Asa H. Willie

Asa Hoxie Willie (October 11, 1829 – March 16, 1899) was an American lawyer, judge and politician. He served as a United States representative representing Texas and chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. During the American Civil War, he served as a major in the Confederate Army. A Democrat, he served one term in Congress from 1873 to 1875 as an at-large member.

Early life Willie was born on October 11, 1829, in Washington, Georgia, to James and Caroline Willie (née Hoxie). He attended private schools in Wilkes County, Georgia until age 16, when he moved to Brenham, Texas in 1846 and studied law in the office of his older brother James. He was admitted to the bar in 1848 and commenced practice in Brenham. He was elected district attorney of the third judicial district of Texas from 1852 to 1854.

Civil War In 1858, Willie moved to Marshall, where he and Alexander Pope formed a law partnership. He married Bettie Johnson of Brandon, Mississippi in 1859. With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Willie was commissioned a major in the Seventh Texas Infantry of the Confederate Army on the staff of Colonel John Gregg. Willie was captured along with most of his troops at Fort Donelson in February 1862. The captured men were confined at Johnson's Island for nine months before the regiment was exchanged in time to take part in the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863. Willie fought the rest of the battles of the Army of Tennessee until its surrender.