|
Rev. William E. Dooley died at Idabel, Okla., May 28, 1915. He was born October 28, 1838, in Maury County, Tenn., but went with his parents when a lad to Oxford, Miss., where he grew to manhood. When the War between the States began, he volunteered to serve his country, enlisting in Capt. Ward Vaughan's company (F), 19th Mississippi Volunteers, and was immediately ordered to Virginia, where he took part in the battle of Williamsburg. Shortly afterwards he was stricken with measles and sent to the hospital at Richmond. After his recovery he was placed in charge of a ward of the hospital as nurse, and he served in this capacity till August, 1863, when he rejoined his command. He then took part in the battles of Britow, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and all other engagements of his command. He was captured just a few days before surrender, but was discharged with the rest of General Lee's army. He received only one leave of absence during the whole four years of the war. An incident in connection with this forcibly illlustrates the nobility of our great commander. Comrade Dooley had been in the service two years and had never been furloughed; so he decided to go to General Lee in person and lay his case before him. When he reached General Lee's tent he was hailed with: "Well my boy, what can I do for you?" "General, I have been here now two years and have never had a furlough. I have been unfortunate. You know we have to draw for them, and I have never drawn one. Some of my regiment have drawn as many as two. I have a wife and baby down in Mississippi, and I want to see them." General Lee turned to his adjuatant and instructed him to write the furlough at once. Comrade Dooley was twice married, first to Miss Nancy A. Melton; and of there seven children, four live to mourn their loss. In 1911 he was married to Mrs. Naomi Alsabrook, of Idabel, Okla., where his remaining days were spent. Shortly after the war he moved to Locksburg, Ark., and in 1871 he enlisted in the service of his Lord as a minister of the gospel in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was a faithful and loyal Christian and was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.
SOURCE: Confederate Veteran Magazine, August, 1915.
|
 Promote Your Page Too |
||||||||||||||