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 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1817

Vol. I
p157
164

(Born Va.)

William M. Graham

(Ap'd D. C.)

William Montrose Graham: Born Feb. 11, 1798, in Prince William County, VA.​a

Military History. — Cadet of 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

(First Lieut., Corps of Artillery, Aug. 11, 1819)

Road through Mississippi, 1819‑20; in garrison at the Bay of St. Louis, La., 1820‑21, — and at Pensacola, Fla., 1821‑22; on Recruiting service,

(Transferred to 8th Infantry, Oct. 20, 1820)

(First Lieut., 4th Infantry,
in Re-organization of Army, June 1, 1821)

1822‑24; 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

(Captain, 4th Infantry, Apr. 4, 1832)

Florida War against the Seminole Indians, 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 of 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, — Battle of

(Major, 2d Infantry, Feb. 16, 1847)

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 49.1

Buried, Congressional Cemetery, Washington, DC.


The Author's Note:

1 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."


Thayer's Note:

a Col. Graham's birth data is from an unknown source, quoted in an obituary page at Congressional Cemetery. The same page also quotes an article in The Evening Star, Feb. 23, 1858, as stating that the first duel fought between two West Point graduates was between Graham and "Lt. F. Paige", who has to be Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class.Francis N. Page.

William Graham was the brother and classmate of Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class. James D. Graham; they are buried side by side. The latter named his son after his brother: this second William Montrose Graham did not attend West Point, but fought in the War between the States and served in the Spanish-American War, having reached the rank of Major-General.


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