Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-04-23
Death of Col. william Lsander Graham
(Communicated.)

OaIurody, Cne loJn instant, at the adVan-
ced age of more than 81 years, he hav-
ing been born the 9Th of October, 1920.
at Chatham Hill, Smyth county, Virgin
Ia He was the son of Major Samuel
Graham. and Rachel, his wife, (nee)
Montgomery. He was the last survivor
of thirteen brothers and sisters, seven
OF whom lived over eighty years; one of
them, Mrs Amanda Cox, of Wythe-
ville,, recently dying at the great age
OF SO years. The wife of Col. Graham,
who preceded him in death several
years, was Louisa Bowen Thompson,
the daughter of Archibald Thompson.
Esq, most estimable gentleman of
the old school, who lived and died in
Thompson Valley.
Colonel Graham is survived by all of
his six children: Samuel M. Graham.
the present clerk of Tazewell county,
DR.. Archibald T. Graham, of Russell
county, John B. Graham, William R.
Graham, Mrs. c. P. Greever and Mrs.
John F. Gillespie. Col. Graham was a
modest, unpretentious gentleman; man.
ly, the very soul of honor, a delightful
and cheerful companion; a man of great
physical strength, skilled horseman
and OF great courage, making him the
typical cavalier. which he proved to be
IN the war between the States, for he
was a born soldier. Col Graham early
showed his prediction for the life Of
soldier, having organized a company of
volunteers, of which he was made Cap
tain, for the purpose of joining the
American army in the war with Mexico.
but to his great disappointment the war
terminated before he could Join the
army.
He was made Lieutenant Colonel of
the 10th Virginia regiment of Cavalry
Volunteers in the Confederate army. at
its organization in 1862, and served as
such in the campaigns in the Valley of
Virginia, Pennsylvania and MARYLAND.
holding his rank until the close of the
war. He was painfully wounded at
Bunker Hill, in the Valley of Virginia,
in 1863, and again close to Fort Stevens.
near Washington City, in 1864, and was
captured by the enemy at Moorefeld,
Hardy county, West Virginia, in Au-
gust, 1864, taken to prison at Camp
Chase, Ohio, where he suffered the tor
ments of the damned until the close of
the war in April, 1865.
Col. Graham, while cautious soldier,
did not scruple to take the independent
initiative, with his command, when an
opportunity was presented. He was
the acknowledged chieftian of the has
tily assembled Confederate forces who
met the Federal General Averill, at a
mountain pass near Wytheville; drove
the raiders back and saved the town of
Wytheville and its beautiful surround
ing country from devastation. He was
with General John McCausland, who so
resisted the march of General Hunter
to Lynchburg as to make it possible to
save that city. He and Col. Henry s
Bowen, who commanded the 22nd Vir-
gInia Cavalry, planned, and made with
their regiments, the independent attack
upon the retreating columns of General
Hunter, at Hanging Rock, near Salem,
Virginia, inflicting heavy loss on the
enemy. throwing the invading army in
confusion, capturing several pieces of
artillery and destroying much ordi-
nance.
Col. Graham had good right to be
soldier. He is the last surviving grand
son of Col. John Montgomery, who was
a comrade of George Rogers Clark, in
Colonial service; and was also in the
service of the American army of the
Revolution. His father, Maj Samuel
Graham (who was born on the Atlantic,
during the voyage Of his parents to this
country was volunteer In the War of
1921 between this country and Eng
land, and was promoted Major while
garrisoned at Portsmouth, Virginia.
1t seems pathetic that a great soldier
and good man like Col. Graham should
die, and ere long no more mention will
be made of him. but this need not trou-
bic his eternal sleep. He can risk his
chance for immortality, which is a safe
one, along with the gallant youths, Coils. |
William Brown and Edwin Harman, and
with his comrades, Coils. Bowen and
Robert Smith, and host of others, who
now, like him, lie enwrapped in the i'm
mortal gray, beneath the shade of the |
trees, and beyond the Great Divide.
''SOldier restl thy warfare DER,
Sleep the sleep that knows not break |
ing!
Dream of battle fields no more,
Days of danger, nights of waking.
No rude sound shall reach thine ear,
Armor's clang, or war-steed champ
ing,
Trump nor pibroch summon here,
mastering clan, or squadron tramp
ing"
The remains were buried at the grave