William E. Jones (general)

William E. Jones
William "Grumble" Jones
Birth nameWilliam Edmondson Jones
Nickname(s)Grumble Jones
Born(1824-05-09)May 9, 1824
Washington County, Virginia
DiedJune 5, 1864(1864-06-05) (aged 40)
Piedmont, Virginia
Buried
Old Glade Spring Presbyterian Church, Glade Spring, Virginia
Allegiance United States of America
 Confederate States of America
Service / branch United States Army
 Confederate States Army
Years of service1848–1857 (USA)
1861–1864 (CSA)
Rank First Lieutenant (USA)
Brigadier General
Commands 7th Virginia Cavalry
Battles / warsAmerican Civil War
Spouse(s)Eliza Margaret Dunn

William Edmondson "Grumble" Jones (May 9, 1824 – June 5, 1864) was a Confederate cavalry general with a reputation for being a martinet to his troopers and fractious toward superiors, but acknowledged to be a good commander. After disagreements of a personal nature with J.E.B. Stuart, Jones's brigade was set to guarding supply lines and unavailable during a crucial juncture of the Gettysburg Campaign when Lee suffered from a lack of capable reconnaissance cavalry. As the personality clash between Jones and Stuart escalated, Jones faced charges for impertinence, and was transferred to separate him from Stuart. Jones was killed leading a counter-attack in the 1864 Battle of Piedmont.