William Overton Callis
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William O. Callis (March 23, 1757 - March 30, 1814) was the son of William Harry Callis and Mary Jane Cosby. He was a childhood friend of Presidents James Madison and James Monroe, was with Washington at Yorktown, known to Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, and Benedict Arnold.
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[edit] Early Life
In 1774, he was tutored, along with James Madison and James Monroe, by Parson John Todd who established in his home near Ochid the first classical school in Louisa Co which later became Hampden-Sydney College; with Monroe, he entered William & Mary at age 17; he left college in late 1775 to join the Continental Army.
He first married Martha Elizabeth Winston (June 21, 1765 - April 29, 1788) then he married Ann Price (November 04, 1774 - September 08, 1848) on May 04, 1790 in Louisa County, VA.
[edit] War Service
In November 1775, he became a Private, 1st Regiment, Capt John Belfield's Troop, Light Dragoons, Continental Troops commanded by Col. Theoderick Bland.
On September 27, 1776, he enlisted in Col. Charles Dabney's Reg, Capt. Arthur Smith's Co of 4th VA Reg commanded by Col. Thomas Elliott; He was in NY in the Battle of the Heights and in Washington's Army through his retreat from NY across NJ.
On January 12, 1777, he was commissioned 2nd Lt. in Capt. John Smith's Co, 4th VA req of Foot; commanded by Col. Robert Lawson.
[edit] Valley Forge
In June 1778, he was commissioned a 1st Lt., Capt. George Wall's Co of 5th VA Reg of Foot commanded by Col. James Wood where he saw service at Camp Valley Forge, Camp Parsinus, Camp White Plains, Camp Robert's Farm
On September 30, 1778, he was wounded and listed as a supernunerary after his lungs were damaged by cannon ball at Monmouth. He left the war to go to the West Indies in Havana & Curracas in 1779 to recuperate. After recuperating, he re-entered the service and in December 1780, he was a Captain of Volunteer Troop of Horses in 4th VA Miitia.
[edit] At Yorktown
On April 6, 1781, now a Major, Callis delivered letters from Brig Gen. Weedon to the British Maj. Gen. W Phillips, Portsmouth, regarding the exchange of prisoners.
After the Siege of Yorktown, March 8, 1781, Capitan Capt. James Maxwell wrote a letter to Gov. Thomas Jefferson and described how a plundering party of about 300 British regulars under Col. Dundas were chased from Yorktown to Newport News by Maj. Callis & Lt. Allen with a small force of volunteers.
[edit] Meets Benedict Arnold
On August 1, 1781, having been promoted to Colonel, Col. W O Callis reported on the fleet in Portsmouth area to Brig Gen. Weedon at Williamsburg. Louis L Kean relates how his great great great mother Anne (Price) Callis told her grandchildren that Maj. Callis met with Benedict Arnold on the James River to arrange for the exchange of prisoners of war. As they waited for the papers to be processed, Arnold asked what would happen if he, Arnold, were taken prisoner. Capt. Callis replied, "Sir, the leg that was wounded in the service of your country would be buried with full military honors. The rest of you, they would hang!" A footnote in Irving's Life of Washington p 286 relates this incident but does not name the officer.
[edit] Aide to General Nelson
In his widow's application for a pension in 1847, she stated her husband acted as ade de camp to Gen. Nelson in 1781 during period wherein British fleet under Adm. Graves was in Hampton Roads and Lord Cornwallis was operating by land.
[edit] Lafayette's letter to Jefferson
In the Virginia Magazine of History (V375), was printed a letter from Layfayette to Governor Jefferson dated July 1, 1781. Lyons Plantation-- "I had yesterday the pleasure to see Maj. Callis and am happy to find you have established a chain of liaison between this camp and the seat of government." Lafayette mentioned the enemy's retreat from Richmond, and their arrival at Williamsburg. He suggested that he go and fight Cornwallis. His troops had managed to get clear of the smallpox; but his men were deserting to harvest their crops. He suggested arming two corps of volunteers of 120 men each with spears (for lack of better weapons), forming a corp of 150 negro pioneers and a corp of 150 negro wagonners to collect horses and weapons from the countryside. "Col. Callis is going up for that same affair (equipping a cavalry) and to him I beg leave to refer your excellency."
In 1782, Col. Callis was at siege of Yorktown with Lafayette for Cornwallis's surrender; he was an aid to Gen. Nelson who referred to him as a Major in Louisa Co records.
[edit] Col. Banastre Tarleton
During the siege of Yorktown, Capt. Callis was amused when a farmer dashed into the street and grabbed the bridle of the intensely disliked British Col. Tarleton's mount, declaring loudly, "This here be my horse that the damned Britishers stole"-- and got his horse back. St. George Tucker, in his journal on the siege of Yorktown, corroborated that Capt. Callis was a witness of this incident. This is the hated British officer portrayed in the movie The Patriot (2000). The character in the movie (Colonel William Tavington) was based on Tarleton as a cruel, sadistic commander who massacred prisoners of war and innocent civilians.
His Revolutionary War service was a total of 7 years and 10 months.
[edit] Later life
[edit] Society of Cincinnati
In early May 1783, he became a charter member of the Society of Cincinnati, along with Gen. Washington. In 1787, the Society held its meeting a week before the Constitutional Convention when the Articles of Confederation was replaced by the Constitution. 21 the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention were members of the Society. William Overton Callis was one of the 21.
[edit] Cool Springs
On December 7, 1785, he bought Cool Springs plantation comprising 660 acres from Thomas and Lucy Poindexter for 120 pounds. It was near crossroads of Cuckoo. On January 19, 1788 he bought 340 acres from Robert & Barbara Barrett 25 for 320 pounds. By 1788, he was the 50th largest land owner; 57th wealthiest land owner & the 70th largest slave owner in Louisa Co. He owned over 1,000 acres worth then around 500 pounds. He owned 15 slaves, 5 horses, and 15 cattle.
[edit] Constitutional Convention and Politics
In 1788, he was a representative to the Federal Constitutional Convention from Louisa County where they ratified Federal Constitution. He was a representative to the Virginia General Assembly from Louisa Co for 17 years.
In 1790, he built his last home, "Needmore", in Cuckoo, VA across the road from his ordinary Cuckoo Tavern which he also bought in 1807. Needmore was a large two-story southern style frame farmhouse. In 1818 it was sold to Henry Pendleton. In 1912, it was torn down and replaced by the home of the present Pendleton family. It was at Cuckoo Tavern during the war that Jack Jouett overheard English officers plotting the capture of Gov Jefferson & the VA Legislature then convened at Monticello. Jouett made the perilous ride over back roads in the dead of night to warn them so they were long gone when the British arrived the next day.
[edit] Jefferson's slave
On May 8, 1795 Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, wrote to: William Overton Callis, Cuckoo, Louisa Co, VA, requested Callis to negotiate the purchase of Nance, a 34 yr old weaver, from Jefferson's brother-in-law Hastings Marks; Jefferson was resuming the business of domestic manufacture & needed a weaver but must pay for her out of next year's crops.
[edit] Death & Burial
In 1800, he retired from politics and on March 30, 1814, he died at Needmoore (Whitehall) Louisa Co, VA; he is buried in Fork Episcopal Church Cemetery between 2 brick walls, Point of Fork, Hanover Co, VA with his second wife Ann (Price) Callis. The Fork Church is 15 miles due north of Richmond, VA and 1/2 mile east of Cool Water. This church was also that of Patrick Henry and they were fellow attendees during their lives.
