William Henry Chase Whiting was a United States Army officer who resigned after 16 years of service in the Army Corps of Engineers to serve in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
Background
William Henry Chase Whiting was descended from the Rev. Samuel Whiting who arrived in Boston, Massachussets, May 26, 1636, and soon settled in Lynn. Although William was born in Biloxi, Miss. , his parents, Levi and Mary A. Whiting, were of Massachusetts origin. His father was lieutenant-colonel, 16t Artillery, United States Army.
Education
William was prepared for college in Boston and graduated first in his class at Georgetown College, D. C. , in 1840.
Career
At West Point, in a class (1845) which included Fitz-John Porter, E. Kirby-Smith, and Gordon Granger, he established the highest graduate standing that had ever been attained at the Military Academy. Appointed second lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, July 1, 1845, he supervised river and harbor improvements and the construction of fortifications in the South and in California until 1861, working for two years (1856 - 57) on the Cape Fear River, North Carolina. He was promoted first lieutenant, March 16, 1853, and captain, December 13, 1858, but resigned Feburary 20, 1861, to enter the Confederate service as a major. After planning new defenses for Charleston harbor and Morris Island, he joined Johnston's Army of the Shenandoah as chief engineer. He arranged the transfer of this army to Manassas, where he was promoted brigadier-general on the field by President Davis. After temporarily commanding Gen. Gustavus W. Smith's division at Seven Pines, May 31, 1862, he received a division permanently. At his suggestion, adopted by General Lee, early in June his troops reinforced Gen. Thomas J. Jackson in the Valley. Returning to Richmond with Jackson, Whiting's division at Gaines's Mill pierced the center of Fitz-John Porter's strong position in a charge characterized by "Stonewall" as an "almost matchless display of daring and valor". After fighting at Malvern Hill, he took command in November 1862 of the military district of Wilmington, N. C. Whiting made the Cape Fear River the best haven in the South for blockade runners, and developed Fort Fisher, at the river's mouth, into the most powerful defensive work of the Confederacy. Appointed a major-general to rank from Feburary 28, 1863, he was suddenly called, in May 1864, to take command at Petersburg, Va. Ill, and unfamiliar with the situation, he failed to execute his part of Beauregard's plan for accomplishing the capture of Butler's army at Drewry's Bluff. Beauregard generously overlooked the error, and, at his own request, Whiting returned to Wilmington. Late in December a federal fleet of fifty-five warships bombarded Fort Fisher. Little damage resulted and the fleet departed, only to return on January 13, 1865, and disembark a force of 8, 000 troops. General Bragg was ordered to Wilmington, depriving Whiting of the defense of a stronghold which he had safeguarded for nearly three years. Convinced that Fort Fisher would be sacrificed, Whiting repaired thither, refusing command but heroically aiding Colonel Lamb in its defense. After an unprecedented naval bombardment, the Union forces on Jan. 15 assaulted the shattered earthworks. Neither reinforced nor assisted by exterior diversions, the garrison of 1, 900 men was overwhelmed and captured. General Whiting, badly wounded, was conveyed to Fort Columbus, Governor's Island, N. Y. , where on March 10 he died of his injuries.
Achievements
Personality
Below average height, Whiting was, nevertheless, of martial bearing, handsome, and sinewy. He was idolized by his troops, who affectionately called him "Little Billy. "
Connections
He married Kate D. Walker, daughter of Maj. John Walker, of Smithville and Wilmington.