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William Joseph Leonard Nicodemus

Born: 01 August 1834 in Clear Spring Dist., near Hagerstown, Maryland
Died: 06 January 1879 in Madison, Wisconsin
Burial: Forrest Hill Catholic Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin

Mother: Mary Ann Kessler
Father: Frederick Nicodemus

Married: Francis E. Pettit 27 December 1864 in Washington, District of Columbia

Children:

  1. R. Canby
    b. 1866
    Son: R. Canby Nicodemus, Jr. b. ca. 1905
    Note: Listed as R. C. Nicodemus, Jr. Class of 1926 Univ of WI
  2. Lillian M.
    b. 1871
  3. Grace A.
    b. 1874
  4. Bertha J.
    b. 1875

Sources and Additional Information:

William Joseph Leonard Nicodemus
Born: Near Hagerstown, Maryland August 1st, 1834
Died: Janesville (near Madison), Wisconsin January 6th, 1879

William J. L. Nicodemus certainly lived during interesting, but troubled times. Most of what I have been able to learn about him is due to two important events in his short life: attendance at the United States Military Academy at West Point and his association with the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

Education in the mid-1800’s was not an easy thing to come by. West Point was an institution where a young man could get a good education without substantial costs. One key ingredient to obtaining an appointment was political influence of some degree. His uncle, Josiah Courtney Nicodemus, was a very prominent citizen of Baltimore and could have provided such influence. [1]

William J. L. applied for an appointment to West Point in a letter he wrote to the Secretary of War on January 10, 1852. In this letter, he stated that he was residing in the Clear Spring “district” (extreme North-western part of Maryland in Washington County). [2] His actual appointment was made as a result of a letter from Maryland Representative William Hamilton in April 1854. Representative Hamilton’s letter to then U.S. Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, (who of course later became President of the Confederate States of America) recommended appointing William J. L. “in place of” another applicant.

The course of study at West Point was difficult, especially in maSubjecttics. More than half of those entering the academy did not graduate. Acceptance to West Point meant more than just hard work. It also meant delaying any plans for marriage and a commitment to military service for at least eight years. [3] The form letter of appointment signed by the Secretary of War included a grim warning to the effect that the candidate might spare himself and his family future humiliation by declining the appointment. The candidate was required to sign the letter of acceptance. The letter also required and contained the approval and signature of his father, Frederick Nicodemus.

Frederick’s residence was listed in that letter as Hedgesville, Virginia. I did not find such a town in Virginia, but I did find a Hedgesville in West Virginia just across the Potomac in Berkeley County. Actually, at the time, the area of West Virginia belonged to Virginia so listing Hedgesville as Virginia was correct. West Virginia was admitted to the union as a state June 20, 1863. One can say that West Virginia seceded from the Confederacy since Virginia had previously seceded from the Union.

He entered West Point July 1, 1854. One hundred three years after our first Nicodemus ancestor arrived in the New World and 78 years after two of his great-grandfathers, Johann Fredrick Nicodemus and John Potter, served in Captain Daniel Clapsaddle’s Maryland Militia Company during the War of Independence against the British. [4]

Robert E. Lee was the superintendent when William J. L. entered the academy. Lee, like Jefferson Davis, was a graduate of West Point. Lee distinguished himself in the battles of the Mexican War and was wounded in the storming of Chapultepec in 1847. For his meritorious service, he was rewarded with a brevet (temporary) promotion and became the superintendent at West Point. In the relatively small army of the time, Lee was already an important figure and a hero. [5]

The military academies are famous for the imposition of demerits on their cadets. Robert E. Lee is still the only West Point cadet to ever graduate without receiving a single demerit during his four years of study. [6] A review of William J. L.’s demerit records revealed that if he had any thoughts of matching Lee’s record, he certainly gave up on that goal before the end of his first month as a cadet. The following demerits were given to him during his first two months at West Point:

Date

Infraction

Demerits
Jul 19 Losing step at drill 2
Jul 20 Inattention at parade 2
Aug 2 Laughing in ranks 2
Aug 3 Improper command 2
Aug 5 Not requiring the countersign at guard post 5
Aug 5 Allowing smoking near his post 5
Aug 13 Late at inspection 1
Aug 16 Not keeping eyes right at drill 2
Aug 17 Not coming to an order properly 2
Aug 20 Name on musket at inspection 2
Aug 20 Not keeping proper distance at drill 2

