William "Bull" Nelson (September 27, 1824 – September 29, 1862) served as an officer in the United States Navy for nearly twenty-one years and it was there that this huge behemoth (6'4" – 300 pounds) was first called a bully. Just after the outbreak of the American Civil War in the spring of 1861, President Abraham Lincoln authorized him to arm Kentucky loyalists with 5,000 muskets. That led to his being detached from the Navy to recruit 10,000 troops for a campaign into East Tennessee and that brought about the establishment of Camp Dick Robinson on August 6, 1861. Nelson was appointed to Brigadier General of United States Volunteers on September 16, 1861 and promoted to Major General in mid-July 1862. Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell believed, "no commander during the war enjoyed the confidence of his troops in greater degree than did General Nelson."
In social situations Nelson was genial and entertaining, but whenever he thought someone was shirking their military duty he would too often erupt into a volcanic rage.During the defense of Louisville in September 1862 that disdain for lackadaisical behavior led Nelson to angrily dismiss Brig. General Jefferson C. Davis. One week later Davis was publicly humiliated by Nelson when he thoughtlessly confronted him in the lobby of the Galt House. The unexpected embarrassment caused Davis to lose control and he killed the unarmed Nelson with a single shot to the heart. Davis was never prosecuted for the cold-blooded murder, and both generals became better noted for that affair rather than the otherwise commendable service they gave to their country.
Read more about William "Bull" Nelson: Early Life
Famous quotes containing the words william, bull and/or nelson:
“Here lies the body of William Jones
Who all his life collected bones,
Till Death, that grim and boney spectre,
That universal bone collector,
Boned old Jones, so neat and tidy,
And here he lies, all bona fide.”
—Anonymous. “Epitaph on William Jones,” from Eleanor Broughton’s Varia (1925)
“Not only the bull attacks his enemies with curved horn, but also the sheep, when harmed fights back.”
—Propertius Sextus (c. 50–16 B.C.)
“The victors and the vanquished then the storm it tossed and tore,
As hard they strove, those worn-out men, upon that surly shore;
Dead Nelson and his half-dead crew, his foes from near and far,
Were rolled together on the deep that night at Trafalgar!”
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)