Major W. W. Miller’s Wartime Appointment
Local Democrat and loyal Union man W. W. Miller secures a commission as Quartermaster in the volunteer service.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
We are informed on good authority that our townsman, W. W. Miller, Esq., has received the appointment of Quartermaster in the volunteer service, with the rank of Major. We apprehend that he has been appointed Quartermaster of the Brigade commanded by Gen. I. I. Stevens. Major Miller is a Democrat, but a sound Union man—the Administration having very properly ignored party ties in the appointing of officers of the army. We most cordially endorse the selection of the Major for that responsible position, and we do not hesitate to say that we confidently believe he will discharge his duties in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to the Government. We understand he will leave for the East in a few days.
“Major Miller is a Democrat, but a sound Union man—the Administration having very properly ignored party ties.”
This reflects the intense local political maneuvering during the Civil War, where loyalty was constantly measured and partisan divides were secondary to the urgent needs of the military. The appointment of a local merchant to a key logistics role illustrates how Olympia’s civic leaders were deeply entwined with national military efforts.
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