I did not find any demerits for more serious infractions until his last year when he received five demerits for being “off limits on the road to the new dock.” [7]

William J. L. Nicodemus while at West Point was no doubt involved in the nation wide debate already taking place concerning the abolition of slavery. At least nine members of the class of 1858 were from states that seceded from the Union at the beginning of the Civil War. It is well known that many career officers serving at the outbreak of hostilities resigned their commissions and took up the cause of their home states. Robert E. Lee was no doubt the most famous.

During his four years at West Point, William J. L. met several young men with whom he would later be associated and some found their place in this nation’s history. Andrew Jackson, Jr. was a member of the same class. I assume that he is the son of the seventh President of the same name. In addition, George Armstrong Custer was a Fourth Classman (Freshman) the year that William J. L. graduated. [8]

William J. L. did not finish first in his class academically, but he did not finish last either. Here are his relative standings during his four years at West Point:

Fourth Class (Freshman) 11 of 35
Third Class (Sophomore) 21 of 30
Second Class (Junior) 22 of 26
First Class (Senior) 23 of 27 [9]

William J. L. Nicodemus graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point July 1, 1858 and was promoted in the Army to brevet Second Lieutenant of Infantry. His first assignment was with the 5th Infantry at the garrison at Newport Barracks, Kentucky. On January 19, 1859 he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. He departed his first duty station in Kentucky shortly thereafter when he conducted recruits to Utah. During 1859 and into 1860, he participated in the Utah Expedition. [10]

In 1860, his unit marched to New Mexico where he served at various posts until the outbreak of the Civil War. He served at Fort Fauntleroy, New Mexico, 1860, Fort Defiance, New Mexico, 1860, and again at Fort Fauntleroy in 1861, Navajo Expedition, 1861, and Fort Union, New Mexico, 1861. [11]

It was during this time that William J. L. first served with then Major Albert J. Myer. This association would last throughout the remaining war years and assure him a place in U.S. Army history. “On January 9, 1861, Second Lieutenant William J. L. Nicodemus, 5th Infantry, was assigned signal duties at Fort Fauntleroy, New Mexico. February 7, while he was stationed upon a prominent point on the lookout for a wagon train, a feat was performed which deserves mention. An order was given by signal for the detachment to “fall in” and then they were practised in the manual of arms, each movement being called for by the flag.” [12] Shortly thereafter in the Navajo Expedition, was the first time the U.S. Army used signals of this type in combat. [13]

As hostilities broke out between the North and South, William J. L. was promoted to First Lieutenant, 11th Infantry and later, Captain, 12th Infantry, acting also as Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of New Mexico from October 1861 to June 1862. For gallant and meritorious services at the Battle of Valverde, New Mexico in February 1862, he was given a brevet promotion to Major. [14]

The Battle of Valverde was fought on February 21, 1862 and was the first major conflict between the Union and Confederate forces in the Intermountain West. The battle was filled with intensive combat and full of valiant individual acts and tragedies. The South claimed it as a victory, but the losses were high on both sides. Each army spent the next two days under flags of truce to “care for their wounded and burying their dead on the battlefield near the Rio Grande”. [15] Colonel Edward R. S. Canby had overall command of the U.S. forces. Also serving at the battle was Colonel “Kit” Carson who commanded a regiment of New Mexican volunteers. [16]

At least five of his West Point classmates served with William. J. L. after graduation. Bryan M. Thomas, appointed from Georgia, and William G. Robinson, born in Canada and appointed from North Carolina, resigned their commissions in the spring of 1861 and “joined the rebellion against the United States”. George N. Bascom, born in Kentucky, continued to serve in the Union Army and was killed in action during the Battle of Valverde. Charles E. Jesup who was the son of Major General Thomas S. Jesup, Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army, appointed from Washington D.C., resigned just before the war broke out and died on his farm in Todd County Kentucky April 22, 1861. [17] Asa B. Carey, appointed from Connecticut, like William J. L., received a brevet promotion to Major for his “meritorious and distinguished service” at Valverde. [18]

In September 1862, he was transferred to Cincinnati during an impending attack upon the city. Shortly thereafter, he was made Regimental Commander of the 4th Maryland Volunteers. With that position came the rank of full Colonel. This was certainly a big step from permanent Captain to Colonel, but it was not at all unknown during the Civil War, especially for a West Pointer.

