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Brigadier-General Edward Willis, at the beginning of the civil war, was a cadet at
West Point, having received his appointment through
General Toombs, then
United States senator from
Georgia.
When
Georgia seceeded, young
Willis resigned and returned home to defend his native State.
In July, 1861, he was appointed adjutant of the Twelfth Georgia regiment, which was sent into
West Virginia just after the defeat of the forces of
Garnett and the successful invasion of
McClellan.
At Traveler's Repose, near the
Greenbrier river, the regiment was camped for several months.
From there it marched to the intended attack upon the fortified Union camp on
Cheat mountain, and returning, was at this camp on the
Greenbrier where the battle of October 3d took place which ended in the repulse of the
Federals.
While in winter quarters at
Alleghany summit they were attacked by a large Federal force, which after a severe battle was completely beaten and forced to retreat.
After this battle
Adjutant Willis was appointed to a place on
General Lee's staff, which he occupied during the year 1862.
At the
battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862,
Colonel Scott, of the Twelfth Georgia, was killed, whereupon every officer in the regiment signed a petition asking
President Davis to appoint
Willis their colonel.
It was promptly done, and under his gallant leadership the already famous regiment gained new laurels.
At the
battle of Chancellorsville,
Colonel Willis commanded the skirmish line of
Rodes' division.
The historian of the Eleventh army corps (Union) says that so skillfully were these skirmishes handled by
Willis and so deadly was their fire that it was an easy victory for the
Confederates.
He led his regiment in the
Gettysburg campaign and in subsequent movements of the army of Northern Virginia during 1863.
In the
Wilderness and at
Spottsylvania he was in the forefront with his command.
At the
North Anna river, in May, 1864, while in command of a brigade, he was mortally wounded by a grapeshot.
While he lay
