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William Tazewell Jefferson Sr.

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William Tazewell Jefferson Sr.

Birth	:	13 Nov 1835 Pittsylvania County, Virginia, USA
Death	:	27 Aug 1914 Roanoke, Roanoke City, Virginia, USA
Burial	:	Jefferson Home Cemetery, Ajax, Pittsylvania County, USA
Inscription	:	"No pains, no grief, no anxious fear can reach our loved on sleeping here."
Description	:	Son of Isaiah Thomas Jefferson and Frances Ann Ramsey. William Tazewell, "Taz" as he was known, served in the Civil War enlisting as a Private at Rorrer's, Virginia, July 21, 1861. He served in the 57th. Virginia Infantry, Company E, "the Pigg River Grays" whose regimental commander was his first cousin, Lt. Col. William Henry Ramsey. His second son, William Tazewell Jr. was born, April 29, 1862, at his wife's parent's, "the Old Witcher Home", where she had gone to have the baby while he was away. He fought in a number of the major battles... Read More	Son of Isaiah Thomas Jefferson and Frances Ann Ramsey. William Tazewell, "Taz" as he was known, served in the Civil War enlisting as a Private at Rorrer's, Virginia, July 21, 1861. He served in the 57th. Virginia Infantry, Company E, "the Pigg River Grays" whose regimental commander was his first cousin, Lt. Col. William Henry Ramsey. His second son, William Tazewell Jr. was born, April 29, 1862, at his wife's parent's, "the Old Witcher Home", where she had gone to have the baby while he was away. He fought in a number of the major battles of the Civil War from Malvern Hill and Fredericksburg to Gettsyburg. He missed the Battle of Antietam or Sharpsburg as it is also known, due to illness. The unit was usually assigned to rear guard which resulted in a number of small skirmishes. All told they were involved in 45 various types of skirmishes, engagements and battles. In the Battle of Gettysburg, Brigadier General Lewis "Lo" Armistead's brigade, the 57th Virginia, arrived about sunset on July 2 and bivouacked on the western border of Spangler’s Woods. The next day, “woke at 3 a.m. on July 3 and moved to Seminary Ridge". "In the forenoon, formed line behind Kemper and Garnett east of the woods". When the cannonade ceased, advanced to support Kemper’s and Garnett’s Brigades forming the right of Longstreet’s Corps. Its losses being less at first than those of the other brigades it passed the Emmitsburg Road in compact ranks and as the front line was going to pieces near the stone wall they pushed forward. Many of its men and some from other commands responding to the call and following Gen. L. A. Armistead, sprang over the wall into "the Angle" and continued the desperate struggle until Armistead fell mortally wounded beyond the stone wall. That afternoon, they had taken part in what would become known as "Pickett’s Charge" as the support brigade on the right flank of the attack. They had broken the Union line at "The Angle" before being thrown back with heavy casualties. Armistead being mortally wounded while leading his brigade towards the center of the Union line in Pickett's Charge. Armistead led his brigade from the front, waving his hat from the tip of his saber, reached and crossed the stone wall at "The Angle", which served as the charge's objective. The 57th got farther in the charge than any other brigade, an event sometimes known as the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy". They were quickly overwhelmed by a Union counterattack, leaderless, their regimental colors captured, the men were forced to fall back. Surviving "Pickets Charge", William Tazewell was promoted to First Sergeant in December of 1863. He appears on the list of Prisoners of War at Appomatox Court House, Virginia, April 9, 1865 and was paroled. William Tazewell was one of the few surviving men to surrender with General Robert E. Lee at Appomatox Courthouse. He was one of nine men left in Company E. The others were Captain Ralph Shelton Woody and 7 privates. Captain Ralph S. Woody's daughter, Mary Della Woody would later marry Taz's son Crispin Dickerson Jefferson. William Tazewell died at his son's home in Roanoke, Virginia on August 27, 1914 and is buried on his farm in Pittsylvania County along with his wife, Permelia Frances "Amelia" (Witcher) Jefferson and son, Daniel Cabbell Jefferson. Thomas K. Brigham Additional information on the 57th Virginia Infantry; 57th Virginia Infantry Regiment 1861 September Organized under the command of Colonel Lewis Armistead and Lieutenant Colonel George W. Carr. The regiment was created on the nucleus of Keene’s Infantry Battalion, to which five new companies were added. 