Then brevet Captain Custer was also “politicking” for command of a volunteer regiment from Michigan. He wrote, “West Pointers should be given command of these large volunteer organizations.” As it happened, Custer did not get command of that Michigan volunteer regiment, but was given command of a brigade and rank of Brigadier General just a few months later. Thus Custer went from permanent Lieutenant to one star general. [19]

William J. L. was a regimental commander for only six weeks when he wrote a letter in his own hand to the Commanding General of the 8th Army Corps resigning his command. The letter states:

“ Baltimore Md
Nov 15 1862

Sir, I have the honor to tender my resignation as Colonel of the 4 Md Vols to take effect from this date. My reasons for taking this step are strictly private and have no reference to the Administration of the Government.

Very respectfully Sir
Your obedient servant
Signed Wm. J. L. Nicodemus
Col 4 Md Vols” [20]

Having spent 25 years as an Army Officer, I have often wondered what caused him to take this step. It must have been something that moved him greatly. I have recently found a clue that might possibly explain his actions. On November 7, just eight days prior to his resignation, General George B. McClellan, then Commander of the Army of the Potomac, and a general who had great respect from his fellow officers was relieved of command by the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. There was much political pressure for McClellan’s removal in Washington after the tragedy at Antietam.

McClellan’s removal triggered much angry talk among the officers and men. The most radical story was that McClellan was to lead an armed force into Washington, unseating Lincoln. There was widespread talk of a milder protest….. talk of resignations. [21] Custer was at the time an Aide-de-camp to McClellan and had strong loyalty to the General. He wrote that McClellan was the only general in whom he had confidence. Custer took McClellan’s removal very hard. [22]

A roster of the 4th Maryland Volunteer Regiment shows that other officers in the regiment also resigned shortly after McClellan’s removal. First Lieutenant John A. Thompson, Jr. resigned on November 12 and Major Henry P. Brooks, resigned in early December. [23] Whether or not McClellan’s removal was the reason for any of these resignations, we can only speculate. After resigning his command, William J. L. reverted to his permanent rank of Captain. McClellan ran as the Democratic candidate against Lincoln in the next presidential election (1864) and lost.

Major Albert Myer, the Signal Officer to which William J. L. had been detailed in New Mexico, continued with his signal duties and was now the Army’s Chief Signal Officer. It appeared that the 37th Congress would soon pass a bill, officially establishing the Signal Corps as its own branch of the Army. On January 15, 1863 Major Myer wrote to Captain Nicodemus who was then on recruiting duty in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania informing him that a Signal Corps “Camp of Instruction” was to be established near Georgetown. The camp was to consist of 15 to 20 officers and 60 privates. It was to be a permanent camp and bear the relation to the Signal Corps that West Point bears to the Army. Major Myer wrote,

“I need a thorough disciplinarian in charge of it, to have an absolute command and to be responsible for the soldierly discipline and education of the officers and men to afterward serve in the Corps. I have thought of your thoroughness, known to me in New Mexico. Would you like such a command, and would you be willing to take it as a duty, say for a year, taking your chances with the Corps in this war?” [24]

On February 27, 1863, Captain William J. L. Nicodemus assumed command of the Signal Corps Camp of Instruction on Red Hill, Georgetown, D.C. [25] This camp was the forerunner of the U.S. Army Signal School established at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and later moved to its present location, Fort Gordon, Georgia.

