Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Ludlow, William

Military officer; born on Long Island, N. Y., Nov. 27, 1843;

William Ludlow.

graduated at the United States Military Academy, and commissioned a first lieutenant of engineers in 1864; was promoted captain, March 7, 1867; major, June 30, 1882; lieutenant-colonel, Aug. 13, 1895; and brigadier-general, Jan. 21, 1900. In the war with Spain he was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers, May 4, 1898, and promoted to major-general on Sept. 7 following. He was honorably discharged under his last volunteer commission, and appointed a brigadiergeneral of volunteers, both on April 13, 1899; and the last appointment was vacated on his promotion to brigadier-general in the regular army. At the outbreak of the war with Spain, in 1898, he was ordered to Cuba. He greatly distinguished himself in the battle of El Caney (q. v.), and he was in command of the 1st brigade of General Lawton's division in the attack on Santiago by the land forces. After his promotion to major-general of volunteers he was assigned to the 2d division of the 1st Army Corps, and in December, 1898, he was appointed the first American military and civil governor of Havana.