In Memory of Captain William Anderson Ellis

William Anderson Ellis was a school teacher who enlisted in Company I, 35th North Carolina in 1861. He was wounded at the Bermuda Hundred in May of 1864 and died in a Virginia hospital three days later. The following excerpt from North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65: 35th North Carolina tells the story of his death on the battlefield:

In the main battle of Drewry's Bluff ( 16 May 1864) the Thirty-fifth regiment
formed part of the support to Major-General Robert Ransom's command, and bravely did its part in gaining victory over Butler. After the battle of Drewry's Bluff, Ransom's brigade occupied the trenches in front of Butler at Bermuda Hundred and on 20 May, six companies of the Thirty-fifth regiment were ordered to advance the picket lines. This they did with wonderful gallantry, but at great loss. Captain Wm. A. Ellis of Company I, was killed and Captain Robert Petty of Company D, dangerously wounded. When the Surgeon, Dr. O'Hagan, told Captain Ellis he was dying, he said "Tell General Ransom I die like a soldier, and please send my body home." This request was faithfully attended to by his General, who at the time was lying wounded in Richmond.

VICISSITUDE OF LIFE AND ACROSTIC
by William Anderson Ellis

Farewell, dear, young friends;
though parting is painful,
A sad separation approaches at last.
Revilers may spurn me,
lost friends may chide me;
Even then with much pleasure
I'll think on the past.
When rivers divide us and
hills rise between us,
Even then I'll remember
your childhood bright days.
Let not sad reflections
a moment beguile you;
Look forward with hope on
future's bright rays

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When young I began my own fortune to seek
In the morning of life so fresh and so gay
Long on the future looked forward so meek.
Long, long I expected a happier day,
I looked but in vain for that happier day
And thought I'd most reached the long looked for prize.
My hopes and effects were both taken away.

And I sank down; alas, unexpecting to rise
No more then did hope for a time on me bloom
Doomed ever it seemed for innocent blame
Even friends had proved false; I must sink to the tomb
Repugnantly last like the dressed priest's fame,
Sweet mate of some promise at length seemed to say
On literature pages I yet had a charm;
No friends save a few to look on with pity.

Eternally blest may they yet rise to fame.
Laborious efforts I made full of wages
Long lessons I learned by mind to...
I soon became noted on literature's pages
Since then I've been teaching young ideas to shoot.