The summer of 1863 was an eventful time for William J. L. With the Southern forces making ever-bolder encroachments into the North, he was given command of a Signal detachment that operated in West Virginia and Maryland in support of the Army of the Potomac. Later, he supported General Meade whose victory at Gettysburg was less than a month old. During this period, he was in charge of communications between Harper’s Ferry, Virginia and Washington, D.C., participating in several skirmishes while pursuing the enemy through Maryland. On September 18, 1863 he was promoted to Major, Signal Corps . [26]

It might be interesting to define the Signal Corps’ mission and activities at this point in more detail. Basically, the Signal Corps was responsible for communications on the battlefield. They accomplished this primarily by use of flags and other visual signals, such as torches by night, telegraph where available, and written dispatches. Since the Signal Corps units were in control of this communications, they also gathered valuable information about the enemy situation by visual surveillance and reconnaissance. Written messages were normally coded. Much time and effort was spent attempting to decipher the enemy’s codes. Once an enemy code was broken, it was of utmost importance to keep that fact from the enemy. Here is an order given by Lieutenant Colonel Myer:

“Send over your lines from time to time, messages which if it is within the power of the enemy to decipher them, will lead them to believe that we did not get any clew to their signals. Send also occasional messages untrue, in reference to imaginary units….” [27]

On November 10, 1863 Albert Myer was relieved of the command of the Signal Corps by the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton. Brigadier General Edward Canby was directed by Stanton to audit the accounts of the Signal Corps. General Canby three years earlier in the campaign against the Navajo had been the first commander in the U.S. Army to witness the use of “signals” in combat. His audit results showed that the receipts and expenditures of the Signal Corps balanced perfectly. [28]

Major Nicodemus was appointed in Myer’s place and assumed command on November 15, 1863. [29] In May, he moved his office to a larger building and installed the Signal Corps’ first printing press. The next summer, on August 10, 1864, William J. L. was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Signal Corps. [30] Other sources put his date of promotion as June 30 [31] and July 3, 1864. [32] Lieutenant Colonel Myer was also reappointed as Colonel, Signal Corps and continued to serve in the field as “Signal Officer of the Army”. [33]

William J. L. kept very busy in his new job. He was active in recruiting and staffing the Signal Corps. He was continuously fighting for recognition for the Corps’ capabilities. He fought a constant battle with the Secretary of War to get his troops properly promoted and otherwise rewarded for their service. On more than one occasion he wrote Secretary Stanton about the “great injustice” done by promotion boards. The size of the Signal Corps and amount paid by rank are shown below:

1 Colonel $211
1 Lt. Colonel $180
3 Majors $163
20 Captains $130
121 First Lieutenants $114
81 Second Lieutenants $???
??? Sergeants $34
??? Privates 1st Class $17
??? Privates 2nd Class $13

It should be noted that the enlisted men received additional pay for clothing, rations, etc. with no deductions. The officers had to pay for these things out of their pay and had to turn over to the Internal Revenue Bureau 3% of their pay. All signal officers were supplied with a horse by the government. [34]

The Signal Corps’ new printing press was used to publish the required hundreds of copies of orders, circulars, and letters addressed to signal officers in the field. In December 1864, William J. L. in his annual report criticized the West Point authorities for their attitude toward military signaling and “boldly” recommended that the field telegraph trains be returned to the Signal Corps. He had the report printed and then distributed copies throughout the Signal Corps without the prior approval of the Secretary of War. “This, though innocently done brought the thunder and lightning down upon his head”. [35]

Secretary Stanton was well known for his powerful temper. When he learned of the distribution of a report which he had not yet seen, his reaction was instant and typical. He sent a detachment of troops to take over the Signal Office, seize the printing press, the original manuscript, and all printed copies. [36] By order of the Secretary of War, General Order 304 dismissed Lieutenant Colonel William J. L. Nicodemus from the service on December 26, 1864.[37]

His departure from Washington appears to have forced William J. L. to take a step that one can only assume that he had already contemplated, but was delaying perhaps until the end of the War. On December 27, 1864, one day after his dismissal from the Army, he took Frances “Fannie” E. Pettit as his wife.* They were married in Trinity Church in Georgetown, D.C. by John Early.[38]

I have found no evidence which indicates where the newly weds spent the next three months. Hopefully, they had a chance to get away from Washington, the War, and Secretary Stanton. On March 31, 1865, William J. L. Nicodemus was reappointed as Lieutenant Colonel, Signal Corps by order of the President of the United States in General Order No. 53, War Department Adjutant General’s Office and made the Inspector of the Signal Corps.[39]

