The Unknown Hero from the Class of '56
A group of Norwich alumni who came of age during a time of war, recently came together in an effort to educate and inspire. The class of 1970 Reunion Committee, inspired by Fred Morshiemer '70, wanted to leave their mark at their alma mater.
Their plan was to commission a painting of a fellow alumnus whose conduct represents the values of their institution - a gift to inspire future generations of students.
The person whom they chose for the honor was not from their class. In fact, very little was known about him. He was E. B. Williston, from the class of '56 … 1856, that is.
As a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, Williston's name was suggested, but little was known about him. So an effort was launched to find out more about the man.
"The subject matter became more real when we tried to ascertain what Williston did to earn his Medal of Honor," said Giff Slater '79, Reunion Gifts Officer with the Institutional Advancement Office, who helped coordinate the project. "As we tried to understand more about him, we found out some things that the Norwich community didn't know before," he said.
What they found was the little known story of the hero from the Class of 1856.
Edward B. Williston, Commander, Battery D, 2nd U.S. Artillery, received the Medal of Honor for "distinguished gallantry in action" while engaging the 4th, 5th and 6th South Carolina Cavalry of Gen. M.C. Butler. The action occurred during a two-day Civil War battle at Trevilian Station, Virginia, where an estimated 1,600 Confederate and Union soldiers lost their lives.
Much of what is known of Williston's actions during the battle comes from Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt's official report of the incident. "Right gallantly did the battery come up in the midst of heavy musketry fire," Merritt wrote. "We being at that time so close to the enemy that their shells all flew far over us."
The report goes on to state, "Planting three guns of the battery in this position, where it dealt the enemy heavy blows, Lieutenant Williston moved one of his brass 12-pounders onto the skirmish line. In fact, the line was moved to the front to allow him to get an eligible position, where he remained with his gun, in the face of the strengthened enemy (who advanced to its very muzzle), dealing death and destruction in their ranks with double loads of canister."
Bob Poirier '66, a retired intelligence officer, Civil War expert and published author, led the research team that uncovered telling details of Williston's bravery under fire.
"The battle took place in the evening of June 12, 1864," Poirier said. "At this point during the war, the Union Army was advancing into Richmond and Petersburg as part of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's final blow to the Confederacy," he said.
"If you can picture the battlefield, here is Williston moving a single gun forward - right up to, if not ahead of, the troops he is supporting," Poirier explains. "He's an American hero."
The yet untitled painting depicts Williston directing the fire of his forward placed 12-pound Napoleon cannon. It is the work of one of the pre-eminent artists of the Civil War genre, Dale Gallon. Gallon, whose work is displayed at the Pentagon, the U.S. Army War College, and the Minnesota State Capitol, is known for his attention to detail and historical accuracy.
Gallon is scheduled to attend the unveiling of the finished work at the Partridge Society and Class Reunion Luncheon on Sept. 16, 2006 at the Kreitzberg Arena. Prints will be sold in Plumley Armory during Homecoming Weekend (Sept. 14 - 17).
Interested in owning a print?
Copies of the print, which will bear the distinctive Norwich cadet regimental crest, can be reserved for $175.00 (unframed) and $350.00 (framed) from the Norwich Advancement Office. Signed limited edition prints can be reserved by calling Giff Slater in the Advancement Office at (802) 485-2306.
Excerpt from Williston's Medal of Honor file »
Download order form (pdf) »
