Charles Admire Wills - Generation 4

The following text was written by Linda Knight Wilson. It is undated and was found in the Bedford County, Va. Museum in June of 1998. Portions were extracted from a larger document.

Charles Admire was only 26 when he married Mary Jane Bradley, 31 years old. Since Mary was over 21 years old, she could write her own note of authorization to marry Charles, a farmer by occupation. They had 3 sons: William Malcolm (born 1857), Charles Allen (1858), Jesse M. Wills (1859).

Several years into the Civil War, Charles Admire felt that he must defend his land and the South. He was enlisted in the Virginia Infantry February 9, 1863 by Captain Fletchett, also of Bedford (or called Liberty in those days). Charles fought in and survived the battle of Gettysburg. On his return from Gettysburg, Charles served in the 2d Division, General Hospital, Camp Winder, Richmond, where he issued clothing. He was then transferred to Chimboraso Hospital No. 3, also in Richmond. From here, Charles fought and was wounded on May 16, 1864 at Drury's Bluff, VA. One month after he was wounded at Drury's Bluff, he was killed in action at Drury's Bluff and was probably buried on that battlefield as a private.

I remember my grandmother, (Maggie Wills Collins), telling me the story of her grandfather, Charles Admire, who left his three young sons (ages 6, 5, and 4 years old) standing by their mother on Flattop Mountain, to go fight in the Civil War. Waving their goodby's was William Malcolm's (age 6), (my grandmother's father) last memory of his father.

-end-

The following text was provided by June Marchman:

Charles Admire Wills, our gr-grandfather was called "Admire" by everyone. He was born Feb. 5, 1829 in Bedford Co., VA. He married Mary Jane Bradley on Dec 20, 1855. They had three children: William Malcolm Wills; Jesse M.Wills and Charles Allen Wills.
 
Charles Admire Wills enlisted in CSA, Company I, 1st. Regiment of VA Infantry Feb. 9, 1863 by a Capt. Fletchett at Liberty, VA (now Bedford). He fought in the Battle of Gettysburg in Gen. George Edward Pickett's Division in the 1st VA Regiment called the "Williams Rifles". This unit was named for Col. Lewis B. Williams, who lost his life at Gettysburg.
The continuous barrage at Gettysburg demoralized the infantry, they were deprived of spirit and courage. Regiments of the 1st were suffering in discipline because so many of their field officers had been wounded and left on the field at Gettysburg. They were hungry, needed clothing and leadership. In this condition their march back to Richmond took 13 days.
Charles Admire was first sent to Camp Winder on reaching Richmond. Listed Disease- Debility, due to malnutrition suffered after Gettysburg. He was later transferred to Chimborazo Hospital where he was issued clothing. The Copyist just put notes in on muster rolls that were on hand. Drewery's Bluff (or Drury's Bluff) a point on the James River near Ft. Darling, 8 miles south of Richmond.
On May 16th, 1864 the Confederates under Beauregard repulsed  Union Forces under Butler. Union losses May 12 -16 were 3,012; Confederate losses were 2,500. C.A. Wills was wounded on May 16th, went back on duty and you know the rest.

 

 Descendants of Charles Admire Wills     
  1  Charles Admire Wills  Born: February 05, 1829 in Bedford Co. Va.  Died: May 17, 1864 in Drury's Bluff, KIA, CSA  Age at death: 35
  .  +Mary Jane Bradley  Born: July 16, 1823 in Bedford, Va.  Married: December 20, 1855 in Bedford Co. Va.  Father: Mr. Jesse Bradley, Jr.  Mother: Ms.
     Sarah Richards  Died: July 20, 1906 in Bedford, Va.  Age at death: 83
    2  William Malcom Wills  Born: February 24, 1857 in Bedford, Va.  Died: February 24, 1934 in Bedford, Va.  Age at death: 77
  ...  +Cornelia Bell Loyd  Born: December 03, 1866  Married: January 05, 1890 in Bedford, Va.  Father: Mr. ? Loyd  Mother:  Died: November 08, 1947 in
       Bedford Co. Va.  Age at death: 80
    2  [1] Charles Allen Wills  Born: March 17, 1858 in Bedford, Va.  Died: September 04, 1934 in Staunton,  Agusta Va.  Age at death: 76
  ...  +Nannie Lee Witt  Born: March 30, 1866 in Bedford, Va.  Married: December 02, 1885 in Bedford, Va.  Father: Mr. Henery Jesse Witt  Mother: Ms.
       Charlotte Rebecca Taylor  Died: June 21, 1905 in Bedford, Va.  Age at death: 39
    *2nd Wife of [1] Charles Allen Wills:  
  ...  +Viola McGuire  Born: April 18, 1889 in Franklin, Va.  Married: Bef. 1910  Father:  Mother:  Died: 1927 in Bedford Co. Va.  Age at death: 37 est.
    2  Jesse M. Wills  Born: September 02, 1859 in Bedford, Va.  Died: April 12, 1943 in Bedford, Va.  Age at death: 83
  ...  +Virginia "Jennie" Loyd  Born: May 06, 1870  Father: Mr. ? Loyd  Mother:       Died: April 21, 1965 in Bedford Co. Va.  Age at death: 94