John R. France's Great Grandfather:
William Wages
William Wages, John France’s Great Grandfather and Second Great Grandfather to John France's grandsons; Samuel, Tyler & Franklin Newhouse, was born during June of 1828 in Clay County, Kentucky. He was the fourth of six sons of John Wages and Polly Mays. He grew up working on the family farm. On 23 January, 1852 he married Malinda (Hollen) Holland, the daughter of John Hollen and Margaret Bowling. Malinda was born in 1836 in Hawkins County, TN. The marriage produced two sons, John (my Grandfather) born in Nov of 1854 and Jahue in May of 1856. On 27 December, 1856 William became a widower when Malinda passed away at the age of twenty.
At the onset of the Civil War Clay County was a Union stronghold and one of the leading producers of salt in the United States. It became immediately apparent that the rich salt wells must be protected from falling into the hands of the Confederacy. Volunteers were solicited for the Union Army, and on 19 August, 1861 at the age of 32, William and three of his brothers Dutton, Pendleton and Dudley enlisted into “Captain Murphy’s Company” - the 3rd Regiment of the KY Volunteers (later changed to Co. E of the 7th KY).
He reported for duty on September 22nd at Camp Dick Robinson in Garrard County, KY. At
enlistment, he measured just under six feet, weighed 178 pounds, and was listed in excellent health.
Artist’s drawing of Camp Dick Robinson as it appeared in the Harper’s Weekly on Nov. 1, 1862
He received some rudimentary basic training and on October 17 was ordered to proceed to Wildcat Mountain, KY to defend against a contingency of Confederates that were attempting to penetrate into Central Kentucky. Five-thousand Union soldiers and seven-thousand Confederates clashed on October 21. The Confederate forces were routed and the 7th returned to Camp Dick Robinson where they were assigned to the 7th Division of the Army of the Ohio.
Trenches at the Top of Wildcat Mountain defended by the 7th Kentucky Company E.
From Camp Dick Robinson, the 7th moved to London, KY and then to Cumberland Gap in an attempt to block Confederate access into Kentucky through the Gap. By the summer of 1862, the Confederate army had broken through Cumberland Gap and had blocked all Union supply routes. William was selected as part of a small group to take wagons through the back county to Lexington and bring back the needed supplies. Near Richmond, KY they encountered the Confederate army engaged in the Battle of Richmond. William had his horse shot from beneath him resulting in three of his ribs being broken. He escaped into the mountains where in a few weeks he was able to join the remainder of the 7th who had abandoned Cumberland Gap and were marching north. After arriving at Greenupsburg, Kentucky on the Ohio River, they boarded steamboats to Memphis. There they became part of the 3rd Division, 13th Army Corps and were involved in Sherman's Yazoo Expedition that included action at Chickasaw Bayou, Chickasaw Bluff, Fort Hindman and Arkansas Post.
In the spring of 1863, the 7th rendezvoused with General Grant at Milliken’s Bend LA, the starting point of his march around Vicksburg. During the march they saw action at Port Gibson, Raymond, Champions Hill, Jackson, and the Black River Bridge. After reaching their final destination at Vicksburg they took part in General Grant’s first major assault on the city. During the march through the swamps, William contracted an intestinal disease which would prove fatal in later years. On the day of Vicksburg’s surrender he became ill and was placed in a field hospital at Perkins Plantation, Louisiana where he remained for several weeks before returning to active duty.
In late 1863, he was promoted to Corporal and assigned garrison duty in Louisiana for the remainder of his enlistment. In 1864 his regiment returned to Louisville where on 5 Oct he was discharged. He returned to Clay County, bought a farm, and married Nancy Jones on 5 April, 1865. The following years were difficult as his physical condition deteriorated. In 1883 he applied for an Invalid Pension. His pension physical listed his weight at 125 pounds, his height 5’10 ½ “, his eyes dark and sullen, his complexion dark, and his physical condition poor.
After interviewing a selected group of residents, special examiner William Pearson of the Pension Board adjudicated his request favorably: “I do not believe a more meritorious case has been brought before the Pension Board. I could have taken the deposition of every man on the two creeks where he has made his home and elsewhere. What is a very unusual thing in this section is that both Republicans and Democrats believe thoroughly that he was disabled by his service”.
He was granted a pension of $20 per month on 25 June 1886. By this time he was unable to do any physical labor around the farm. On 6 October 1888, William died at the age of 60. His declining health and subsequent death were attributed to a chronic physical condition he contracted as a result of his military service.
In 2008 a marker honoring him was placed beside his son John’s grave in the Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster KY as part of a special program to honor Union soldiers whose burial locations are unknown.
Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster KY
Compiled and Submitted by: John France
Member- Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1
