DOB:  August 26, 1842 DOD:  January 25, 1921 Age at Enlistment: 18 Date of Enlistment:  July 23, 1861 Place of Enlistment:  Nashville, TN Rank at Enlistment:  Private Rank at Discharge:  Private Casualty:  Wounded slightly in the neck at Missionary Ridge November 25, 1863. Comments:  William was living in District 5 (southwest of Franklin) of Williamson County according to the 1850 Census and was living with John Smith Cotton, also in the Williamson Grays, in the 1860 Census.  His father died when he was ten years old.  His mother remarried to Henry R. King, who was later conscripted into the company in 1862.  After enlisting, he served in the 1st Tennessee until just after the Battle of Missionary Ridge.  In December 1863, he was a part of a group of 1st Tennessee soldiers that stole Artillery horses and left to join Forrest’s Cavalry.  He served with the 18th Tennessee Cavalry (Newsom’s) Company F for the rest of the war and surrendered with them in Alabama in 1865.  William married Malissa J. Cowan on September 20, 1868 and moved to Washington County, Arkansas shortly after.  William lived out the rest of his days there as a farmer.  He and Malissa had 8 children together.  He is buried in Lincoln, AR in Mountain View Cemetery.  Reading his wife’s widow’s pension can be confusing.  She knew he fought with Col. Newsom but listed him as the 11th Tennessee Cavalry.  Newsom commanded the 18th.  Also, there is a support letter stating he fought in Company D of the 32nd Tennessee, which is also incorrect.  Malissa applied for the pension in 1926 so some of the details of his service were probably kind of sketchy. 

Left:  Malissa and William in later life Right:  William (Center) with his family in Arkansas Both photos from Ancestry.com

William’s grave in Arkansas From Ancestry.com