1862 April 1, Colonel Armistead was promoted to brigadier general. The 9th, 14th, 38th, 53rd and 57th Virginia were brigaded together under Brigadier General Lewis Armistead in Richard Anderson’s Division of Longstreet’s Command, April 24, Lieutenant Colonel Carr was promoted to colonel. and Captain Garland B. Hanes of Company A was promoted to major. May, Colonel Carr and Major Hanes were dropped in the army reorganization. Captain Elisha Ford Keen (WT Jefferson's wife's first cousin) was elected colonel and Captain David Dyer was elected major. June, Major Dyer was elected to lieutenant colonel. July 1, Malvern Hill, the regiment lost 113 casualties. July 30, Colonel Keen resigned. Lieutenant Colonel Dyer was promoted to colonel and Captain John Bowie Magruder of Company H to captain. August 30, Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) September 13, Capture of Harpers Ferry September 17, Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam). The regiment was commanded by Colonel David Dyer September 19, Battle of Shepherdstown. The regiment covered the river bank at Pack Horse Ford. Colonel Hodges, commanding the brigade since Armistead was wounded at Sharpsburg, reported that the brigade consisted of no more than 50 to 60 men. November 7, The regiment was transferred with the rest of Armistead’s Brigade to Pickett’s Division of Longstreet’s newly-designated First Army Corps. December 13, Battle of Fredericksburg. Commanded by Colonel David Dyer December Winter quarters at Guiney Station 1863 January 12, Colonel Dyer resigned. February 4, Captain Clement R. Fontaine of Company A was promoted to major. February-April, Detached from the Army of Northern Virginia on Longstreet’s Suffolk Expedition April 29, Left Suffolk for the Rappahannock June 25, Crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, Maryland July 2-3, Battle of Gettysburg. The regiment was commanded by Colonel John B. Magruder and brought 476 men to the field. It “woke at 3 a.m. on July 3 and moved to Seminary Ridge. That afternoon it took part in Pickett’s Charge as the support brigade on the right flank of the attack, breaking the Union line at The Angle before being thrown back with heavy casualties". Colonel John B. Magruder and Lt. Colonel Benjamin H. Wade were both mortally wounded, with Colonel Magruder also captured. Major Clement R. Fontaine took over the regiment.” Officer casualties were heavy. Captain John Smith and Lieutenants P. Fletcher Ford, Isaac Prillaman, Andrew Styne, and James Styne were killed. Captains David P. Heckman, William Ramsey, and John Taylor and Lieutenants Abram Holland, Christian Prillaman, and William Thomson were wounded. Lieutenant Marquis Boone was wounded and captured. Captains Daniel Arrington and David Dickinson and Lieutenants Leroy Dyer, Benjamin Philpott, and Edward Robinson were captured. From the monument to Armistead’s Brigade on the Gettysburg battlefield: July 2, Arrived about sunset and bivouacked on the western border of Spangler’s Woods. July 3, In the forenoon formed line behind Kemper and Garnett east of the woods. When the cannonade ceased advanced to support Kemper’s and Garnett’s Brigades forming the right of Longstreet’s Corps. Its losses being less at first than those of the other brigades it passed the Emmitsburg Road in compact ranks and as the front line was going to pieces near the stone wall pushed forward and many of its men and some from other commands responding to the call and following Gen. L. A. Armistead sprang over the wall into the Angle and continued the desperate struggle until he fell mortally wounded beyond the stone wall. July 4, Spent the day in reorganization and during the night began the march to Hagerstown. July 5, Major Clement R. Fontaine was promoted to colonel and Captain David Heckman of Company C was promoted to major. Brigadier General George Steuart took command of the brigade. July, Escorted prisoners back to Virginia September, Detached from the Army of Northern Virginia and assigned to the Department of Richmond. 1864 May 16, Drewry’s Bluff, the regiment lost 7 men killed, 31 wounded, and 3 missing May 21-23, Rejoined the Army of Northern Virginia, assigned to Kemper’s-Terry’s Brigade, Pickett’s Division, 1st Corps. May 23-26, North Anna June 1-3, Battle of Cold Harbor June, Petersburg Siege begins 1865 April 1865, Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William H. Ramsey (William Tazewell Jefferson's maternal first cousin) April 1, Battle of Five Forks. Major Heckman was captured at Dinwiddie Court House. April 6, Battle of Sayler’s Creek April 9, Appomattox Court House. The regiment surrendered 7 officers and 74 enlisted men.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Tazewell Jefferson Sr.'s memorial?
William Tazewell Jefferson Sr.'s memorial is located at: Jefferson Home Cemetery, Ajax, Pittsylvania County, USA.
When did William Tazewell Jefferson Sr. death?
William Tazewell Jefferson Sr. death on 27 Aug 1914 in Roanoke, Roanoke City, Virginia, USA

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Permelia Frances “Amelia” Witcher Jefferson

(1841 - 1921)

Siblings

George Washington Jefferson Sr.

(1846 - 1918)

Children

Daniel Cabbell Jefferson

(1884 - 1929)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

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17. Walden-Fitzpatrick Family Cemetery
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Coordinate: 37.0503200, -79.4111000

18. Ward Cemetery
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19. Bruce Cemetery
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21. Barker Family Cemetery
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