Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - William George

MILL CREEK COMPANY VOLUNTEER TEXAS CAVALRY
Organized: May, 1861
Mustered In: Inf. Not Avail.
Mustered Out: 3/31/1862 (became Co. "L of 19^th TX CAV.)

19^th TEXAS VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Organized: March, 1862
Mustered In: 3/31/1862
Disbanded: 5/18/1865
Mustered Out: 5/26/1865

COMPANY HISTORY: (MILL CREEK)
 

No historical documentation has been located pertaining to the Mill Creek Company of Texas Cavalry. It was likely an independent, "irregular" (guerilla) fighting organization formed in the Mill Valley around Milford, TX during 1861.
 

It appears that upon the re-organization of Confederate States military forces in early 1862 the Mill Creek command became Company "L" of the newly created 19^th Texas Cavalry. By doing so it likely gained "legitimate" military status.
 

COMPANY LOSSES:
Loss Numbers Not Available

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (19^th)

The 19^th Texas was a three year cavalry regiment that fought for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War (ACW). Assigned to the Trans-Mississippi Department, it served in the western war theater.
 

Also known as Burford's Cavalry,**  the 19^th  was created at a time when, after almost one year of war, the CSA was moving towards a military conscription (draft) in order to keep significate forces in the field. This encouraged many men to enlist in the cavalry rather than be inducted into the infantry.
 

Each of the 19^th’s companies was recruited in a different county or region of Texas. Some, like Company "L" had existed as independent fighting commands from spring, 1861 to spring, 1862 when they were melded together as the 19^th.
 

In August, 1862, the 19^th moved into Arkansas. There it became part of William Henry Parson's Brigade with whom it would remain throughout the remainder of The War. In Arkansas it operated as scouts and raiders and frequently clashed with Union contingents.
 

During the spring of 1863 the 19^th joined the Rebel movement into Missouri. This period saw a majority of the regiment participated in the Cape Girardeau Raid (4/17 - 5/2). However, the unit reportedly experienced no major combat actions until 1864.
 

The year 1864 saw Federal forces make significant moves into Louisiana. Still, the 19^th did not arrive in the state in time to take part in the battles of Mansfield (4/8) and Pleasant Hill (4/9). It did, however clash with Union cavalry and infantry during the bluecoats' retreat down the Red River. The 19^th saw its last action at the battle of Yellow Bayou (5/18/1864).
 

In early 1865 the 19^th returned to Texas soil. It disbanded, there, on 5/23/1865.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
No Loss Numbers Available.

SOLDIER: (Mill Creek)
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: ca, 25 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: May, 1861 Milford Ellis County, TX   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: Inf. Not Avail.
Mustered Out: 3/31/1861 (est.)
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

SOLDIER: (19^th)
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: ca, 26 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 3/31/1862 (est.)   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: Inf. Not Avail.
Mustered Out: Inf. Not Avail.
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

NOTE: The birth - to - death biographical profile of William H. George was created in April, 2022 near the end of the Covid-19 medical pandemic. It contains less depth of detail than many other biographies within this website because military service, pension and other veteran-related files housed in Washington, D.C.'s National Archives were not available. At a later time those documents may be obtained and the data contained therein added to the narrative which follows.
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William Harrison "Harry" George was born sometime during the year 1836. No specific day date or month has not been found within available documentation. The location of his birth was somewhere within the state of Indiana.
 

Parents of William were Ruben/Reuben F. George (b. 1808 Stokes County, NC - d. 2/20/1863 Dunn County, WI) and Eliza Wiggins (nee Hughes b. 7/21/30 or '31 ME - d. 1908 WI) George. In the 1850 U.S. Census Ruben/Reuben noted that his occupation was "mill wright."
 

Based on family research and U.S. Census data, it appears William was the third of nine children. Older than he were James George (b. 1832 IN) and Sarah C. George (b. 1835 IN). Younger siblings were David George (b. 1841 IL), Thomas Chester George (b. 1842 IL), Harriet George (b. 1850 IL), Ella George (b. 1852 WI), Charles A. George (b, 1856 CA?) and Ida Amelia George (b. 1858 WI).
 

By the time civil war broke out in the U.S. during April, 1861 William and his brother Thomas had departed their parents' Wisconsin home and were living in Texas.  It appears that at that time William - as likely did Thomas - joined an independent company irregular (guerilla) Texas cavalry unit.  Both appear to have been in the Mill Creek Company when, in March, 1862, it was "legitimized" by becoming Co. "L" of the newly formed CSA 19^th Texas Cavalry. *** No further military service details are available.

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As best as can be determined, following The War William moved back to his father's Wisconsin home. From there the George clan - including William - travelled westward to Walla Walla County located in the southeastern corner of Washington Territory. There, William noted his occupation as being "carpentry."
 

When the Georges arrived in the Pacific Northwest is unknown. What likely drew them here was the availability of expansive tracts of virgin farm land. 
 

William never married. Further, as far as we know, he did not father any children.
 

Circa 1900 William again returned to Texas for a time. When he died on 3/23/1910, however, he did so in the presence of members of his birth family in Walla Walla County, WA.
 

Cause of the seventy three or seventy four year old former Rebel soldier's passing was listed as arteriosclerosis with general dropsy (edema) contributing. William George was/is buried in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) - an organization to which he belonged - Cemetery located in Waitsburg Walla Walla County, WA.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________* Available documentation does not specifically provide William's company assignment within the 19^th. Our decision to assign him to Co. "L" is based upon his brother, Thomas, belonging to that company. Both appear to have enlisted at approximately the same time, place, etc.

** Not to be confused with the Union cavalry leader John Buford.

*** Private Thomas George survived The War.

POSTED: 4/25/2022

UPDATED:

Buried at IOOF Cemetery Waitsburg