Wild Bill Heffington in the Civil War
From my files on William J. McBride/alias Heffington
Also known as �Wild Bill� Heffington and Capt. Of the 1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry. Most of the men he recruited were relations in some way, i.e. Rogers, Fink, McBride, Adams, Hodges, etc.
Illegitimate son of Louisa McBride. Found out fathers name was Heffington and changed name in 1860, the following is a deed of William Ensey to this fact:
I, C.F. Heffington, on oath, state that I was personally acquainted with William J. McBride...I was also personally acquainted with William J. Heffington...I know that some time about 1860, William J. McBride changed his name to William J. Heffington. The said William J. McBride, afterwards known as William J. Heffington was my father....
William J. McBride was born in 1830, son of Louisa McBride (b. 1812 d. 1894), in Wayne, Tennessee. Married Elizabeth Tennessee Britt (b. 1835 d. 1928) and had following children with her: Calvin Franklin Heffington (1852-1934), Lorenzo (1857-1864), Mariamnia (1861-1951), Elizabeth (1859-1945), Willie T.C. (1864-1905), Nancy Levinia (1854-1933). Willie, Williams youngest daughter was named for him and born after his death.
From Oral Family History, written by Nikki Jestice Wade:
William J. Heffington is one of the most talked about family members. One story about him is as follows: In 1863, he had come home from the Civil War. However, there were still troops and snipers in the area. He buried or hid his gun "Old Silversides", and hid out on Magazine Mountain. His wife would hang out sheets when it would be safe for him to come down. Soon, around this time, he and another man, a McBride, traveled together to the Ft. Smith area, where he would re-join the Union Army as a captain. This is where he was last seen. The McBride man said Capt. Heffington intended to swim the Arkansas River near Ft. Smith. He reported he did not see him again, but brought Heffington's gun back to the family. He told Mrs. Heffington that the captain had given him the gun, but she was always of the opinion that the McBride man killed Heffington, as McBride was with the Southern Army. At any rate, Capt. William "Wild Bill" Heffington was never seen again.
Written History About the Life of "Wild Bill" Heffington from the Arkansas State Gazette, Little Rock, June 13, 1863:
William J. "Wild Bill" Heffington of Yell County was a well-known guerilla leader who operated along the Arkansas River Valley, but who occasionally appeared in northwest Arkansas. He was a cool and daring woodsman who deserted from the Confederate Army and rallied a bold band of followers. Wild Bill apparently was loyal to the Union and cooperated with the Federals. Yet he and his band of Jayhawkers were primarily freebooters who terrorized the area with their killing and robbing. The band caused a panic in Dardanelle by making their bold depredations within three miles of town. In early June 1863, Wild Bill and his gang, some 125 strong and aided by a small force of Federals, held a fortified position on Magazine Mountain and defied a Confederate Calvary force which had been sent against them."
This is all that is filed on his death, from the Adjutant General's Office, Washington D.C.:
"It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office, that William J. Heffington was enrolled and mustered into service as a Captain on the 20th day of March 1863, at Fayetteville, Arkansas, in Company I, 1st Regiment of Arkansas Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or during the war. On the Muster Roll of Company I of that Regiment, dated August 10, 1865, he is reported killed by the enemy in Crawford County, August 15, 1863. Signed Albert Breck, Assistant to Adjutant General.
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