William F. Spurgin

William F. Spurgin (October 18, 1838 – August 6, 1904) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the American Civil War, American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, and Philippine–American War, he served in the Union Army from 1862 to 1864, and the US Army from 1866 until retiring a few months before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 64. He attained the rank of brigadier general in May 1902, and retired later that month.

Early life William Fletcher Spurgin was born in Carlisle, Kentucky on 18 October 1838, a son of David McKendree Spurgin and Amanda (Secrest) Spurgin. David Spurgin moved his jewelry and photography business to Greencastle, Indiana in the early 1850s, where Spurgin was raised and educated. He attended Asbury University (now DePauw University) from 1854 to 1857. In 1858, he obtained an appointment to the United States Military Academy from U.S. Representative John G. Davis.

Spurgin attended West Point from May 1858 until July 1861, when he left because he intended to join the Union Army during the American Civil War. In June 1862, he was commissioned as a first lieutenant and assigned as adjutant of the 54th Indiana Infantry Regiment.

Continued career In July 1866, Spurgin returned to military service when he was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the 38th Infantry Regiment, a unit of black soldiers and white officers. He was the academy's quartermaster from May 1898 to May 1899, which included preparing soldiers and recent graduates for overseas service during the Spanish–American War. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution and Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Spurgin was buried at West Point Cemetery.