Jessamine-Green-Hart County KyArchives Biographies.....Willis, William T. 1794 - 1847
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com August 6, 2007, 8:26 pm

Author: Bennett H. Young

William T. Willis.

   Captain Willis was born on the 10th of June, 1794, in Culpeper county, Va.,
and was killed at the battle of Buena Vista, February 23rd, 1847. He married
first Hetty E. Howe, daughter of a Presbyterian minister. He had been educated
at a seminary taught by his father-in-law. He was elected to represent Green
county in the Legislature several times, and also represented Green and Hart in
the Senate in 1833 and 1838. He made the race for Congress in that district in
1839, with a majority of 2,000 against him, which he reduced to 200. At that
time he was believed to be on his death-bed, and this seriously affected his
vote. After his marriage he began merchandising, and shipped large quantities of
tobacco by flat-boat, and drove horses through the country to New Orleans. The
partner, who he sent on one of these expeditions, was taken sick after selling
the horses and tobacco, and died, and before Captain Willis could reach the
place of his demise, the proceeds of the sale had disappeared. Being involved,
he returned at once, sold out his stock, and commenced studying law and
practiced in Green and adjoining counties. Notwithstanding that he had a large
debt and a family of eight children. and at that time was compelled to meet such
men as Samuel Brent, Ben Hardin, Judge Underwood and Judge Buckner, he succeeded
admirably in his profession. In 1840 he removed to Harrodsburg, remained there
three years, and then came to Jessamine county. He was a man of singular energy
and great ability. He had built up a large practice, and was regarded throughout
Kentucky as one of its most promising statesmen. Although fifty years of age at
the breaking out of the Mexican war, he at once organized a company for service
and his ardent patriotism is best attested by the fact that with him, three of
his sons volunteered as privates: the youngest of whom was barely fifteen years
of age.

   The following is a list of his men:

   Roll of Company "F," Second Regiment, Kentucky Foot Volunteers-Mexican War:

   Wm. T. Willis, 1st captain, killed at Buena Vista.

   Captain-James O. Hervy. First Lieutenant-William R. Keene. Second
Lieutenant-Thos. J. Proctor. Second Lieutenant-Wm. C. Lowry. Sergeants-William
L. Smith 1st, Andrew J. Nave, 2d, Jno. C. Winter 3d, William Cox 4th;
Corporals-Edward P. Green 1st, Dudley Portwood 2d, John A. Willis 3d, Chas. C.
Hagan 4th. Drummer-Cortney L. Burch.

   Privates-Allen, Jno. H.; Brown, Geo. W.; Burchell, Daniel; Burton, Theodric;
Bruner, Thos. J.; Beymer, Saml.; Castle, Augustus B.; Crane, Asa C.; Crane, Jno.
P.; Collins, William; Daniel, Wm. H.; Dickerson, Woodson; Day, Wm.; Duman,
James; Easby, Andrew L.; Easby, Josiah; England, Jas. S.; Fain, John; Ford,
Joshua G.; Ford, Edward D.; Garison, John A.; Graves, Living; Gibony, William;
Grant, Geo. W.; Howard, Robt. S.; Hamilton, William; Hunter, John; Hayden, Isah
P.; Hill, Greensbury; Harvey, Trotter; Hawkins, James; Jackman, Jos.; Masters,
Irvine; Marvin, Wm. F.; Masters, Jackson; Marks, Geo. I.; Martin, Robert; Moore,
Andrew B.; McCampbell, Jno. G.; McConnel, Jas. A.; McMurtry, John; Nooe, Albert
K.; O'Brien, William; Overstreet, Saml. R.; Page, Thos. C; Patterson, Wm.;
Roberson, Jacob C.; Roberts, Andrew J.; Rash, John; Saunders, Jno. A.; Saunders,
Geo. W.; Sacre, John; Sharp, Ezekiel K.; Sweitzer, John; Tutt, Wm.; Thompson,
Jno. T.; White, Jas. N.; Wilson, John; Willis, Edmond C.; Willis, Jas. H.

   Jacob Kreath Robinson, in the official list spelled Robertson, was one of the
youngest men in this company. He was born in 1829. The oldest man in the
company, John Hunter, was born in 1804, and was the son of John Hunter, the
first settler. He was severely wounded in the leg at the battle of Buena Vista
and died in 1881. Robinson was also a soldier in the late war, passed through
all its hardships and dangers, endured its privations, and now resides at
Harrodsburg, Ky.

