William E. Nason was a Civil War soldier who survived to become a veteran. William was born in 1832 in Massachusetts. William was a son to Peace B. Nason who was born in Massachusetts. His mother was also born in Massachusetts. William enlisted for the war at the age of 28 on September 12, 1861. He mustered out of the war on August 2, 1864. Before the war, he had an occupation as a grocer. After the war, William E. Nason became an auctioneer for real-estate. He eventually married and became a widower. He and his family lived in Franklin, Massachusetts. He lived old enough to fill out a census in 1880 in which he was 48 years old.

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            William E. Nason was in Company A, regiment 18, from the state of Massachusetts. His rank in was a private and his rank out was a wagoner. The 18th regiment was organized at Readville and Boston. The regiment was mustered on August 27, 1861. The regiment’s service ended on October 21, 1864. The 18th regiment consisted of 1859 soldiers and officers. Nine officers and 114 soldiers were killed or mortally wounded. Two officers and 127 soldiers died from disease. All together 252 casualties in all the battles the regiment fought in. At first, this regiment marched down and attached to Fort Corcoran for the defenses of Washington in October of 1861.

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          Battles that the 18th regiment was involved in were: Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Bull Run, Antietam, Shepherdstown, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Williamsport, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Springs Church, Williamsburg, Wafin Heights, Bristow Station, Hope Church, Verdesville, Laurel Hill, Jericho Ford, Bethesda Church, Little River, and Peebles Farm. In the 18th regiment a man by the name of Frederick C. Anderson won the Congressional Medal of Honor. For the life of the 18th regiment it was fight and then keep on marching until they would fight again. Company A of the 18th regiment was under the command of Captain Lewis N. Tucker. The 18th traveled to many states including Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The battle with the most casualties was Second Bull Run on August 30th in 1862 with fifty-four casualties. The battle with the least casualties was Chancellorsville on May 1st through the 3rd in 1863 with one. There are many other Nasons who fought for Massachusetts, but not known whether to be brothers of William.