In 1861, Colonel William Savoy enlisted to fight in the Civil War, but injured a foot so seriously in training that he could not serve as a soldier. However, he served in the Intelligence Department for the South, and though he would not talk much about it, he apparently served well.

After the War, he could not settle down on the plantation, but travelled the world–across the Pacific three times and the Atlantic twice. He tried a venture in South America, but had to give it up because of a yellow fever epidemic. He left everything behind in his hurry to get away. Cholera attacked and killed the crew of 19 of the ship on which he fled. He buried each at sea, with proper ceremony, but was left alone. It was three months before he was rescued. He credited large doses of calomel for giving him immunity. He left 400 acres of rich land and never went back to claim it.

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