Biography of Ira Willey :Pittsfield, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

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Submitted by: Jody Goodson  kestrell@prodigy.net
Date: May 14, 2001
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From the Book
'History of Pittsfield, N. H. in the Rebellion'
by H. L. Robinson, published 1893

Page 164

IRA   WILLEY
     was but a lad when the war broke out, being the youngest of the family
that sent four sons into the army. As a boy he was noted for the tender care
he bestowed upon his crippled mother. He was mustered into Troop D, First
New Hampshire cavalry, June 25, 1864, and served with credit until the close
of the war. He was a brother of the above Hazen and Alfred Willey. His
brother George enlisted in Company F, Eighth New Hampshire volunteers, from
the town of Candia. Ira died at Fremont, N. H., a few years ago,--date
unknown.
     Willey was a man of medium size, but strong and active as a panther,
with curly, black hair and moustache, wearing his cap jauntily on one side,
--a dashing-looking fellow. Near Leesburg he was captured by a couple of
rebel cavalry, he being on foot. Each one taking him by the hand they
hurried him off into Dixie. For some two miles they made him run, the sweat
pouring from his face, but at last they came to a walk and Willey begged for
a drink: their canteens were empty, but at the foot of the hill which they
were descending they knew of a spring to which one of them went to fill
their canteens leaving the other on guard while Willey held the horse. The
man on guard had his carbine in his hand. Soon he leaned forward and peered
into the woods down the path his companion had taken. Quick as a flash
Willey snatched his carbine away from him with one hand and with the other
grabbed his foot and gave him such a boost as to send him sprawling in the
dirt on the other side of his horse. Then springing upon the horse he had
held, he dashed up the hill, followed by the other horse. In less than two
hours from his capture he was again in camp.