Brigadier General William Orme Relief Portrait - Vicksburg National Military Park
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N 32° 18.861 W 090° 52.811
15S E 699561 N 3577253
This memorial is located in the center of a grassy area in front of the Pemberton Plaza. South of 3405 Pemberton Square Boulevard.
Waymark Code: WMN7EQ
Location: Mississippi, United States
Date Posted: 01/11/2015
Views: 2
Brigadier General William W. Orme has this one marker on the Battlefield and it is in a grassy area in front of the Pemberton Plaza along Pemberton Square Boulevard.
Brigadier General William Ward Orme was born in Washington, D.C. in 1832. He moved to Bloomington, Illinois, in McLean County, prior to 1860 where he practiced law in the law firm of Swett & Orme. His partner was Leonard Swett. While practicing law in Illinois he caught the attention of Abraham Lincoln who called Orme the most promising lawyer in Illinois.
He was a delegate to the Illinois State Constitutional Convention in 1860. He was a friend of Supreme Court Justice David Davis. When Abraham Lincoln appointed Davis to the Supreme Court, Davis wrote Orme about the news.
Orme formed and commanded the 94th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, known as the "McLean Regiment." At the time, he was a colonel. He led a brigade under Francis J. Herron at the battle of Prairie Grove and, for his performance there, was promoted to Brigadier General postdated to 29 November 1862. Herron's division was transferred to the Army of the Tennessee and Orme continued in command of his brigade during the siege of Vicksburg. Upon the Confederate surrender, Orme's brigade led the Union army into the fallen the city of Vicksburg.
It was during his time in Mississippi that Orme contracted tuberculosis. His brigade was transferred to the Department of the Gulf but he was soon forced relinquish his command due to failing health. He was appointed commander of the Camp Douglas Prison but even that became to difficult for his health. He retired from the military in 1864 to become Supervising Agent for the United States Treasury. Ormed finally succumbed to his illness and died in 1866 at his home in Illinois.
A collection of Orme's papers is held by the University of Illinois Library's Illinois History and Lincoln Collections.
A bronze marker in Orme's honor was erected in 1917 at Vicksburg National Military Park
More on the Web:
There's a bronze plaque with his likeness at Vicksburg National Military Park.
Relief Bust of William W. Orme
Text on the front of the marker:
WILLIAM W ORME
CBrig. General U.S. Vols.
Commanding 2nd Brigade
Herron's Division
From the NRHP nomination form:
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Structure Number: |
HS-168 |
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LCS ID: |
003421 |
Historical Significance:
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National Register Status:
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Entered - Documented
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National Register Date:
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12/09/1977
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National Historic Landmark?: |
No
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Significance Level:
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Contributing
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Short Significance Description:
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The Harris Relief Portrait contributes to park's national significance under NR Criteria A & B because it represents the federal government's efforts to commemorate major Civil War battlefields and leaders.The Orme Relief Portrait contributes to park's national significance under NR Criteria A & B because it represents the federal goverment's efforts to commemorate major Civil War battlefields and leaders.
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Short Physical Description
4' x 2' x 6' high, two-piece granite monument with 25" x 39" bronze relief portrait attached to front. Relief panel has inscription and decorative border.
Material(s)
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Structural Component(s)
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Material(s)
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1.
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Superstructure
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Granite
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2.
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Superstructure
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Bronze
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Construction Period:
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Historic
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Chronology:
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Physical Event
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Begin Year
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Begin Year AD/BC
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End Year
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End Year AD/BC
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Designer
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Designer Occupation
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1.
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Built
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1917
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AD
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Kitson, T. A. R.
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Sculptor
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My Sources
1. Wikipedia -
Brigadier General William W. Orme
2. Wikipedia -
Siege of Vicksburg
3. The Civil War Home -
The Vicksburg Campaign - Union Order of Battle
4. National Register Application -
NRHP