William Crawford Dawson

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William Crawford Dawson was a Civil War hero and the first photographer in Elizabeth City. He was born in 1831 to Francis L. Dawson and Keziah Crawford, and was married to Nannie F. White. They had three children, William Crawford Dawson Jr., Joshua White Dawson, and Fannie Dawson. He died in 1872, and was buried in Hollywood Cemetery. Here is a brief description of his Civil War feat:

During the Battle of Roanoke Island, a Confederate flag bearer was shot. According to Civil War "rules", if an army's flag touches the ground, it has lost the battle. So, in a swift act of galliantry, a soldier named William Crawford Dawson rushed to the scene and "rescued the colors", or, in other words, kept the flag from touching the ground. The flag is currently housed in a museum in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.