William Smith Gilmore was a soldier in the civil war. His regiment fought in a lot of battles. So what makes William Smith Gilmore anymore interesting or important than the next soldier? There were millions soldiers in the civil war. He was not a part of an elite group; he was a part of the infantry. His regiment was not anything special. What makes him special is that he was from Franklin. He fought in the civil war for the protection of his family and his life. What makes him different from everyone else is that he was from this town and represented this town. That’s what makes him interesting and different from any soldier for New York or Maine, there is a connection.

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            William Smith Gilmore was born on March 15, 1834. He was the son of Philander Smith and Nancy Gilmore. They lived less than five miles away from Franklin High. The family lived by Wrentham. They lived on Summer street. The house would be right around where four ninety-five passes over summer street. That is where William S. Gilmore lived during his child hood.

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            When the Civil War started the nation was ripped into two different sides. The south had left the Union. Abraham Lincoln was the president for the union or the north and Jefferson Davis was the southern president. The two presidents were trying to rally troops behind them. A call went out for anyone willing to fight for the war. William Smith Gilmore a resident of Franklin answered that call. So he joined the 10th Massachusetts infantry regiment. On of the battles that William fought in was the battle of King’s School House. It was in June 25th 1862. That is one of the first battles in the seven-day battle. The union leader was George B. McClellan. The north wanted to seize Richmond and the capital of the confederates. Later in the war George B. McClellan was fired because of his loss at the Seven Days’ battle. Neither side one that battle. The 10th regiment fought at Henrico County. Williams regiment stopped Major General Thomas J. Jackson. This battle happened on June 30th of 1862. The main battle was being fought somewhere else on the line but if the 10th regiment broke then Jackson could have attacked the union’s flank. William was called later to go to Pointdexter’s farm. That is where Robert E Lee and George B McClellan. The union won and the south lost a lot of people. 5,300 southern died and the south did not gain any land. The two leaders with drew from the area. Even though the north with drew they won and that was important for morality. Then the 10th fell to their first defeat of the war. It was in December 11 though the 15 in 1862. Almost 18,000 people died in this battle and a majority of them where union troops. This time the 10th was under the command of Major General Ambrose E Burnside. They tried futilely to break the south lines but they just could not do it.