William Holding Echols

William Holding Echols (March 11, 1834 – November 13, 1909) was an American soldier who fought for the Confederacy as a Major in the American Civil War. He was known for his involvement with the United States Camel Corps.

Early life and career Echols was born in Huntsville, Alabama. He received his primary education at Green Academy, in Huntsville; then he engaged in business in Huntsville, and also for one year in Mississippi. Receiving an appointment as cadet, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point July 1, 1854, and was graduated fourth in his class on July 1, 1858, at which date he received his commission in the army and was assigned as brevet second lieutenant to the Corps of Topographical Engineers. He was retained at West Point as instructor in the Military Academy until September, 1858. In October of that year he was ordered to Fort Vancouver, W. T., for duty at Headquarters Department of Oregon. This order was subsequently changed, and Lieutenant Echols was assigned to the Department of Texas with headquarters at San Antonio, where he served until the breaking out of the Civil War.

In the capacity of engineer in charge of the survey Lieutenant Echols for two years made expeditions throughout Northwest Texas with camels, imported by the government for that purpose, in search of available routes through those arid wastes to the California coast.

Confederacy service Lieutenant Echols resigned from the United States army on March 21, 1861, and joined the Confederate army. He was appointed by President Davis as captain of engineers in the regular Confederate army on March 29, 1861, and was assigned to duty as engineer in charge of Fort Jackson and St. Philip, Louisiana, whence, after a brief service, he was ordered on April 17, 1861, to Savannah, Georgia, where he was employed as chief engineer in charge of defenses, in building fortifications, and also in organizing and drilling troops. the other son, William H. Echols Jr., was a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Virginia.