William Thompson Martin (1823-1910), Confederate soldier and railroad builder, was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, and moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi. In 1842, he moved to Natchez, Mississippi, and was admitted to the bar.
He served as district attorney and married Margaret Dunlop Conner in 1854. Though a Unionist opposed to secession, he organized the Adams County cavalry troop in 1861 and was elected captain. He and his troop went to Richmond and he quickly advanced in the Confederate Army, commanding troops in the Peninsular campaign and acting as a personal aide to Robert E. Lee at Antietam. He was promoted to brigadier-general in 1862 and major-general in 1863. He fought in the west, including at Chickamauga. After the war, he was active in politics, serving in the Mississippi Senate from 1882 to 1894. He also made possible a railroad line between Natchez and Jackson, Mississippi.
From the description of Martin, William Thompson, papers, 1784-1926; 1823-1926. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 41464043