   This company was ordered to report at Louisville to be mustered into service.
They assembled at Mundy's Landing on the Kentucky river; some came on horseback,
some in carriages, and they were ordered there to meet the steamboat Blue Wing.
When the company reached the river the steamboat was at Brooklyn, and while
coming down to Mundy's Landing ran into a sandbar and stuck. Capt. Philip
Thomson's company from, Mercer county, was also on the way to Louisville. With
ropes the soldiers pulled the steamer from off the sandbar twice, and, after it
had stuck the third time, Capt. Thomson went to Salvisa and obtained wagons and
drove through to Louisville, while Captain Willis's company took coalboats at
Mundy's Landing, rowed themselves down to Frankfort, and arrived there the next
day. After taking breakfast in Frankfort, the steamer arrived at the landing and
they took passage and reached Louisville, and were mustered in by Col. George
Croghan. From Louisville they were transported to New Orleans by steamers, and
after remaining there a few days, they crossed the Gulf of Mexico in some old
British sailing vessels, and arrived at Brazos on the Rio Grande river. A part
of the regiment was engaged in the battle of Monterey. Shortly after this the
regiment was ordered to the city of Saltillo. and from thence, marching with
General Taylor, they engaged in the battle of Buena Vista. This was one of the
most brilliant battles that crowned American arms, and it was the only battle in
which the entire regiment, with which Captain Willis' company was connected, was
engaged. This regiment was commanded by Col. William R. McKee, from Lancaster;
Henry Clay, Jr., was Lieutenant-Colonel, and Cary H. Fry, Major. The company was
enrolled on the 21st of May, 1846, in Nicholasville, and was mustered in at
Louisville June 9, 1846, and was mustered out at New Orleans June 9, 1847.

   The story of this battle has always reflected great credit and renown on
Kentucky courage. The second Kentucky Regiment was on the right flank of the
army and held it throughout the battle, defeating the enemy opposite to them,
which was twice their number. At this time the left flank gave way, and its
retreat was only stopped by General Taylor and Jefferson Davis and the cavalry,
who drove them back to face the enemy. It was then that Colonel Hardin, of the
First Illinois, and Colonel McKee, of the Second, made a disastrous charge
against an overwhelming force. This charge was made against the earnest protest
of Colonel McKee and Captain Willis, but Hardin insisted upon making it, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Clay urged it, and the Kentucky boys, fearing that the
Illinois men would get the glory, McKee then, united in the charge and was
killed. Col. Henry Clay, Jr., was wounded, and Captain Willis, with the high
courage and noble generosity which marked his whole career, was urging his men
to take the Lieutenant-Colonel from the field, when the Mexican Lancers came
rapidly down and killed both Colonel Clay and Captain Willis. Harvey Trotter, a
soldier from Jessamine, was killed at the same time. James O. Hervey succeeded
Captain Willis, and only four of the men who were engaged in the battle of Buena
Vista in this company, now remain in Jessamine: John A. Willis, William C.
Lowrey, William Hamilton and David Switzer. Captain Willis' remains, as well as
those of Trotter, were removed by the State of Kentucky, and reinterred in the
state ground in Frankfort cemetery. It was upon the occasion of the reinterment
of these soldiers that Theodore O'Hara wrote his immortal poem of "The Bivouac
of the Dead," commencing as follows:

    "The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
         The soldiers last tattoo;
     No more on Life's parade shall meet
         That brave and fallen few.
     On Fame's eternal camping-ground
         Their silent tents are spread,
     And glory guards, with solemn round,
         The bivouac of the dead."


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

A HISTORY OF JESSAMINE COUNTY, KENTUCKY,
FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO 1898.
By BENNETT H. YOUNG,
PRESIDENT POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY; MEMBER FILSON CLUB; MEMBER CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION, 1890; AUTHOR HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUTIONS OF KENTUCKY, OF "BATTLE OF
BLUE LICKS, ETC, ETC.

S. M. DUNCAN, ASSOCIATE AUTHOR.

Every brave and good life out of the past is a treasure which cannot  be
measured in money, and should be preserved with faithfullest care.

LOUISVILLE, KY.: COURIER-JOURNAL JOB PRINTING CO., 1898.


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