His fellow Calvary General, Brig. General Imboden had this to say about William: "...was an old army officer, brave as a lion and had seen much service, and was known as a hard fighter. He was a man, however, of high temper, morose and fretful. He held the fighting qualities of the enemy in great contempt, and never would admit the possibility of defeat where the odds against him were not much over two to one."
It appears that the reason Jones was so morose and disagreeable, was the fact that his young wife was swept from his arms in a shipwreck. It's said he grew more bitter with each passing year.
Part of the mystery is solved. Grumbling Jones was a popular early American ballad, apparently taught to school children in 1905.
Still unaware of the author.
Interesting
