View source for W. B. Gaw

[[File:GawMap_SE_MT_1884.jpg|thumb|500px]]
Col. William B. Gaw was a civil engineer who came to Miles City while working for the Northern Pacific railroad. He was the only surveyor at the time and worked on the Tongue River irrigation ditch project.

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In 1865, he was on a committee as a delegate to the Abolition-Republican State Convention in Columbus, Ohio. He was a Col. in the Army at the time.

16TH U. S. COLORED INFANTRY REGIMENT; Organized in Tennessee late 1863 to early 1864. FIELD OFFICER Colonel - William B. Gaw. While primarily on engineering duties, they were expected to fight when needed. "On the night of the 14th ([[14 Dec 1864]]), orders were received to move at daybreak and make a demonstration upon the left, and occupy a line of works near the Rains' House. On the evening of the 14th, Colonel Gaw, by unsoldierly process, succeeded in getting his regiment taken from the First Brigade and ordered to a safer place in the rear." The 16th regiment was mustered out of service April 30, 1866.

Chief assistant engineer Feb 1868, US Army. He is mentioned in a resolution to open the Tennessee River to steamboats, is quoted as reporting that the removal of obstructions is practical and reasonable. He was to be in charge of the project according to the bill introduced. In the newspaper report of that proposal, he is called, "one of the best known and most competent civil engineers in the South."

He was dismissed from the Army [[8 Mar 1870]], because of activities in support of people critical of Grant's administration. In fact, his enemy in this case called him "far from a proficient engineer -- Indeed his capacity to speak & write English ... is below par. (Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, 1869-1870)

[[20 Jan 1872]] Appointed Chief Engineer of Docks of the Northern Pacific, in charge of the works at Duluth. Then chief engineer for the Northern Pacific in the Dakota Division.

In March 1878, he left St. Paul for the head of Lake Superior ("his old stomping ground") and then took a trip along the Northern Pacific railroad as far as the Missouri River. He is said to be of St. Louis.

Col. William B. Gaw was a civil engineer who came to Miles City while working for the Northern Pacific railroad. He was active there from 1880 to 1883. For a while, he was the only surveyor in the area and he worked all over the county. He took many notes as he worked and later published [http://cdm15018.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15018coll5/id/639 a map].

Gaw built the first dam for the [[Miles City Irrigating and Ditch Company]], which was one of many set backs for the endeavor when the spring thaw took the dam out. He left Montana in late 1885.

He became chief engineer of a railroad being constructed through SE Kansas.

He was a member of the G.A.R. and assisted in the formation of the U. S. Grant post while in Miles City [[24 Jul 1885]].

Gaw died in Washington, DC [[7 Jan 1890]] of pneumonia, following a case of the flu (la grippe). He was hoping to become a census commissioner at the time.


Burial:
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington
Arlington County
Virginia, USA
Plot: Section 13 Site 13716