Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
William Overall Yager was raised and educated in Virginia and attended Virginia Military Institute and graduated fifth in the class of 1852. He volunteered for service in the Confederate Army. On April 15, 1861, he was appointed as adjutant and major for the First Regiment, Texas Mounted Rifles, also known as McCulloch's Regiment. In May 1862 Yager was authorized to form a new cavalry battalion. This unit, when organized, was designated the Third Texas Cavalry Battalion. Yager saw action in several engagements, including the battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Peach Orchard, and Yellow Bayou. After regimental commander Augustus Buchel's death at the battle of Pleasant Hill in April 1864, Yager was promoted to colonel and given command of the First Texas Cavalry Battalion, which he maintained until the end of the war. A beautifully engraved Virginia Military Institute diploma, 1852, 16” x 19,” on sheepskin,with ribbon still present, Fine. The partially preprinted diploma has a large engraved image of VMI, 13-1/2” x 7,”, with actual text in French. The diploma confers on “W.O. Yager” with membership in the “Societe de cadets de l'institut militaire del la Virginie”. The document is signed by 24 classmates, many of whom went on to serve in the Confederacy. As examples, George S. Patton, Commander of the 22nd Virginia Infantry Regiment, killed at the Battle of Winchester in September 1864. Grandfather of Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. of World War II fame. ....James A. Walker, While at VMI, Cadet Walker, who would have graduated in only weeks, challenged Jackson to a duel to defend his honor. Walker was court-martialed and expelled from Virginia Military Institute for insubordination to an officer. It is important to note that when General Stonewall Jackson was on his deathbed after being shot by friendly fire, he requested that then Colonel James A Walker, an officer in the Confederate Army be promoted to Brigadier General and take over the Stonewall Brigade, which Jackson had formed and first led. ...In early April 1861, Simeon Gibbons was given orders from Richmond to take command of a newly formed 4th Regiment of Virginia State troops. He received a commission to the rank of full colonel. He was killed May 1862, the Battle of McDowell. ...Thomas T. Munford, Munford was mustered into the Confederate States Army in May 1861 by Colonel Jubal A. Early and served as a Lieutenant Colonel with the 30th Virginia Mounted Infantry at the First Battle of Manassas. In the Shenandoah Valley, Munford served under Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, succeeded Turner Ashby upon that officer's death and participated in several of Stuart's cavalry battles during the 1863 Gettysburg and Bristoe Campaigns, as well as in cavalry actions in the spring of 1864 under Fitzhugh Lee. Munford was appointed brigadier general in November 1864, although the commission was never officially confirmed. ...Joseph C. Mayo, 1861 Register as Assistant Surgeon in Capt. R.M. Anderson's Va. Light Artillery (1st Co. Richmond Howitzers); Assigned to General Hospital at Camp Winder in Richmond in Feb. 1863; On duty with ambulance train in spring and summer 1863. No further war record found.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.