It is interesting to note that Stanton himself was later dismissed as Secretary of War in February 18, 1868 by then President Andrew Johnson for dismissing officials without the Senate’s consent. Johnson appointed U. S. Grant in his place. This dismissal contributed to the unsuccessful impeachment attempt against the President by the Congress.[40]

Just nine days after William J. L.’s reappointment, General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse ending the War. William J. L. Nicodemus was mustered out of the Signal Corps August 23, 1865 and restored to his regiment, the 12th Infantry, as Captain, the rank he had last held with his regiment before being detailed to signal duties in February, 1863.[41]

After the War, William J. L. served at Fort Hamilton, New York harbor, Richmond, Petersburg, and Fredricksburg, Virginia, and again in Washington, D.C. In 1869, he was detailed from the Regular Army as military instructor at Western University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On December 29, 1870, he was honorably discharged from the United States Army at his own request.[42]

A chronology of his rank and assignments during his Army career is as follows:

DATE RANK UNIT LOCATION
07/01/1854 Cadet USMA West Point, New York
07/01/1858 Brevet Second Lieutenant 5th Infantry Newport Barracks, Kentucky
01/19/1859 Second Lieutenant 5th Infantry Newport Barracks, Kentucky
05/01/1861 First Lieutenant 11th Infantry Department of New Mexico
10/24/1861** Captain 12th Infantry Department of New Mexico
02/21/1862 Brevet Major 12th Infantry Department of New Mexico
09/??/1862 Captain 12th Infantry Cincinnati, Ohio
10/11/1862 Colonel 4th Maryland Volunteers Army of the Potomac
11/15/1862 Captain Recruiting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
02/27/1863 Captain Signal Corps Georgetown, D.C.
09/18/1863 Major Signal Corps Army of the Potomac
08/10/1864*** Lieutenant Colonel Signal Corps Washington, D.C.
12/26/1864 Civilian Dismissed from the service
03/31/1865 Lieutenant Colonel Signal Corps Inspector of the Signal Corps
08/23/1865 Captain 12th Infantry NY VA, Washington, D.C.
12/29/1870 Captain Western Univ. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The brevet promotions were used as rewards, but once an officer moved to another assignment, he reverted to his permanent rank. In addition, when an officer filled a position that called for a higher rank, they were given a temporary promotion. Thus, a Captain appointed, as a regimental commander became a Colonel with the assumption of command. This is not the case in today’s Army.

Directly after his discharge, William J. L. was “elected” professor of civil and mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin. In his History of the University of Wisconsin, C.W. Butterfield writes of William J. L.:

“Ambitious and energetic, he soon gave life to the department to which he had been called. He thoroughly remodeled the course in civil engineering, and soon drew around him a number of students of that specialty, winning from them by his thorough but kindly manliness, by his enthusiastic devotion to their want, and by his efforts for their subsequent welfare, a warm and lasting regard. Equal success crowned his efforts in the department of military science, where he succeeded in making both popular and useful the drill, which before had always been extremely irksome to the students. His genial manner and varied experience made him a very pleasant companion, and he soon won the regard of his fellow workers at the University.”[43]

He reportedly had more than one offer to leave his professorship at the university. One offer he received was from General William Tecumseh (“War is hell”) Sherman with whom he was well acquainted. General Sherman asked William J. L. to accept a position as professor of maSubjecttics at a college just being started by the “Khedive of Egypt”. The pay was reportedly twenty-five hundred dollars per annum, in gold.[44]

“Professor Nicodemus rarely spoke of himself or of his many experiences.Possessed of a large store of nervous force, he rapidly and efficiently accomplished whatever he took in hand. Ambitious to provide for the wants of his family, should they ever be left without his care, he felt pressed to engage in business enterprises outside the duties of his professorship. As he was never slack in his duty to the University, he must have drawn very largely on his vitality, to accomplish the work he undertook. This is more especially true of the past university year, when burdened more than usually with the needs for instruction in his growing department, and with his work for geological survey, he shared largely in the risks, and anxieties consequent on publishing, along with A. D. Conover, a large and very accurate map of Wisconsin. The draft on his nervous system proved great, and brought on insomnia, which finally developed alarmingly.”[45]

William Joseph Leonard Nicodemus died January 6, 1879 near Madison, Wisconsin. He was just 45 years old. He was buried near Madison in the Catholic cemetery of Forrest Hill. He left his wife of 15 years and four children, R. Canby (perhaps named after General E. R. S. Canby with whom William J. L. had served out west and in Washington) born 1866, Lillian M. born 1871, Grace A. born 1874, and Bertha J. born 1875.[46]

William J. L. was truly an exciting person who experienced historical events first hand during a very terrible time in our Nation’s history. As I’m sure you can sense from this article, he must have been a very talented and interesting person. From all of the available information, one can only conclude that he was well respected by those who knew him. I believe it would be most interesting if we could sit and listen to him describe his experiences himself………… if only it were possible.

