WHITING, William Henry Chase, soldier, born in Mississippi about 1825; died on Governor's island, New York harbor, 10 March, 1865. His father, Levi, a native of Massachusetts, was an officer of the regular army from 181.2 until his death in 1852, when he was lieutenant-colonel of the 1st artillery. The son was graduated at the United States military academy in 1845 at the head of the class in which were Charles P. Stone, Fitz-John Porter, and Gordon Granger, he was assigned to the engineer corps, and engaged in the construction of forts and internal improvements in the west and south, becoming a captain, 13 December, 1858. He resigned on 20 February, 1861, entered the Confederate service, and in June and July of that year was chief engineer, with the rank of major, of the Army of the Shenandoah, under General Joseph E. Johnston. He was promoted brigadier-general on 27 August, 1861, and commanded the brigade whose timely arrival won the Battle of Bull Run for the Confederates. He took part in the battle of West Point, Virginia, 7 May, 1862, was made a major-general in 1863, and built Fort Fisher, North Carolina, of which he took command in the autumn of 1864. He defended the fort during the unsuccessful attack by General Benjamin F. Butler, and the successful one by General Alfred H. Terry (q. v.), and on its capture was severely wounded and taken prisoner.