The Men of Randolph-Macon College and the Civil War

In 1861, talk of secession transformed into armed conflict. Many of the men educated at Randolph-Macon College in the preceding 29 years immediately responded to the calls of their state militias to serve, while others later enlisted or were conscripted into the Confederate or Union armies. Others served in public office, or were ultimately drawn into the conflict in the last days in reserve units in local defense. These are their stories.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

W. Townes Boyd, Student 1858-1860

W. Townes Boyd, born in 1844 into the Boyd family of Boydton, enlisted as a private in company A of the 3rd Virginia Cavalry, the "Boydton Cavalry," on August 8, 1862 in Hanover County, VA. On August 6, 1864, he transferred to the 1st Company Virginia Howitzers Light Artillery, where he remained until he took the oath of allegiance at Farmville, VA, on April 14, 1865.

After the war, W. Townes Boyd moved to Covington, TN, where he was the longtime publisher of the Tipton Weekly Record newspaper.He died June 2, 1932 and is buried in Munford Cemetery in Covington, Tipton County, TN.

W. Townes should not be confused with a second cousin with the same name (Captain William Townes Boyd, 1837-1916) who joined the Boydton Cavalry in 1861 and also moved to Covington, TN after the war.