William S. McCaskey

William Spencer McCaskey (October 2, 1843 – August 10, 1914) was a United States Major general, who served as commanding officer of Fort Sam Houston.

He was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, near the small town of Paradise. As a teenager, he was employed in the town of Lancaster as a printer's apprentice.[1]

At age 17, he enlisted in Company F of the 47th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers during the April 1861 Battle of Fort Sumter, mustering out three months later. He re-enlisted in September.[2] He later joined Company B of the 79th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment as a First sergeant, participating in combat in Kentucky and Tennessee, and Sherman's March to the Sea in 1864.[1] After mustering out with the rank of Captain in 1865, he re-enlisted in 1866, prompted by US Congressman Thaddeus Stevens. During the next 41 years, McCaskey served in many areas of the United States. As Major general, he served as commanding officer of Fort Sam Houston, retiring in 1907.[1]

McCaskey died in San Francisco in 1914, and was buried with honors at the San Francisco National Cemetery.[3]

See also

References
  1. "McCaskey: William McCaskey Civil War Letters, 1862–1865". LancasterHistory. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  2. "Company F". 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  3. "Taps Sound for General McCaskey". The Semi-Weekly New Era. 26 August 1914. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
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