| Notes |
- Civil War Confederate Officer. Company H, or the "Haskell's Rifle Corps" of the 1st Regiment South Carolina Infantry (Greggs) was mustered into Confederate service in September of 1861.
William Thomson Haskell, a demanding disciplinarian, was the recruiter of these volunteers who amassed to defend the southern cause. Consequently, upon the organization of the company, he was commissioned a captain with authority to command the company he founded. His sternness did not go over well with the new recruits, however, in time the enlisted men became endeared to him.
One of these men remembered that Haskell was "the most thorough, yet the most discriminating disciplinarian, on the drill ground he was infallibly accurate, on the march he was indefatigable, in battle he was the very spirit of gallantry and self-possession."
His untimely end came on July 2, 1863 during the battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. There on that day, he was leading his command when he was killed-in-action. With his death, the "brigade mourn his loss more than that of any man who [had] ever fallen in it."
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Charleston Mercury
July 23, 1863
William T. Haskell obtained his education at the Virginia University, and was prosecuting the study of law when the war broke out. He joined the Company raised by Captain, afterwards Colonel Perrin, and not expecting the length and bitterness of the strife, he sought no commission, but with exemplary alacrity did the duty did the duty of a private in Colonel Gregg's Regiment – first in Perrin's Company near Charleston, and afterwards in Miller's Company in Virginia. When that regiment was disbanded, after the expiration of his term of service, he was, at the special desire of Colonel Gregg, appointed Captain, and having raised a company, joined the Regiment again upon its re-organization.
He passed through the battles before Richmond, 2d Manassas, Ox Hill, Sharpsburg, Botteler's Ford, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville without receiving a scratch, although his cap and clothes were frequently cut with bullets. After he entered into service he never lost a day from sickness or other cause, and never asked a furlough, although once he was at home for a few days, when ordered back to duty. In battle, as in all his speech and conduct, he was cool and deliberate, but so unflinchingly firm that more than once he held his company under fire when others retired.
The most of two sets of noble lieutenants had fallen by his side – his company had been reduced to a handful and in preparation for the movement into Pennsylvania, he was placed at the head of the battalion of sharpshooters of his brigade. Of the particulars of his last battle we know nothing, but we doubt not that in that, as in preceding ones, he exhibited the high qualities which characterized him. No officer was more kind and just to his men – none enjoyed a higher degree their affectionate attachment and ready obedience. He indeed was the model of a soldier.
William T. Haskell obtained his education at the Virginia University, and was prosecuting the study of law when the war broke out. He joined the Company raised by Captain, afterwards Colonel Perrin, and not expecting the length and bitterness of the strife, he sought no commission, but with exemplary alacrity did the duty did the duty of a private in Colonel Gregg's Regiment
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1837 - 1863 (25 years)
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