I hope you enjoyed this article half as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it. Thanks to Ivan and Tom Nicodemus for keeping after me to undertake this project.; The picture of William J. L. Nicodemus was provided by Dr. Dewey A. Browder, Professor of History, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN.; A special thanks goes to John and Gertie McQueen for editing the article.

  1. Letter from Ivan Nicodemus dated November 23, 1991.
  2. Copy of letters from his military records obtained from the National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  3. The Life of General George A. Custer by Jay Monaghan, published by Easton Press, 1959, p.12.
  4. Nicodemus Notes in America, compiled by Ivan J. Nicodemus, Copyright 1995, p.1, 3, 223.
  5. The Life of General George Armstrong Custer, p.15.
  6. Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara, published by Ballantine Books 1996, p.4.
  7. Compilation of Cadet William J. L. Nicodemus’ demerits 1854-58, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York Archives.
  8. The Life of General George Armstrong Custer, p.15.
  9. Order of Merit List for Class of 1858, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York Archives.
  10. Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, by Brevet Major General George W. Cullum, pub. 1891, Vol II, p.711.
  11. His obituary in the West Point Tenth Annual Reunion, June 12, 1879, USMA West Point, NY, by D. Van Nostrand, p.69 (taken from Madison, Wisconsin Daily Democrat).
  12. Signal Corps USA in the War of the Rebellion by J. W. Brown, A.M., 1896, Signal Corps Assoc, p.31.
  13. Same, p.58.
  14. West Point Tenth Annual Reunion, p.69.
  15. The Civil War in the Western Territories, p.34-35.
  16. The Civil War in the Western Territories by Ray C. Cotton, 1959, University of OK Press, p.29.
  17. Ibid.
  18. West Point Tenth Annual Reunion,, p.69.
  19. The Life of General George Armstrong Custer, p.133.
  20. Letter of resignation found in his military records from the National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  21. Gods and Generals, p.274-5.
  22. The Life of General George Armstrong Custer, p.115.
  23. History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-1865, published in 1898, p.156.
  24. Signal Corps USA in the War of the Rebellion, p.73-74.
  25. Ibid, p.74.
  26. Ibid., p.842.
  27. Ibid., p.215.
  28. Ibid., p.58.
  29. Ibid., p.84.
  30. War Department, Adjutant General’s Office document dated December 4, 1890. This document was for use in “consideration for pension” application by Wm. J.L.’s widow.
  31. Signal Corps USA in the War of the Rebellion, p.842.
  32. Ibid., p.163.
  33. Ibid.
  34. Ibid., p.162-163.
  35. Ibid., p.58 and 86.
  36. Ibid.
  37. War Department, Adjutant General’s Office document dated December 4, 1890.
  38. Sworn statement from M. V. Buckley, Justice of the Peace, dated February 5, 1891.
  39. Signal Corps USA in the War of the Rebellion, p.87 and 842.
  40. The People’s Chronology, James Trager, 1962, Henry Holt and Company.
  41. West Point Tenth Annual Reunion, p.69.
  42. Ibid., p.70.
  43. History of the University of Wisconsin, by C. W. Butterfield as quoted in the Signal Corps USA in the War of the Rebellion, p.36.
  44. Ibid.
  45. Ibid.
Nicodemus Notes in America, p.224.

William Joseph Leonard Nicodemus

(F1E1D5C3B2A)

REVISITED

This is a continuation of an article which appeared in the September 1996 edition of NIC’ IN TIME. The first installment described a young man from Hagerstown, Maryland who graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point just before the start of the Civil War and his involvement in that tragic conflict.

