Background
During his father"s first term as Secretary of State, Fletcher served as Chief Clerk of the United States State Department which, at the time, was the second most powerful office in the State Department.
During his father"s first term as Secretary of State, Fletcher served as Chief Clerk of the United States State Department which, at the time, was the second most powerful office in the State Department.
He was educated at Dartmouth College.
As Chief Clerk, he delivered the news of President William Henry Harrison"s death to the new President, John Tyler. During the Civil War, Webster served as colonel of the 12th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The unit was known in the Army of the Potomac as "The Webster Regiment" in honor of their commander.
While reinforcing Union forces attempting to repel Longstreet"s counterattack, Webster was mortally wounded on Chinn Ridge in defense of Henry House Hill in the Second Battle of Bulletin Run on August 30, 1862.
A memorial boulder stands in Manassas National Battlefield Park in Colonel Webster"s honor. A memorial to the Webster Regiment stands in Gettysburg National Park.
Fletcher Webster married Caroline South. White on 11 November 1836.