William F Gaston

Description

**WILLIAM: (Note: A photo of William can be seen at findagrave website). William Francis Gaston, son of Alexander F Gaston and Eliza Jones, was born in New Bern, NC. William's grandfather, Hon Wm J. Gaston, was a well-known lawyer, politician, and jurist from NC. In 1850, William attended Georgetown College in Washington & graduated from the USMA at West Point in 1856 with the rank of LT. He was stationed at Ft Walla Walla in Washington Territory under the command of LT Col Edward Steptoe.

On the 17th of May 1858, during a fierce battle with Kamiakin, chief of Yakama Tribe; William was with Captain 0 H P Taylor of E Troop Dragoon's and they were assigned to protect the rear column. The soldiers were outnumbered at least five to one. At even odds, the Indians would have been a fearsome enemy. About noon William was still in the thickest part of the battle fighting bravely. Kamiaken himself, recognizing William's courage and effectiveness, marked him for death and detailed his best marksmen to do the job. After killing him, Indian braves charged in to take his body away; never to be seen again. William departed this life as a heroic soldier, doing the work in which he dedicated his life... defending his country; which many of his ancestors had done before during the Revolutionary War. A memorial plaque was placed in the cemetery at West Point to honor his memory.