August 5, 1862

John R. Williams’ son was killed.

The son of Detroit’s antebellum mayor John R. Williams, Thomas Williams was killed repulsing an attack by Confederate forces at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Thomas Williams, an 1833 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, had seen action in the Mexican War where he received two brevets for gallantry. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was a major in the Fifth U.S. Artillery.

Thank you Michigan History Magazine for this glimpse into our past.  See more at www.michiganhistorymagazine.com.