Byers, Watson Cook - 3rd Texas Cavalry

WATSON COOK BYERS
3rd TEXAS CAVALRY
CSA

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Born: 2 April 1840 in Jackson County, Tennessee
Died: 10 October 1909 in Putnam County, Tennessee
Buried: Brotherton Cemetery, Putnam County, Tennessee
Parents: Elias Harrison and Elizabeth (Kinnaird) Byers

RELATIVES WHO SERVED

  • Brother: Francis Marion Byers - 25th Tennessee Infantry Regiment
  • Brother: Osborne W. Byers - 13th Tennessee (Gore's) Cavalry
  • Brother: William Harrison Byers - 25th Tennessee Infantry Regiment and 13th Tennessee (Gore's) Cavalry

MILITARY INFORMATION

3rd Texas Cavalry
Company A

ABSTRACT:

  • Entered military as Private and left the service as a Private
  • Enlisted 9 June 1861 at Wood County, TX
  • Mustered into service 13 June 1861 at Dallas, TX
  • 13 June - 31 Aug 1861: Present
  • Age: 21
  • Nov & Dec 1861: <not marked>
  • May - Aug 1862: Present
  • 31 Jul - 31 Oct 1862: Absent - wounded at Iuka, 19 September
  • Mar - Jun 1863: Present
  • Jul & Aug 1863: Present - on extra duty as a saddler
  • Sep & Oct 1863: Absent - on daily duty making saddles at Madisonville, MS by order of General Whitefield
  • May & June 1864: Daily duty making saddles
  • 14 Oct 1862: Appears on a list of Prisoners of War captured at the battles of Iuka, on the 19th Sep 1862l of Corinth, on the 3d and 4th, and of Hatchie on the 5th and 6th of October, 1862; who have been paroled.

PENSION APPLICATION ABSTRACT

S10033

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ABSTRACT:

  • Filed: 8 April 1908
  • Rejected
  • Residence: Brotherton, Putnam County, TN
  • Member: Company A, 3rd Texas Cavalry, Captain Richard Winston, Col. Greer
  • Born: in Putnam County near Cookeville on 2 April 1840
  • Enlisted at Dallas, TX on 13 June 1861 in Company A of 3rd TX Cavalry, Captain "Dick" Winston; Col. Greer
  • Battles: Wilson's Creek (Springfield, MO); Elkhorn (MO); (General's McIntosh & McCullock were killed), Farmington, MS; Jackson, MS (after the fall of Vicksburg); Iuka, MS
  • Wounded: Shot twice in the battle of Iuka; left side with a minnie ball and left side with a bomb shell; disabled for about three months; while wounded and laying in the battlefield was captured on 19 September 1862. Rejoined company at Columbia, TN right before General Van Dorn was killed
  • Married: No
  • Went to Texas in 1859 and returned to Putnam County in 1873
  • Attest: H. L. Swift and James M. Swallows

Supporting Documents:

  • James M. Swallows (4 Apr 1908) -
    • WCB was reared in Putnam County
    • James was a soldier in the 8th TN Cavalry - Company A.
    • WCB had one brother in 8th TN Cavalry - Company A.
    • WCB had two brothers in the 25th TN Infantry
    • They met WCB three times during the war: Lynville, Columbia, and Spring Hill
    • One brother was killed at Chattanooga
    • One brother was sent to Camp Chase
    • One brother surrendered under General Dibrell
  • Cordell Hull (13 Apr 1908) - Supports his claim
  • Tennessee Bureau of Pension Examiners (8 Aug 1908) - Requests service records
  • War Department (11 Aug 1908) - Sent service records

CENSUS DATA

  • 1850 Census: Jackson County, TN, Page 240
  • 1860 Census: Overton County, TN, Page 149
  • 1870 Census: Wood County, TX, Page 546
  • 1880 Census: Overton County, TN, Page 252C
  • 1900 Census: Putnam County, TN, Page 70A

OBITUARY

Putnam County Herald
18 November 1909
Vol. VII, No. 47, Page 5

  • W. C. Byers died at his home near Brotherton on Friday, Nov. 12, 1909 of consumption. He was well-known in this section. He served with distinction in the Confederate army and Indian wars.

ADDITIONAL DATA