Since then, more has been discovered about William J. L. which not only tells us about this young man…….it tells us much about the nature of the that war and about how difficult it must have been for the citizens of a border state like Maryland.

It is well documented that during the years leading up to the war, the students at West Point were in constant debate concerning what would probably be the most important decision of their lives…….to which side their loyalty would fall. Few institutions of the day had such a mixture of citizens from the North and South as the U.S. Army and in particular, West Point. As it became evident that war would occur, many men from the South who had taken a solemn oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Government, and the President found them selves torn in different directions by their allegiance to their country, state, family, and friends .

General Robert E. Lee was firmly against succession, but could not bring himself to fight against his native Virginia.[1] At least nine members of William J. L’s 1858 West Point class were from states that seceded from the union at the beginning of the war. All choose their home state over service to the United States and resigned their commissions.

Not only southerners had hard decisions to make. General George B. McClellan who became the Commander of the Union Army of the Potomac was in fact a pro-slavery Democrat who sought readmission of the Southern states with slavery still intact.[2] Major General George Armstrong Custer was from Ohio, but his father was from Maryland. Custer supported the cause of the southern states throughout his studies at West Point. It was not until his final year at West Point (1861) that he finally made up his mind that he must stand by the government to which he took an oath to support and defend.[3]

It therefore should not be surprising that William J. L. had mixed feelings of allegiance. In an obscure footnote in a recently published history of the U.S. Army Signal Corps we get a glimpse into his own internal Civil War.[4]

Just before the outbreak of hostilities, Second Lieutenant Nicodemus was serving at a small output in New Mexico, Fort Fauntleroy. At least four of the officers serving with him had already resigned their commissions to fight for the South. One of them was his commander, Colonel Fauntleroy.[5] It is also interesting to note that the troops in New Mexico had not been paid in nearly a year.[6]

It was during this time that William J. L. wrote to a friend, John T. Mason, stating that he would like a commission in the Confederacy at his same rank or at least that is what Mason wrote to the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, in March, 1861. “Mason wrote in his letter to Jefferson Davis that since young Nicodemus was dependent upon his profession, he (Mason) would advise him not to resign his present commission until his State shall secede…..or until he shall have some assurance that he may receive a commission in your government.”[7]

Since William J. L. maintained his commission in the Union Army, we must assume that he either changed his mind due to the fact that his native state of Maryland did not secede from the Union or his request was never acted upon by the CSA government. Within less than a year, Lieutenant Nicodemus had been promoted three times and was cited for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Valverde, New Mexico.[8]

You may remember from reading the first article that William J. L. rose to the rank of Colonel, commanded a regiment of Maryland volunteers, and was later the commander of the Signal Corps. At the end of the war he reverted to his permanent rank of Captain and did not know until years later that reference to his flirtation with a rebel commission had been uncovered in captured records from the Confederate War Department.

In 1870, William J. L. received a letter from a person named Stoneman with an unsigned and undated enclosure stating, “The letter in the rebel archives will be remembered in this connection”.[9] Not long after this, he requested and was granted an honorable discharge

William J. L. went on to be a successful and respected university professor in Wisconsin, but he no doubt thought often of that letter to his friend, John T. Mason, expressing his Southern sympathies. Although it is the case with all wars, our Civil War in particular left its mark on the land and people for many years after the hostilities officially stopped.

  1. Battle Chronicles of the Civil War, James M. McPherson Editor, published by Grey Castle Press, Connecticut, 1989, Vol I, p.56.
  2. The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People, by Pauls S. Boyer, page 318.
  3. The Life of General George A. Custer, by Jay Monaghan, published by Easton Press, 1959, p.39.
  4. Getting the Message Through, by Rebecca Robbins Rains, U.S. Army Center of Military History, 1996, p.37.
  5. Albert James Myer, Founder of the Army Signal Corps: A Biographical Study, by Paul Joseph Scheips, PhD., The American University, 1966, p.323.
  6. Battle Chronicles of the Civil War, p.146.
  7. Albert James Myer, p.324.
  8. The Civil War in the Western Territories, by Ray C. Cotton, 1959, University of OK Press, p.34-35.
  9. Albert James Myer, p.324.

This page was last updated on: June 15 2010