The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bartlett, William Francis

​BARTLETT, William Francis, soldier, was born at Haverhill, Mass., June 6, 1840. He was a student at Harvard, 1859-61; was commissioned captain in the 20th Massachusetts volunteers July 10, 1861, participated in the battle of Ball's Bluff and lost his leg at Yorktown, Va., April 24, 1862. He commanded the recruiting station Camp Briggs near Pittsfield, Mass., September to November 1862; became colonel of the 49th Massachusetts regiment Nov. 10, 1862, and led it in the assault on Port Hudson, where he was twice wounded. He subsequently became colonel of the 57th Massachusetts volunteers; joined the 9th army corps and was wounded in the second day's battle of the wilderness, May 6, 1864. He was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers for his gallantry; commanded the 1st brigade Ledlie's division in front of Petersburg and was taken prisoner after the mine explosion and sent to Danville, Va., where he was exchanged Sept. 24, 1864. He received a sword from citizens of Winthrop, Mass., March 21, 1864; was married Oct. 14, 1865, to Agnes Pomeroy of Pittsfield, Mass., and visited Europe, 1865-66. He was mustered out of the United States service in July, 1866, and engaged in business. In 1875 he was ​nominated lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts by the Democratic party, and was the next year offered the nomination as governor by the Republicans, both of which honors he declined. He died Dec. 17, 1876.