjoy the
quiet hospitalities  of that amiable and accomplished family, will unite with me
in an offering of sympathy in this their hour of trouble.
Editor M  

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