William Aylette COMPTON

1845 - 1932  (86 years)

• Name	William Aylette COMPTON  [1]
  Born	17 Mar 1845	Milford, Page Co., Va   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Died	14 Mar 1932	Warren Co. Va.
  Person ID	I135	Josh E. Taylor Jr. Tree
  Last Modified	1 Nov 2019

  
  

  Father	Zachariah James COMPTON,   b. 18 Jan 1801, Rappahonnock Co., Va. ,   d. 18 Sep 1886, Warren County, Va. (Bentonville)  (Age 85 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Eliza MCKAY,   b. 26 May 1812, Shenandoah Co. Virginia ,   d. 27 Feb 1882, Milford, Page Co. Va. (Later named Overall)  (Age 69 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Married	22 Aug 1827	Warren County, Va.   [3]
  Family ID	F14	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Laura Melville BOLEN,   b. 1844, Virginia ,   d. May 1927  (Age 83 years)
  Married	23 Dec 1868
  Notes	"57th Wedding Anniversary "It was just fifty-seven years ago today, December 23 since General William A. Compton launched his barque on the unexplored sea of matrimony and rode away with his blushing bride, a daughter of Mr. R. M. Bolen, of the then called Harmony Hollow. "No six cylinder Packard awaited the happy couple to conduct them on flowery beds of ease, but hitched to the horse-track stood two trusty steeds. "On horseback, the wedding trip was made to the home of the groom's father at Overall 9passing through Front Royal to show off, the general blushingly acknowledged) where the newly-weds were royally received. "Locking [sic] back over the long vista of married happiness the General only regrets that he has not two lives to live for, says he, 'I would not change one incident, most especially that pertaining to matrimony.' "There is, perhaps, no more beautiful sight than an old couple who have fought life's battle together, walking peacefully, hand in hand out into the setting sun. "May the General and his better half live long to enjoy the fruits of their labors. "Amen -- C.W.C. in Warren Sentinel -- Clipping in the "Taylor Notebook." It is not from the Palmyra paper. It may have been a reprint in another Virginia paper from the Warren [Va.] Sentinel -- undated, but probably 1924
  Children	1. Myra Eliza COMPTON  [natural]
  Last Modified	1 Nov 2019
  Family ID	F103	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  JBT lists dob as March 17, 1845, so does IGI "In May of 1862, at the age of 17, William enlisted in Company D, 49th Virginia Infantry, where he served with honor until the surrender at Appomattox. He was captured two times by the Union troops. The first time he escaped, but on the second time [sic], he spent 6 months as a prisoner at the infamous Point Lookout in Maryland. He was paroled March 17, 1864." -- Job(e) Journal V, p. 72 On May 12, 1864 after the battle of the Wilderness or Parker's Store, a group of Confederate soldiers at Spottsylvania were about to be outflanked by Yankee troops when General Lee rode before the troops on his horse, Old Traveler. "I [Capt. R. D. Funkhouser] said to Capt J. B. Updike, 'Here is General Lee!' He joined me and others in saying " General Lee to the rear." General Gordon then rode up and said, 'General Lee, these are Virginians; they have never failed to do their duty, and they never will, but they don't want you to uselessly expose your life. You go to the rear and they will follow me; won't you boys?' All echoed 'Yes,' when Sergt Wm A. Compton, who had volunteered at the age of seventeen (he is now Sheriff of Warren County, Va.), took hold of the bridle of General Lee's horse and led him back through the ranks of my company and regiment. General Gordon immediately spurred his horse into the thicket saying 'Charge! men follow me!' ... Their ranks were torn and their columns riven, the breastworks retaken, and the day was ours. General Lee was reported to have said: " The crisis and come. The army was cut in twain, and I was willing to risk all on the one issue.' And he won." -- Confederate Veteran, Vol. II, No. 1; January, 1894, p. 36-37. "W.A. Compton, Sheriff of Warren County, Va., writes an entertaining letter about Gen Lee in the memorable battle of Spottsylvania C. H. Sergeant Compton was one of the sharp shooters and in front of the lines, but near Gen. Lee when he started in advance, and when Gen. Gordon 'refused to permit him to do it.' he 'took hold of the bridle and started the horse to the rear.' When he afterwards heard that others did it he was much confused as he 'did not wish to controvert historians and poets who had written the matter up.' He was relieved when he say in the Veteran that others had done the same thing in two other places. "Thanks to this same Comrade Compton for scrapbook leaves with a history of the Warren Blues--officers and men eighty-four-- which left Front Royal, July 16, "61, received guns on the 18th, and went into the Manassas battle on the 21st. ;;; They carried their ammunition in their trousers having no cartridge boxes. ... The entire company was captured at Hare's Hill in front of Petersburg, March 25, '65." -- Confederate Veteran, Vol. IV, No. 7; July, 1896, p. 233 In the Confederate Veteran, Vol. XXXI, No. 8, August, 1923, p. 284 A listing of Commanders U.C.V. lists: "Brig. Gen. William A Compton, Commanding Third Brigade, Front Royal, Va.." He visited the JBT farm in Missouri in 1919, a visit vividly remembered by his great nephews, Aubrey Bryant and Joshua Eugene Taylor. Jack [Aubrey] remembered his Confederate uniform in full regalia. Gene recalled having read in one of the books in his country school about the incident of Lee's having been led to the rear, but the leader was not identified. Gene did not make the connection until I sent him the photocopies of the Confederate Veteran articles -- LKL

  
  

• Sources

  [S38] Family group sheet prepared by Joshua Eugene Taylor. [S155] Transcription of Zachariah James Compton Family Bible, Compton, Annie Virginia. [S67] International Genealogical Index.