CSA Soldiers' Rest


Known CSA Veterans at Cedar Hill Vicksburg, Mississippi Not Forgotten
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Photo by William Sanders Photo by William Sanders William A. Fairchild Born July 13, 1833 Died Sept 20, 1878	William Anner Fairchild in his Knights Templar uniform. (From The American Tyler-keystone, Devoted to Freemasonry and Its Concerdant Others, Vol. XXV (1910-1911), pg. 31)

Photo by William Sanders The grave marker was placed by "The Grand Commandery Knights Templar In Mississippi in Commemoration of William Anner Fairchild"	Photo by William Sanders Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. -- John 15:13 On the recumbent cross is the epitaph of William A. Fairchild. He was encouraged along with all other citizens to leave town to avoid the yellow fever. Instead, he did what he saw as his duty -- he remained to help his fellow citizens who were already fever stricken.. As a consequence, he fell ill to the yellow fever himself and died during the epidemic of 1878.
Photo by William Sanders Adelaid Blanch Fairchild Born April 8, 1841 Died Sept 22, 1879 Wife of William Anner Fairchild	William Fairchild enrolled and was mustered in with 1st Miss. Lt. Arty (Withers) on 26 Apr 1862 in Vicksburg for the period of the war. He was detailed with the Quartermasters Dept. in Vicksburg in the fall of the same year.

At right, the partial image of the back of a folded letter written by William A. Fairchild to President Jefferson Davis. It reads... William A. Fairchild Vicksburg, Miss. Jan 12, 1863 Asks to be appointed Capt.& A. Q. M. stating that he is of "no account," as a soldier. Recounts his peculiar [unique] qualifications for the position he seeks.
Vicksburg, Miss. Jan 12, 1863 Hon. Jefferson Davis President Confederate States Honored Sir: Pronounce me not a presumptuous mortal for the liberty I have taken, but read the following and proclaim me a Capt. & A.Q.M. The truth is, I am about again to offer up myself as a sacrifice and being of course exceedingly anxious to serve my country, I offer my service in the capacity above mentioned....
...[A]s a soldier I was no account; and now having grasped (?) the pen which is mightier than the sword, I am serving the country as a "Quartermaster Clerk" and I think I make a pretty good one, but know I would make a splendid Quartermaster. Tis customary I am aware to be recommended and ... I can say without egotism, "Vicksburg" can recommend me and will do so. It may be well perhaps to let you know something of my character. Well I am 24 years of age ...
... and never in my life took a drink of liquor; smoked a cigar, chewed tobacco, or used an oath, am a member of The Church (Episcopal) for more particular recommendation can refer you to Capt. Wm Porterfield, A. M. Paxton, Wm. C. Smedes, Walker Brooke, Dr. A. H. Arthur, or anyone in The City of Vicksburg, having been raised here, could also refer you to some of the "First Families of Virginia", if necessary. Very Truly Your obedient Servant Wm. A. Fairchild Address me if at all to Vicksburg, Miss.

In the month of Oct 1863, now-Corpl. Fairchild, Quartermaster Clerk, was in Demopolis, Ala. (card not shown here). In Feb 1864, he was employed as Quarter Master Clerk in Brandon, Miss., and in Mar 1864, he was in the same capacity in the field.
	At war's end, Corpl. William Anner Fairchild was paroled at Meridian, Miss., 12 May 1865.
William A. Fairchild died in the great yellow fever epidemic of 1878 William Anner Fairchild died 20 Sep 1878. The yellow fever had come to Vicksburg (and many other places in the South) and people fled the crowded areas, the towns and cities, for the safety of the countryside. However, there were many brave men and women who stayed behind to care for their fellow citizens, and William Fairchild was one of these. The fever began in Vicksburg. From The American Tyler-keystone, Devoted to Freemasonry and Its Concerdant Others, Vol. XXV 1910-1911, pgs. 31-32, says this about William Fairchild -- A man of means, he could have easily removed from the city along with hundreds of other friends who did so without thought of staying to aid their stricken brothers. No one knew better than he the dangers of plague and famine which it would mean. He had been through similar, but not so severe, experiences before but did not hesitate. "He saw his duty and abided the results and on the twentieth day of September, while in active discharge of his duties as director of the two great relief associations, made the supreme sacrifice for his fellowmen and proved himself faithful unto death. The burden he had taken up for humanity was too great for him to carry and he laid it down at the Master's feet." At the time of his death no man was better known or had more friends in Vicksburg than Mr. Fairchild. He was prominent in business, in church work, and in fraternal and commercial circles of the city. Large-hearted and charitable, he gave of his means and time abundantly. In anticipation of yellow fever epidemics, the Howard Association had reserved its organization and Mr. Fairchild immediately took up the work he saw was necessary in anticipation of the plague which he saw was at hand. Money was raised, committees appointed, nurses secured, and so far as possile all succor placed in readiness for the victims, but all experiences with the plague were eclipsed and it spread with a virulence and rapidity that made the preparations inadequate. He "fell a martyr to his fidelity while in the discharge of his duty as a director of the Howard Association and Secretary and Treasurer of the Masonic Relief Board..." ( Proceedings of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar for the State of Georgia, Savannah, 1910, pg. 51)

Many thanks to James Earl (Sam) Price and William Sanders for their help on this soldier.
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