William Cheney Manning was born on September 29, 1842, in Syracuse, New York, to Franklin and Sophia Manning. His father earned a living as a merchant. The family moved to Norway, Maine, in the 1840s, and he grew up and attended school there. He moved to Portland, Maine, in the late 1850s, and he worked as a bookkeeper there.

 

He enlisted in the Union army on May 22, 1861, and he mustered in as a private in Company D of the 1^st Massachusetts Infantry two days later. The regiment took part in the First Battle of Manassas, the Battle of Seven Pines, the Seven Days’ Battles, and the Second Battle of Manassas. He served as a regimental musician, and he was promoted to sergeant major in August 1862. He was wounded in the right arm during the Seven Days’ Battles on June 25, 1862, and wounded in the left hip at Second Manassas on August 29, 1862. He spent several months recovering, and he was discharged for disability on February 20, 1863.

 

In April 1863, he received an appointment as an adjutant in the 35^th USCT Infantry. He was promoted to captain in August 1864. The regiment took part in the Battle of Olustee and the Battle of Honey Hill. In January 1865, he was promoted to major in the 103^rd USCT Infantry. The regiment performed garrison duty in Savannah, Georgia, and he was placed in command of the post.

 

In January 1866, he noted that he had “entered the Colored Service at its inception…and have never had reason to regret it since witnessing the noble fighting done by the Colored Troops at the Unfortunate Affair of Olustee. If their Service is to be Continued I would by all means prefer to Continue in it.” He declared that the 103^rd USCT was “far above the average of the white Volunteer regiments in points of morale and discipline.” He mustered out on May 5, 1866.

 

He joined the Regular Army after the war, becoming a 2^nd lieutenant in the 14^th United States Infantry. He took part in the Indian Wars. He was promoted to 1^st lieutenant in February 1867, to captain in May 1886, and he eventually earned a promotion to major. He retired on March 2, 1899. He died of heart disease in Washington, D.C., on May 5, 1901, and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

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