William E. Starke

Biography

William E. Starke, born in 1814, embodied the spirit of the citizen-soldier, exchanging a successful civilian life for the mantle of command when Virginia required men of courage. His steady bearing and willingness to advance alongside his men lent strength to the ranks of the Army of Northern Virginia.

He fell in 1862 during the Peninsula Campaign, his life cut short at the Battle of Seven Pines while leading a brigade that trusted him implicitly. Today he rests in Hollywood Cemetery, where his name is engraved in the memory of those who honor the sacrifices of that conflict.