William Jones Nicholson

William Jones Nicholson (January 16, 1856 – December 20, 1931) was a career officer in the United States Army. He attained the rank of brigadier general during World War I as commander of the 157th Infantry Brigade, a unit of the 79th Division. He was most notable for leading his brigade to victory during the September 1918 Battle of Montfaucon, part of the first phase of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, for which he received the Distinguished Service Cross.

A native of Washington, D.C., and the son of a career United States Navy officer, Nicholson was educated in Washington and in 1876 successfully applied for a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. He served primarily with the 7th Cavalry Regiment, and advanced through the ranks to command the regiment's 1st Squadron, and later the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 5th Cavalry Regiment, and 11th Cavalry Regiment. Nicholson was a veteran of the American Indian Wars (including the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre), Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, and Pancho Villa Expedition. He was temporarily promoted to brigadier general for World War I and commanded the 157th Infantry Brigade. Nicholson led his brigade during the capture of Montfaucon, and continued in command during subsequent fighting. After the war, he commanded the 152nd Depot Brigade, where he oversaw the demobilization and discharge of soldiers returning home after the Armistice.

Nicholson retired as a colonel in 1920 and resided in Washington, D.C. In 1927, he was restored to the rank of brigadier general on the Army's retired list. He died in Washington on December 20, 1931, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

William Jones Nicholson was born in Washington, D.C., on January 16, 1856, a child of Somerville Jones Nicholson (1822–1905), a career United States Navy officer, and Hannah Maria (Jones) Nicholson (1837–1897). His siblings included Reginald F. Nicholson, who attained the rank of rear admiral in the Navy and was a veteran of both the American Civil War and World War I.

William Nicholson attended the schools of Washington, D.C., and Georgetown Preparatory School. With the 7th Cavalry Regiment's officer corps depleted by the June 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn, the organization moved quickly to replenish the ranks of its lieutenants and captains. Nicholson successfully requested an appointment as a second lieutenant later that year. His application was aided by endorsements from family and social connections, including John B. Blake, the Secretary of the Washington National Monument Society, and William Wilson Corcoran, who was related to his mother's family.

In August 1876, Nicholson was commissioned in the 7th Cavalry directly from civilian life and reported to the Cavalry depot near St. Louis, Missouri for his initial training and to take charge of a group of recruits bound for Fort Abraham Lincoln. He was initially assigned to the 7th Cavalry's Troop B.

Nicholson initially performed frontier duty with the 7th Cavalry's Troops B, G and M during the American Indian Wars and was assigned to posts including Fort Meade, Fort Abraham Lincoln, and Fort Leavenworth. He took part in the final stages of the Little Bighorn Campaign, including the Battle of Canyon Creek against the Nez Perce Indians in September 1877. Nicholson's Troop G was part of an ad hoc battalion commanded by Frederick Benteen, and soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Regiment witnessed the heroism of Nicholson and two other lieutenants as they led mounted charges during the fighting, which led to Benteen commending them by name in his official report.

In 1879, Major Marcus Reno was accused of several crimes and incidents of misconduct, including drunkenly assaulting Nicholson with a pool cue during a game in a public billiard hall at Fort Meade, causing injuries to Nicholson. Nicholson preferred charges, and in April 1880, Reno was convicted of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline for his assault on Nicholson and other offenses. He was sentenced to dismissal from the service.