Person Page 4,706

William Harrison Gilstrap

Parents

Father	Wiley Rufus Gilstrap (b. 18 December 1793, d. 22 November 1879)
Mother	Letticia Hamilton (b. 2 February 1803, d. 9 October 1858)

Biography

Anecdote		William never married and had no children.1
Birth	circa 1835	William Harrison Gilstrap was born circa 1835 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG.1
Residence	15 November 1850	He lived in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG, on 15 November 1850. Name: W H Gilstrap, Age: 15, Birth Year: abt 1835, Birth Place: South Carolina, Gender: Male, Race: White, Record ID: 8054::18703022, Household Members: Wyley Gilstrap, L W Gilstrap, J M Gilstrap, Matilda Hamilton.2
Court - Juror	25 June 1860	He was named as a Juror on 25 June 1860 in White, Georgia, United StatesBGO. William H. was chosen during the February 1860 term of the White County Inferior Court to serve as a juror in the June 1860 term. William appeared, answered to his name and was sworn in as a juror on June 25, 1860.3
Residence	26 July 1860	He lived in Yonah, White, Georgia, United StatesBGO, on 26 July 1860. Name: William Gilstrap, Age: 24, Birth Year: abt 1836, Birth Place: Georgia, Gender: Male, Race: White, Post Office: Mount Yonah, Record ID: 7667::7416230, Household Members: Wiley Gilstrap, Letty Gilstrap, John M Gilstrap, Elender Gloege, John Youngblood4
Military	24 August 1861	He served in the military on 24 August 1861 in White, Georgia, United StatesBGO. William H. enlisted in Company G of the 24th Georgia Infantry Regiment on August 24, 1861, ahead of his older brother by a little over three months. William was not married and it seems he was more eager to get to this great war than his brother, John M. Military records obtained from the National Archives indicate William H. was enlisted in White County, Georgia, by Captain Leonard for the duration of the war. William H. started his military service as the drummer for Company G. Oddly enough, military records obtained from the National Archives indicate that William H. was sick in the hospital from his enlistment date of August 24th to October 31st of 1861. The next records available show Private William H. Gilstrap present on the muster roll of Company G for the periods March & April 1864, and May & June, 1864. William H. is promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on August 24, 1864, by Brig. Gen Wofford. A copy of Special Order No. 58 announcing the promotion is included in the National Archives records. The muster roll shows that 2Lt. W. H. Gilstrap was present with the company in July & August 1864. Also included in the records is a payroll statement for William H. for the period September 1 to October 31, 1864,showing he received two months pay at $80.00 per month on December 7, 1864. William H. fought through almost the entire war. The remaining records I (Gary Gilstrap) obtained from the National Archives relate to his having been wounded, captured and his death. William H. was first wounded on August 19, 1864, at Farmesville,Virginia. The nature of his wound is not shown, but events surrounding it may have led to his promotion to lieutenant a few days later. The history of the 24th Georgia Regiment shows that it was engaged in a campaign known asSheridan's Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, where Farmesville was located,from August 7th through November 28, 1864. The 24th Georgia fought in numerous other battles during which William H. was present. Some of the more well known ones were the siege of Yorktown, VA; the Seven Days Battles; Second Bull Run (or Second Manassas); Fredricksburg, VA, the 24th being positioned behind the famed stone wall at Mayre's Heights; Chancellorsville, VA; and Gettysburg, PA. The records then show that William H.was wounded at a battle known as Sailor's Creek (or Saylor's Creek) on April 6,1865. This was one of the final battles of the war and Robert E. Lee's last major battle. After being bested on the battlefield the Confederate army retreated and nearly one-fourth of the infantrymen were captured. This battle was considered the death knell of the Confederate army and upon seeing the few survivors straggling down the road, Lee is reported to have said, "My God, has the army dissolved?" There were 9,980 combined casualties from this battle.William H. received a gunshot wound in the middle one-third of his left leg that fractured both bones. He was captured and admitted to the 2nd Division of Depot Field Hospital at City Point, Virginia, where splints were applied to his leg.He was transferred via U. S. A. Hospital Steamer Connecticut to U. S. A. General Hospital, West's Building in Baltimore, Maryland on April 21, 1865. The transfer record lists him as "W. H. Gilstrap (Reb), 2Lt", hospital patient number 3617. West's Buildings consisted of a row of six large warehouses. They were located on Union Dock along which steamboats and other vessels could unload. As indicated, William was transported there by steamer. 2Lt. W. H.Gilstrap died on May 7, 1865, "from debility and effects of his wound". He was buried May 8, 1865, in a mass grave in Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore,Maryland. General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox,Virginia Courthouse on April 9, 1865, ending the conflict. After fighting inmany of the major battles of the war, William H. received his mortal wound only three days before Lee's surrender.3
Death	7 May 1865	He died on 7 May 1865 at age ~30 in Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland, United StatesBGO.1
Burial	after 7 May 1865	He was buried after 7 May 1865 at Mass Grave at Loudon CemeteryBG in Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland, United StatesBGO.1

Citations

1. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p. 18. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
2. [S239] Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, Year: 1850; Census Place: District 10, Habersham, Georgia; Roll: 72; Page: 283b
3. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p. 19. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
4. [S242] Ancestry.com, 1860 United States Federal Census, Year: 1860; Census Place: White, Georgia; Roll: M653_140; Page: 455; Family History Library Film: 803140