Biography of William S. Ashe

Biography of William S. Ashe Entries in blue are references and my additions

Photo from the University of North Carolina

   William was born September 14, 1814 in Rocky Point, N. C. He was a lawyer and a member of the North Carolina Senate (1846 and 1858-60) and the U. S. House of Representatives (1849-1855). He became the President of the Wilmington & Weldon RR in 1854 and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1860 and to the North Carolina Constitutional Convention in 1861.
William Shepperd Ashe -- Major & Assistant Quartermaster
January 1, 1861 Started the war as President of the Wilmington & Weldon RR
July 17, 1861 Appointed Major and Assistant Quartermaster
July 18, 1861 Appointed to superintend railroad transportation of troops and military stores on all the railroads in the Confederacy.  
NA, QM 7-18-61
OR Series 1, Vol. 51, Part 2, Page 215
NA, RRB 9-7A-63
August 22, 1861 Approved payment of his future Clerk for a QM Department "special business" trip to Fredericksburg
NA, RRB 8-22-61
September 7, 1861 Had agreement with the Virginia Central RR that they would provide a locomotive for the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac to Richmond & Petersburg RR connector and the Government would provide a replacement locomotive.
NA, VC 9-7A-61
September 25, 1861 Sent on a trip to secure locomotives and cars for use on the East Tennessee & Virginia RR  
NA, QM 9-25A-61
October 4, 1861 Held a railroad convention in Chattanooga
NP, WJ 10-10-61
October 17, 1861 Held railroad convention in Knoxville
NP, KD 10-17-61
November 18, 1861 Authorized priority for transportation of iron for Tredegar
LVA, TRED 11-18A-61
December 24, 1861 C. S. Senate confirmed his position and rank
January 21, 1862 Probably approved the purchase of 5 cars
NA, RRB 1-21-62
January 31, 1862 Paid for his Clerk
NA, RRB 1-31-62
February 18, 1862 Approved purchase of 5 cars
NA, RRB 2-18-62
February 28, 1862 Paid for Clerk
NA, RRB 2-28G-62
March 1, 1862 Sent Capt. Morfit to forward Government freight throughout the Confederacy
March 8, 1862 Capt. Morfit ordered to car makers
March 25, 1862 Approved the purchase of 3 box cars
NA, RRB 3-25-62
March 31, 1862 Paid for Clerk
NA, RRB 3-31T-62
April 19, 1862 Appointed to buy small arms from the citizens of North Carolina
OR Series 1, Vol. 9,  Page 457
NP, RR 4-19B-62
NP, GP 4-24A-62
NA, RR 9-30B-62
May 2, 1862 Shop tools issued to the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac RR under orders from him.
May 26, 1862 Was in Wilmington, running the Wilmington & Weldon RR
June 26, 1862 Major Morfit ordered to take over the duties Major Ashe had performed 
NA, QM 6-26-62
Before July 1, 1862 Gave a shipping authority to an agent who was later investigated.
Before July 1, 1862 Purchased 19 Box Cars from the Georgia RR
NA, RRB 4-15-63
July 31, 1862 His assistant paid, after his death, despite the dates on the forms
NA, RRB 7-31A-62
August 21, 1862 Notice posted to stop buying arms under his authority.
NP, GP 8-21-62
September 14, 1862 Run into and killed by a locomotive while operating a hand car on his own railroad.
NP, RD 9-15-62
NP, WJ 9-15-62
NP, WJ 9-15A-62
NP, RR 9-17-62
NP, CW 9-22-62
NP, RSTD 9-24-62

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