Morris, William Hopkins, , New York 1827 1900 Male Author Soldier soldier and author, was born in New York City, the son of George Pope Morris [q. v. ] and Mary Worthington Hopkins.
Portions of the next two years he spent on recruiting service, after which he resigned from the service, Feb. 28, 1854, and aided his father in editing the Home Journal.
After receiving a common-school education he attended West Point, graduating July 1, 1851, and being commissioned a second lieutenant of the 2nd Infantry.
His permanent commission as second lieutenant was awarded Dec. 3, 1851.
He served on garrison duty at Forts Columbus and Wood, New York, that year, and at Fort Yuma, Cal. , in 1852 and 1853.
In 1859 he invented a repeating carbine for which he and Charles Liston Brown received a patent in 1860.
On Aug. 20, 1861, he was appointed staff captain, assistant adjutant-general, on the staff of Gen. J. J. Peck, in the defenses of Washington.
He served until the following May, when he was present at the siege of Yorktown and the battle of Williamsburg.
His brigade took part in the Bristoe, Va. , campaign of October and in the advance of the Union forces to the Rappahannock in November.
On Apr. 30, 1864, Morris' brigade was transferred to the VI Corps.
It engaged in the campaign from the Rapidan to the James and formed part of the forces operating against Richmond.
His work at the battle of the Wilderness was, on the 13th of March, 1865, rewarded by appointment as major-general of volunteers, for "gallant and meritorious services. "
In the same year he published Field Tactics for Infantry, followed some time later by Tactics for Infantry, Armed with Breechloading or Magazine Rifles (1882).
He died at Long Branch, N. J. [G. W. Cullum, Biog.
Reg.
.
U. S. Mil.
Acad.
(3rd ed. , 1891), vol.
II; Ann.
Reunion Asso.
Grads.
U. S. Mil.
Acad. , June 8, 1901; F. B. Heitman, Hist.
Reg.
and Dict.
of the U. S. Army (1903), vol.
I; Ann.
Report of the Adj. -Gen.
of the State of N. Y. , 1866-69, 1896; War of the Rebellion: Official Records (Army); Documents of the Convention of the State of N. Y. , 1867-68 (5 vols. , 1868); correspondence with Commandery of the State of N. Y. , Military Order of the Loyal Legion. ]
After his marriage he retired to his estate, "Briarcliff, " New York.
He was married in 1870, to Catharine (Hoffman) Hyatt, daughter of Dr. Adrian Hoffman of Westchester County, N. Y., and widow of Charles C. Hyatt.
He was married in 1870, to Catharine (Hoffman) Hyatt, daughter of Dr. Adrian Hoffman of Westchester County, N. Y., and widow of Charles C. Hyatt.
