Otho williams

Williams, Otho Holland (1749-1800) General: Orphaned at the age of 12, Williams worked in the clerk's offices in Frederick, Maryland and Baltimore. In 1775, he was appointed a lieutenant in a rifle corps raised in Frederick County. His company marched to Boston, and Williams succeeded to the command. He was a major when Fort Washington was attacked, and was severely wounded there. The British took him prisoner and carried him to New York, where he was released on parole. They suspected that Williams would engage in a secret correspondence with Washington, so they reapprehended him and placed him in confinement, subjecting him to great indignities and cruelty. He was exchanged after 15 months of imprisonment, and had been promoted to the command of the 6th regiment of the Maryland line during his time in prison. Williams was deputy adjutant-general of the southern army under General Horatio Gates. General Nathanael Greene appointed Williams adjutant-general when Greene assumed command. Williams led a charge during the Battle of Eutaw which gained him the highest honors of the day. Congress promoted him to the rank of brigadier-general near the end of the war. After the Revolutionary War, Williams settled in Baltimore, and was appointed collector of the port, a post he retained until his death.

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