BIO: Edward Charles WILLIAMS, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 244-245.
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  WILLIAMS, EDWARD CHARLES, son of Charles and Rebecca (Adams) 
Williams, was born February 10, 1820, in the city of Philadelphia.  His 
father was a native of Philadelphia; his mother, of Mount Holly, N. J., 
of Scotch parentage.  The son was educated in the public schools of his 
native city, then organized under the old Lancasterian system.  He 
learned the trade of a bookbinder with Jacob Snyder, completing it with 
Robert P. Desilver.  He shortly after came to Harrisburg, where he 
established himself in business, firm of Clyde & Williams, bookbinders 
and stationers.  For several years they did the State binding and also 
published several important works.  In December, 1846, upon the call 
for volunteers for the war with Mexico, Mr. Williams raised a company 
called the Cameron Guards, which were accepted and formed a part of the 
Second Pennsylvania regiment.  Previous to going to Mexico he had been 
connected several years with the old Dauphin Guards, one of the finest 
military organizations in the State, and was in service during the 
Philadelphia riots of 1844.  Upon Captain Williams' return from Mexico 
he was elected as an Independent, in 1850, to the office of sheriff of 
Dauphin county, serving the full term.  When the Rebellion broke out 
and a demand was made for more troops, Governor Curtin sent for General 
Williams, who had been commissioned several years prior brigadier 
general of the Dauphin county militia, and at once directed the 
organization of Camp Curtin, full particulars of which will be found in 
"Dauphin County in the War for the Union."  General Williams had the 
honor of being the first volunteer mustered into the service for the 
defense of the Union.  After organizing Camp Curtin, he organized Camp 
Slifer, at Chambersburg.  He commanded a brigade during the three 
months' service, was with Patterson in the Shenandoah, and subsequently 
mustered out at Washington city.  He was then appointed by President 
Lincoln, through Secretary of War Cameron, colonel of the Lochiel 
cavalry, directed to raise twenty-four companies of that branch of the 
service, which he accomplished in a very short time.  It was difficult 
to handle three battalions of raw cavalry, but by hard work General 
Williams got his command into splendid discipline and drill.  He went 
into camp at Jeffersonville, Ind., where he exchanged his Pennsylvania 
horses for good Kentucky stock.  After inspection by General Buford, he 
was ordered to the front under General Buell.  On reaching Green river, 
and when ready to cross the stream, General Williams was directed to 
take the advance, but the same evening the news of the capture of Fort 
Donelson obviating that movement, he was ordered back, and his command 
cut up and distributed over Kentucky and Tennessee.  His own regiment, 
the Ninth cavalry, became very popular in that section with all classes 
of people, owing to their good discipline and behavior.
  General Williams was at Henderson with his regiment when Buell and 
Bragg made their march into Kentucky, was ordered to Louisville without 
delay, and from thence to Crab Orchard, where he prevented Kirby 
Smith's cavalry from entering Kentucky at that point.  His services in 
that campaign were indeed arduous.  Owing, however, to a question of 
rank, in which not only he but the other officers in the volunteer 
service were concerned, he pre-emptorily resigned and returned to 
Pennsylvania.  He was twice married; first, January 16, 1843, to 
Selina, daughter of John Heltzel, of Harrisburg; second, June 5, 1873, 
at Chapman, Pa., to Mrs. A. E. Hetzel.