November 20, 1963 ~ November 2, 2008
After a glorious Saturday of riding and skirmishing from Philomont to Unison village in Loudon County Virginia; after public demonstrations and eating in the village; the 1st Maine Cavalry made camp at a place called Fiddler's Green just South of the village of Unison.
After some hours of laughter and jest the men of this Civil War reenacting group settled down to sleep. Sometime in the early hours of November 2nd, our comrade and friend, William "Wild Bill" King passed away in his sleep.
Bill and his horse Dillon ~ "Wicked Hardcore Ride" ~ 2004
Bill had never been in the best of health. He was a truck driver for Summerville Lumbar Company in Massachusetts until his disability in 1987. He was a life-long diabetic and in 2006 he suffered a heart attack, and that would take him from us for good this time. Never-the-less, his determination to "enjoy whatever life he had left" kept him at the front of the column and at the head of the charge. His humor, often sarcastic, is how we remember him most, and will be sorely missed. He left this life after a great day in the field, happy and joking with his friends, doing what he enjoyed, and as is fitting for a cavalryman, at a place called Fiddler's Green.
No man could ask for a more loving and supportive partner than Bill had in his wife Patty. We of the 1st Maine intend to creat a fund to help her through this great loss.
Anyone that wishes to contribute may contact Tom Craig at tom.craig(a)ymail.com for details, or may contribute via PayPal.com to sgttodd@mainecav.org
Bill was also survived by his mother, Lois Randell of Mass; his maternal grandmother, Winifred O’Brian of Springfield, Vt; his uncle, Warren Cavichi of Vt; and a host of cousins.
Halfway down the trail to Hell,
In a shady meadow green
Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped,
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddlers' Green.
Marching past, straight through to Hell
The Infantry are seen.
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marines,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddlers' Green.
Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene.
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he's emptied his canteen.
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddlers' Green.
And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And go to Fiddlers' Green.
as published in a US Cavalry Manual in 1923