behind AotW

In October 1861 Walter S Smith (1845-1919), not quite 16, enlisted with his father, 40 year old Punxsutawney tinsmith Steele Semple Williams, in Company F of the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry; Walter as a Musician, Steele as a Sergeant.

Walter survived the war, mustering out as a Sergeant in July 1865.

His father, though, was seriously wounded at Antietam in September 1862 and discharged in February 1863. He died, possibly due to his Antietam wounds, a year later, in February 1864.

That photograph of the Williams was shared by a descendant to the FamilySearch database in 2017.

Big thanks to John Banks for the nudge to look into Steele Williams.