Edward Bancroft Williston

Biography

Edward Bancroft Williston entered the Union Army as the nation was convulsed by Civil War, and he spent the conflict and the years that followed steadily serving where he was needed most. He wore the uniform with humility, guiding young officers and bringing order to complex campaigns while maintaining a calm that steadied comrades in uncertain times.

Even after the war he remained committed to the Army, sharing the experience of a lifetime of field service and training with the soldiers he mentored, ensuring the next generation could carry on his faithful stewardship. Arlington National Cemetery is the quiet landmark of his long career, a reminder of an officer who outlived the battle scars but never forgot those who fought beside him.