William Mahone
| William Mahone | |
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United States Senator from Virginia |
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In office March 4, 1881 – March 4, 1887 |
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| Preceded by | Robert E. Withers |
| Succeeded by | John W. Daniel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 1, 1826 Southampton County, Virginia |
| Died | October 8, 1895 (aged 68) Washington, D.C. |
| Resting place | Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg, Virginia |
| Political party | Readjuster |
| Alma mater | Virginia Military Institute |
| Military service | |
| Nickname(s) | Little Billy |
| Allegiance |
 Confederate States
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| Service/branch |
 Confederate States Army
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| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |
 Major General
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| Battles/wars | |
William Mahone (December 1, 1826 – October 8, 1895) was a civil engineer, railroad executive, soldier and politician.
As a young man, Mahone was prominent in the building of Virginia’s roads and railroads. As chief engineer of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, he built log-foundations under the Great Dismal Swamp that are still intact today. According to local tradition, several new railroad towns were named after the novels of Sir Walter Scott, a favourite author of Mahone’s wife Otelia.
In the American Civil War, Mahone was pro-secession and served as a Confederate general. He was best known for regaining the initiative at Petersburg, when the Southern troops were in shock after a huge mine was exploded beneath them (Battle of the Crater, July 1864), and his counter-attack turned the engagement into a disastrous Union defeat.
After the war, he returned to railroad building, merging three lines to form the important Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad (AM&O), headquartered in Lynchburg. He also led the Readjuster Party, a coalition of blacks, Republicans and conservative Democrats, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1881. His willingness to caucus with Republicans cost him some support from the white electorate, as did his relatively lenient treatment of African Americans.
William Mahone was born at Brown's Ferry near Courtland in Southampton County, Virginia, to Fielding Jordan Mahone and Martha (née Drew) Mahone. Beginning with the immigration of his Mahone ancestors from Ireland, he was the third individual to be called "William Mahone." He did not have a middle name as shown by records including his two Bibles, Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Diploma, marriage license, and Confederate Army commissions. Likewise, the General and Otelia's first-born son was christened William Mahone. The suffix "Jr." was added to his name later in his life, during a period of similar cultural naming transitions in Virginia.
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Wikipedia