William Jackson Graham, age 17 years 11 months enlisted in the 16th Regiment Louisiana Infantry, at Camp Moore, Louisiana to fight for the Confederacy. His enlistment term was for the duration of the war.
Between Sept 29th and Nov 1st he was assigned to Company G. the Piney Woods Sharp Shooters. They spent the first winter (1861) at Camp Benjamin in New Orleans. Then in "February, 1962, the regiment went to Corinth, Mississippi, as part of General Daniel Ruggles' brigade." (1)
As part of the Company G. 16 th Louisiana Infantry, William would have been at the:
Wm. J. Graham was captured by Union forces under Major General Thomas at the Battle of Missionary Ridge on 25 Nov 1863.
His military records further indicated that he was eventually sent to the Rock Island Prisoner of War camp in Illinois. (2) Family lore claims that William walked from Illinois to Louisiana after his release. Upon finding that his family had gone to Texas he obtained a mule and went to Texas. The story continues that when he arrived at the farm where his parents and siblings were staying they did not immediately recognize him. The family eventually returned to Louisiana where William died 11 May 1925 of a cerebral hemorrhage (3)
Transcript of obituary received from Louisiana State Archives attached to back of death certificate.
In the passing away Monday, May 11, of W. J. Graham, at his home in Forest Hill, South Rapides lost one of her oldest and most highly respected citizens.
Deceased was numbered among the pioneers of the parish. he was a Confederate Veteran, serving throughout the conflict between the states. He had been in ill health for sometime and his death was not a surprise to his family and friends.
Mr. Graham is survived by his wife and the following children: Mrs. Z. P. Scarbrock, of McNary, Arizona; Mrs. S A. Mallett, of Beaumont, Texas; Mrs. Charles Saxe, of Houston, Texas; Ellis Graham, of El Dorado, Ark., Hadley Graham, of Forest Hill, La; Arch Graham, of Forest Hill, and Jeff Graham, of Alexandria.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Hill, pastor of the Methodist Church of Lecompte, Tuesday amid a large concourse of friends and relatives, after which the remains were laid away in the family cemetery at Forest Hill. The Ku Klux Klan, of which deceased was a member, had charge at the grave. (4)
(1) 16th Volunteer Regiment Infantry http://www.acadiansingray.com/16th%20Regt.%20Inf.htm#G
(2) Widows Pension application by Laura Graham dated 8 Jun 1925.
(3) Graham, William Jackson death certificate
(4) obituary copied on the back of his death certificate - newspaper not identified
