COL William Lewis Bumgardner

courtesy of Angel Ellis

COL William Lewis Bumgardner was 14 Aug 1844 in Augusta County, Virginia near Bethel Church. He was the third of nine children born to James and Malinda Mathilda (McCorkle) Bumgardner. Two of his siblings died in infancy. His ancestors had come to Virginia prior to the Revolution. His father farmed near Bethel Church in the Riverheads district of Augusta County to support the family. William undoubtedly worked on this farm. This life was interrupted in 1861 by Virginia's vote for succession and the beginning of the Civil War. William enlisted on 24 Mar 1863 in E Company 1st Virginia Cavalry. PVT Bumgardner was wounded at Spotsylvania Courthouse on 9 May 1864. There is no known record of his return to duty. This being so close to the end of the war it may be that he returned home to recover and simply never returned to duty. 

William became a grocer after the war and operated a store where he sold, together with the usual things, his family's whiskey products. Like other businessmen in the area, he became involved in local civic organizations and joined the local masonic lodge. The Commonwealth of Virginia passed legislation on 29 Mar 1871 authorizing the reorganization of the militia in the state and reestablishment of the office of the Adjutant General of Virginia. However this act did not provide for funding of the militia units. Notwithstanding, local veterans and civic leaders met in 1874 to proceed with the recreation of local units and veterans formed the core of those units. Units began drilling in 1874 despite having to provide their own uniforms and equipment. 

William did find time to start a family and married Miss Pocahontas Virginia Happer on 25 Oct 1871 and the couple would have four children from 1872 to 1879. One daughter would died in infancy in 1877.

William was elected Captain and commander of the West Augusta Guard on 19 Jul 1875. The unit was first reorganized after the Civil War in April 1871 but had been struggling to equip and arm its members and reportedly incurred considerable debt. CPT Bumgardner was elected as Colonel of 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment in May 1881. He was then ordered by the Adjutant General of Virginia McDonald to take command of the 1st Virginia Brigade in the interim before an election to replace BG Fitzhugh Lee. COL Bumgardner resigned from the 2nd Virginia Regiment in October 1885. 

William moved to Missouri in 1889, apparently to live close to relatives then living there. Unfortunately he soon became ill and died in Saint Joseph on 14 Oct 1890. His body was returned to Staunton and he was buried in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia.

His great-grandfather, Ensign John McCorkle, died on 17 Jan 1781 of wounds received at Cowpens while in American service.

Note: this memorial was published on the 100th anniversary of his death.