Confederatevets.com

William Fletcher Tarpley was born in the eighth district of Giles County, Tenn., May 1835, and died February 14, 1916, within one mile of his birthplace, having lived his whole life in the same section, except the four years he served in the Confederate army. In the early part of 1861 he responded to the call of his country and enlisted in the first company that left Pulaski, which was Company K, Fields's 1st Tennessee Regiment. He served throughout the entire war, surredering with Joe Johnston in North Carolina. He was in every battle in which his command took part. No soldier answered more roll calls than he. At the time of his death he was the only member of his company that surrendered with his regiment and the only one living in Giles County out of one hundred and thirty. A few of his comrades were in prison at the time of surrender, and a few had joined other commands. He was plain, unassuming, one of God's nobleman, honest, truthful, moral in the fullest sense, and tried to practice the golden rule. He never sought or accepted office. A fine tribute was paid by friend when he said that it would take a great deal of adverse testimony to convince him that Fletcher was ever in the wrong. A comrade who was reared with him and served in the same company during the war said he never knew of his doing wrong or saying a mean or ugly thing about anyone. He now sleeps in Pulaski Cemetery with comrades, awaiting the grand reveille.