Fairview Cemetery Burial Register:
SANDERSON, W. L., Col.;
5289; age not stated; d 19 Jul 1868; bur 20 Jul 186
8; P 1 R 5 Lot 24 G 2; W. L.
Sanderson--lot owner
From the New Albany Daily Commercial 21 Jul 1868 p4 c1:
Death of
Col. William L. Sanderson, Mayor of New Albany. On Sunday
morning, 19th inst., at 10 1/2 o'clock, Col. WILLIAM L. SANDERSON,
Mayor of New Albany, departed his life, in the 55th year of his age. . . .
came to this city from Pennsylvania, in the year 1835, and has resided
here ever since - a period of thirty-three years. . . .
Col. Sanderson was a natural soldier. When the war with Mexico broke
out he raised a company in this city - the "Spencer Grays" - which he
led gallantly and with honor to his country and himself, until the war was
ended - fighting nobly at Buena Vista and upon the fiercely contested
fields.
After peace was declared, he returned with the remnant of his gallant
command to this city, resuming his occupation, and pursuing it with the
energy of a most worthy citizen, until the breaking out of the rebellion in
1861. In June, 1861, Col. Sanderson was commissioned by Gov. Morton to
recruit the 23rd Indiana regiment. . . .
Col. Sanderson commissioned as its Colonel. On the 17th day of August of
the same year the regiment received marching orders, and with Col.
Sanderson
at its head left Indiana for St. Louis - the first Indiana regiment to
enter that State,
at that time, in consequence of the disaster at Wilson's Creek and the
death of the
gallant Gen. Lyon, almost wholly in possession of the rebels. But Federal
troops
rushed in like a flood, and a new danger to the Union cause arose from the
presence of a force of some six thousand rebels in the vicinity of Paducah,
Ky.
This danger must be met and the Twenty-third regiment, under Col.
Sanderson,
and the Eleventh regiment, under Lew Wallace, were ordered to Paducah,
where
they arrived on the 11th of September, 1861, being the first Indiana
regiments to
enter Kentucky. Here, after throwing up fortifications, the regiment
remained until
the inauguration of the movements that led to the capture of Forts Heiman,
Henry,
Donaldson and the terrible battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing, being led
by Col.
Sanderson on a reconnaissance in force of the position of the rebel Gen.
Clay King
near Mayfield, and perhaps other reconnaissances of minor importance while
at
Paducah. At Forts Heiman, Henry, and Donaldson, Col. Sanderson's regiment
took part,
and as they always did, acquitted themselves most nobly. At Shiloh Col.
Sanderson
fought his regiment with distinguished gallantry, as well as in the
expeditions to
Vicksburg and the bloody contests that led to the surrender of that
stronghold. For
a time Col. Sanderson was in command at Memphis, after which he
participated, with
his regiment, in the glorious contests of the army of the Tennessee that
led to the
capture of Atlanta. He was in the service over four years, serving over
one year
beyond the term of his first enlistment. As a soldier he was brave as a
lion in battle,
but gentle as a woman after the conflict had ended and the wounded and dead
were
to be cared for. As an officer he was prudent yet decided; kind yet
determined;
indulgent where discipline was not relaxed, but vigorous in maintaining and
enforcing the rules and regulations of the army. . . .
In May, 1865, Col. Sanderson was elected Mayor of this city, and reelected
in May, 1867.
His death will be mourned by all who knew him.
--
Southern Indiana Genealogical Society, Inc.
PO Box 665
New Albany, IN 47151-0665
*Floyd, Clark, and Harrison County First Families Program*
*Floyd - Clark - Harrison Counties First Families Information (.pdf
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