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William Y. W. RipleyUnion Army officer from Vermont during the American Civil War
Date of Birth: 31.12.1832
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of William Y. W. Ripley
- Early Life and Military Career
- Post-War Career
- William Ripley passed away on December 16, 1905, in Rutland.
Biography of William Y. W. Ripley
William Young Warren Ripley, born on December 31, 1832, in Middlebury, Vermont, was an army officer during the American Civil War. He played a significant role in the battles between the North and the South, including the engagements at Big Bethel and Malvern Hill. How did an officer in the Union Army become a recipient of the Medal of Honor? And how did his career unfold in the post-war period?
Early Life and Military Career
Ripley attended Troy Conference Academy, now known as Green Mountain College, in Poultney, and later the Lima Institute in New York. He joined his family's marble business in Rutland and also participated in the affairs of the family-owned Rutland County National Bank. In 1858, Ripley voluntarily served as a lieutenant in the militia under the command of Henry Baxter, who later became the Adjutant General of the Vermont Militia.
In May 1861, Ripley joined the Union Army and served for three months in a regiment based in Washington, D.C. and Virginia, including participating in the Battle of Big Bethel. In the autumn of 1861, he joined the 1st United States Sharpshooters Regiment as a lieutenant colonel. He served as the deputy commander and took part in several battles, including the Battle of Malvern Hill in July 1862, during which he was seriously wounded. In August 1862, Ripley declined an appointment as the commander of the 10th Vermont Infantry Regiment, realizing that he had not fully recovered from his injury.
Post-War Career
In 1864, Ripley became the commander of the 1st Division of the Vermont Militia, holding the rank of major general. His troops played an active role in patrolling and ensuring the security of Vermont and the border with Canada. Ripley remained in service until the reorganization of the militia in the post-war period. He was particularly recognized for his involvement in the Battle of Malvern Hill when he returned to the rear at a critical moment. He rallied two reserve regiments, leading them into battle himself and continued fighting until he was shot in the leg and evacuated to safety. In 1893, Ripley was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
After the Civil War, Ripley returned to his family's marble business and worked with his brother Edward in the Ripley Sons company. He also served on the board of directors and as the chairman of the Rutland County National Bank. In 1889, the Ripley family sold their marble business to Vermont Marble Company.
Ripley was elected president of the Reunion Society of Vermont Officers in 1867, a position previously held by George J. Stannard. He actively participated in the affairs of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) and the fraternal organization known as the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), composed of Union Army, U.S. Navy, and Marine Corps veterans.
As a Republican, Ripley served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1868. In 1880, he voted for James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur. From 1899 to 1900, Ripley served as the mayor of Rutland.
William was married to Cornelia Ann Thomas Ripley, and they had six children together. One of their children, Thomas Emerson Ripley, was the father of author and screenwriter Clements Ripley. William's sister, Helen, was the mother of John Ripley Myers, one of the founders of the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers.
