07/04/2025
A Tribute to:
Colonel George S. Patton Sr. (grandfather of the famed World War II general) he grew up listening to the heroic deeds of (His) grandfather; Gen. Hugh Mercer of the American Revolution ...
Patton graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in (1852), A student of Proffesor Thomas Jonathan " Stonewall Jackson".
He spent the next nine years of his life practicing law and organizing a militia company near Charleston, Virginia (later West Virginia) the Kanawha Minutemen.
Patton enlisted into the service of Virginia on May 8, 1861, and became captain of Co. H, 22nd Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry .. Two months later he received a promotion to lieutenant colonel ...
During the Battle of Scary Creek, Virginia, Patton received a serious shoulder wound on July 17, 1861
while rallying his troops ...
He continued to serve with bravery and distinction ...
During the Battle of Giles cnty Courthouse, on May 10, 1862 Patton received a gunshot to the stomach while leading the 22nd. Virginia against invading Yankees.
Fearing his wound to be fatal, he was reportedly laid against a tree and began writing a farewell letter to his wife. Remarkably during a closer examination of his wound a $10 gold piece which his wife had sewn into his money belt, deflected the brunt of the bullet and saved his life ...
Patton held the rank of Lt. Col. until his promotion to full colonel in January 1863.
It was because of his many leadership qualities that Patton frequently found himself in command of Gen. John Echols’ brigade at various points throughout 1863 and 1864, (due to Echols’ frequent illness.)
On September 19, 1864, and the Third Battle of Wi******er dawned, Patton again found himself in command of Echols’ brigade. When the engagement opened, Patton’s brigade supported Confederate cavalry north of Wi******er near Stephenson’s Depot, but as the day progressed he gradually moved his brigade south toward Wi******er. By late afternoon Patton’s brigade anchored the Confederate left flank near Fort Collier. The massive Union cavalry attack aimed at the Confederate left sent Patton’s men fleeing through Wi******er. As he tried to rally his tattered brigade in a street he received a wound in the leg. (It proved mortal.)
Patton writhed in agony until Union soldiers captured him and took him to the home of Philip Williams on Piccadilly Street. There, Union surgeons recommended that Patton’s leg be amputated. He died of infection six days later amid the enemy that had inflicted his mortal wound ...
His body was interred in the Stonewall Cemetery, in Wi******er, in sight of where his wound was inflicted. He was buried with his brother, Col. Waller Tazewell Patton of the 7th Virginia Infantry, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg ...
(excerpts of military history & bio.)
