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Contributed by: Diane Siniard Name: William J Houston , Residence: Duplin County, North Carolina Occupation: Lawyer Enlistment Date: 16 May 1861 Side Served: Confederacy State Served: North Carolina Birth Date: 29 June 1863 Service Record: Enlisted as a Captain on 16 May 1861 at the age of 33 Commission in Company I, 1st Cavalry Regiment North Carolina on 16 May 1861. POW on 06 November 1862 Paroled on 09 November 1862 Absent on 30 November 1862 (For wounds. Estimated day) Killed Company I, 1st Cavalry Regiment North Carolina on 21 June 1863 in Upperville, VA Source Citation: Side served: Confederacy; State served: North Carolina; Enlistment date: 16 May 1861.. William J. Houston (First_Last) Regiment Name 1 North Carolina Cavalry Side Confederate Company I Soldier's Rank_In Captain Soldier's Rank_Out Captain Alternate Name Notes Film Number M230 roll 19 1st Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry 9th Regiment Volunteers-1st Cavalry was organized at Camp Beauregard, Ridgeway, North Carolina, in August, 1861. Its companies were from the counties of Ashe, Northampton, Mecklenburg, Watauga, Wayne, Warren, Cabarrus, Buncombe, Duplin, and Macon. Ordered to Virginia, the regiment was brigaded under Generals Hampton, L.S. Baker, James B. Gordon, and Barringer. It fought in many campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia, including the battles at Frayser's Farm, Malvern Hill , Fairfax Court House, Sharpsburg, Stuart's raid into Pennsylvania, Hampton's raid to Dumfries, Brandy Station, Aldie, Upperville , Carlisle, Gettysburg, Mine Run, The Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Reams' Station, Hampton's Cattle Raid, and Five Forks . The 1st Cavalry had 407 effectives at Gettysburg and 8 at Appomattox. The field officers were Colonels Lawrence S. Baker, W.H. Cheek, James B. Gordon, Robert Ransom, Jr., and Thomas Ruffin; Lieutenant Colonels Rufus Barringer and William H.H. Cowles; and Majors Thomas N. Crumpler, George S. Dewey, Marcus D.L. McLeod, and John H. Whitaker. North Carolina Standard Raleigh July 15, 1863 We regret to learn that the reports of the death of Capt. William J. Houston of Duplin is fully confirmed. He was killed in the Battle of Middleburg five miles from Ashby’s Gap on last Sunday week (June 21) in the fight between Pleasanton and Stewart. It would seem that Captain Houston’s company was dismounted and fighting as infantry. They nearly became surrounded by overwhelming forces when Colonel Baker sent word to Captain Houston to fall back but the messenger got cut off. Houston, seeing that the regiment was falling back in haste, gave orders to those with him to get away as fast as possible. In doing so, Houston himself got out and sat down upon a stone wall to rest. He got up and began walking towards Col. Baker’s column but before arriving there a Yankee sniper up and shot him in the back part of the head, the ball coming out through his forehead. Thus perished as brave, noble and generous a man as has fallen since this war commenced. In his native county of Duplin he was admired for his talents and beloved for his genial qualities. More than once he was entrusted by Duplin County with the care of her interests in the state legislature. He took rank with the acknowledgment of the leaders of the branch to which he belonged. Still young, a bright prospect of future honors and usefulness lay before him, but the prospect is blighted forever and his sorrowing family and friends can only take consolation in knowing that he died like a true soldier without fear and without reproach. Washington Journal |