VMI's Civil War Generals
William R. Terry, Class of 1850

Biographical Information
- Early Life
  William Richard Terry, born March 12, 1827 at Liberty (now Bedford), Virginia. Parents: William Terry of Bedford County and Lettie Johnson of Pittsylvania Co.
- VMI record
  Entered VMI on July 27, 1846 and was graduated on July 4, 1850, standing 15th in a class of 17.
- Marriage
  Mary Adelaide Pemberton (died 1910) in 1856; they had 3 sons and 3 daughters.
- Pre-Civil War
  Attended University of Virginia; subsequently a merchant.
- Civil War
  Raised Cavalry company in Bedford, 1861; Col., 24th Virginia Cavalry; 1862- commanded Kemper's Brigade, Kemper's Division, 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia; 1863-1864- commanded Kemper's Brigade, Dept. of North Carolina and Dept. of Richmond; wounded at Gettysburg; appointed Brigadier General, May 1864; commanded Kemper's (old) Brigade, Pickett's Div., 1st Corps, Army of Northern VA; at Cold Harbor and Petersburg.
- Post-war
  State legislator, prison superintendent, in charge of a soldiers' home; died Bedford Co., Virginia on March 29, 1897.