Wotherspoon, William Wallace, b. 1850.

William Wallace Wotherspoon enlisted in the United States (U.S.) Navy on March 9, 1870, but soon transferred to the U.S. Army in 1873. He served as a company and field officer in the West with the 12th U.S. Infantry Regiment, taking part in many of the Indian campaigns. Later, he saw service in the Philippines. Returning to the United States in 1903, he was assigned to the General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and subsequently, to the Army War College (AWC), serving as its head until 1909 when he was appointed assistant to the Chief of Staff (CofS). He again served as head of the Army War College from 1910-1912 and in April 1914, was appointed Chief of Staff, serving in that capacity until retirement from the military in November 1914.