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164………(Born Va.)
William M. Graham
(Ap’d D. C.)
Military
History. – Cadet at the Military Academy, June 11, 1813, to July 17, 1817,
when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to
Third Lieut., Corps of
Artillery, July 17, 1817.
Second Lieut., Corps of
Artillery, Sep. 30, 1817.
Served: on
Recruiting service, 1818-19; in constructing a Military Road through
(First Lieut., Corps of
Artillery, Aug. 11, 1819)
Mississippi, 1819-20; in
garrison at the Bay of St. Louis, La., 1820-21, -- and at Pensacola, Fla.,
1821-22;
(Transferred to 8th
Infantry, Oct. 20, 1820)
(First Lieut., 4th
Infantry, in Re-organization of Army, June 1, 1821)
on Commissary duty at New
Orleans, La., 1824-25; on leave of absence, 1825-27; in garrison at
Cantonment Clinch, Fla., 1827-28, -- and Ft. Brooke, Fla., 1828-29; in
Superintending repairs of Military
(Bvt. Captain, Aug. 11,
1829, for Faithful Service Ten Years in one Grade)
Road from Ft. Brooke to
the Seminole Agency, Fla., 1829-30; in garrison at Ft. Brooke, Fla.,
1830-32, -- and Ft. King, Fla., 1832-35; in the Florida War against the
Seminole Indians,
(Captain, 4th
Infantry, Apr. 4, 1832)
1835-36, 1837, 1837-38,
being engaged in the Combat of Withlacoochee, Fla., Dec. 31, 1835, where he
(Bvt. Major, Dec. 31,
1835, for Gallantry and Good Conduct
in the Affair of the
Withlacoochee, Fla.)
was severely (twice)
wounded, -- Combat at Oloklikaha, Mar. 31, 1836, -- and Battle of
Okee-cho-bee, Dec. 25, 1837; on Recruiting service, 1838-40; in the Florida
War, 1840; on frontier duty at Ft. Gibson, I. T., 1840-41; in the Florida
War against the Seminole Indians, 1841-42, being engaged in the Rout of
Halleck Tustennuggee’s Band in the Big Hammock of Pilaklikaha, Apr. 19,
1842; on frontier duty at Ft. Scott, Kan., 1842-45; in Military Occupation
of Texas, 1845-46; in the War with Mexico, 1846-47, 1847-48, being engaged
in the Battle of Palo Alto, May 8, 1846, -- Battle of Resaca-de-la-Palma,
May 9, 1846, --
(Major, 2d Infantry, Feb.
16, 1847)
Battle of Monterey, Sep.
21-23, 1846, -- Siege of Vera Cruz, Mar. 9-29, 1847, --
(Lieut.-Colonel, 11th
Infantry, Apr. 9, 1847)
Battle of Contreras, Aug.
19-20, 1847, -- Battle of Churubusco, Aug. 20, 1847, -- and Battle of Molino
del Rey, Sep. 8, 1847, where with conspicuous gallantry, in an assault of
the enemy’s works, he was
Killed, Sep. 8, 1847:
Aged 49.*
*Although twice wounded,
he continued to act with his habitual energy and daring, until eight more
bullets had pierced him, and his horse had received five, when, dismounting
amid a shower of bullets (apparently aimed at him), he, composedly as on
parade, with his dying breath, shouted to his men: “Charge on those fellows
– charge.” |
