William W. Orme
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General William Ward Orme was born in Washington, D.C. in 1832. He moved to Bloomington, Illinois, in McLean County, prior to 1860 where he practiced law in the law firm of Swett & Orme. His partner was Leonard Swett
. While practicing law in Illinois he caught the attention of Abraham Lincoln
who called Orme the most promising lawyer in Illinois.
He was a delegate to the Illinois State Constitutional Convention in 1860. He was a friend of Supreme Court Justice David Davis
. When Abraham Lincoln
appointed Davis to the Supreme Court, Davis wrote Orme about the news.
Orme formed and commanded the 94th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
, known as the "McLean Regiment." At the time, he was a colonel. He led a brigade under Francis J. Herron
at the battle of Prairie Grove
and, for his performance there, was promoted to Brigadier General postdated to 29 November 1862. Herron's division was transferred to the Army of the Tennessee
and Orme continued in command of his brigade during the siege of Vicksburg. Upon the Confederate surrender, Orme's brigade led the Union army into the fallen the city of Vicksburg.
It was during his time in Mississippi that Orme contracted tuberculosis. His brigade was transferred to the Department of the Gulf but he was soon forced relinquish his command due to failing health. He was appointed commander of the Camp Douglas Prison
but even that became to difficult for his health. He retired from the military in 1864 to become Supervising Agent for the United States Treasury. Ormed finally succumbed to his illness and died in 1866 at his home in Illinois.
A collection of Orme's papers is held by the University of Illinois Library's Illinois History and Lincoln Collections.
A bronze marker in Orme's honor was erected in 1917 at Vicksburg National Military Park
Leonard Swett
Leonard Swett was a civil and criminal lawyer who advised and assisted Abraham Lincoln throughout the president's political career.-Early life:...
. While practicing law in Illinois he caught the attention of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
who called Orme the most promising lawyer in Illinois.
He was a delegate to the Illinois State Constitutional Convention in 1860. He was a friend of Supreme Court Justice David Davis
David Davis (Supreme Court justice)
David Davis was a United States Senator from Illinois and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. He also served as Abraham Lincoln's campaign manager at the 1860 Republican National Convention....
. When Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
appointed Davis to the Supreme Court, Davis wrote Orme about the news.
Orme formed and commanded the 94th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
94th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 94th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, nicknamed the "McLean Regiment," was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
, known as the "McLean Regiment." At the time, he was a colonel. He led a brigade under Francis J. Herron
Francis J. Herron
Francis Jay Herron , was a Union general during the American Civil War.-Biography:Francis J. Herron attended the Western University of Pennsylvania, but left at the age of sixteen without completing his degree to become a bank clerk. In 1855, he joined his three brothers in Dubuque, Iowa, where...
at the battle of Prairie Grove
Battle of Prairie Grove
The Battle of Prairie Grove was a battle of the American Civil War fought on 7 December 1862, that resulted in a tactical stalemate but essentially secured northwest Arkansas for the Union.-Strategic situation: Union:...
and, for his performance there, was promoted to Brigadier General postdated to 29 November 1862. Herron's division was transferred to the Army of the Tennessee
Army of the Tennessee
The Army of the Tennessee was a Union army in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, named for the Tennessee River. It should not be confused with the similarly named Army of Tennessee, a Confederate army named after the State of Tennessee....
and Orme continued in command of his brigade during the siege of Vicksburg. Upon the Confederate surrender, Orme's brigade led the Union army into the fallen the city of Vicksburg.
It was during his time in Mississippi that Orme contracted tuberculosis. His brigade was transferred to the Department of the Gulf but he was soon forced relinquish his command due to failing health. He was appointed commander of the Camp Douglas Prison
Camp Douglas (Chicago)
Camp Douglas, in Chicago, Illinois, was a Union Army prisoner-of-war camp for Confederate soldiers taken prisoner during the American Civil War. It was also a training and detention camp for Union soldiers. The Union Army first used the camp in 1861 as an organizational and training camp for...
but even that became to difficult for his health. He retired from the military in 1864 to become Supervising Agent for the United States Treasury. Ormed finally succumbed to his illness and died in 1866 at his home in Illinois.
A collection of Orme's papers is held by the University of Illinois Library's Illinois History and Lincoln Collections.
A bronze marker in Orme's honor was erected in 1917 at Vicksburg National Military Park