COL William Thomas Poague

COL William Thomas Poague was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia on 20 Dec 1835. He was the first-born child of the six children of John Barclay and Elizabeth Stuart (Paxton) Poague. His father was a successful farmer in north-western Rockbridge County of Virginia owning eight slaves in 1850 and increasing that to twenty-two by 1860. His total estate was valued at $39,220 in 1860 or about $1.5-million in today's money. As the son of a wealthy family, William was educated as was common at the time. He attended school in Brownsburg, Virginia for two years before attending at Washington College for four years graduating with a BA degree in 1857. He traveled after graduation, taught school near Atlanta, attended judge Brockenbrough's law school and then moved to Saint Joseph, Missouri to practice law. 

After it became clear that war was inevitable, he returned to Lexington to enlist in the Rockbridge Artillery even though he had not supported succession. Elected 2nd Lieutenant he served at First Manassas before Captain Pendleton was reassigned to serve as chief of artillery. He was then given command of the battery and promoted to Captain. He fought at several battles before being promoted to Major on 2 Mar 1863. MAJ Poague served as Executive Officer to COL David Gregg McIntosh's artillery battalion before being assigned to command his own battalion in 3rd Corps. He commanded the battalion from Gettysburg to Cold Harbor where he was twice wounded. After recovering he participated in the defense of Petersburg and was present for the surrender at Appomattox.

Returning home after the war, William married Sara Josephine Moore in 1878 and supported his family as a farmer, teacher and lawyer. He represented Rockbridge County in the Virginia House of Delegates and was a trustee for Washington and Lee University from 1865 to 1885. He worked as Treasurer for VMI for 30 years, 1884-1914 and was on their Board of Visitors. COL Poague died on 8 Sep 1914 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia.

His 3 sons served in WW1 in France in the Field Artillery. He has several living descendants.

NOTE: This memorial was published on the 100th anniversary of his passing.