William Gaston Meachum

Going by Gaston, in 1860 he was a 24 year old farmer on his father's prosperous plantation (with more than 30 slaves) at Wadesboro in Anson County, NC. He enlisted at Camp Ellis, VA on 6 August 1861 and mustered as a Private in Company C of the 4th Regiment North Carolina Infantry. They were redesignated the 14th North Carolina Infantry on 14 November 1861. At the Army reorganization of April 1862 he was elected 3rd Lieutenant (also seen as Brevet 2nd Lieutenant/Junior 2nd Lieutenant) to date from 26 or 27 April. He was wounded at Malvern Hill, VA on 1 July.

He was wounded by a gunshot to his left leg in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862.

He was captured at Shepherdstown VA on 25 November 1862. He was in the Camden Street Hospital in Baltimore from 4 to 10 April 1863, then at Fort McHenry. He was transferred to Fortress Monroe, VA on 19 April, then to City Point. VA for exchange, but was a prisoner back at Fort Delaware by 25 April. He was back with his company by October 1863 but was retired to the Invalid Corps in April 1864 and assigned to work with conscripts in North Carolina. However, he was admitted to a Richmond, VA hospital for "old wounds" on 6 May and was there to at least 10 May.

His service from the Roster 1 and his Compiled Service Records,2 online from fold3. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860. His gravesite is on Findagrave, source also of his picture, from a photograph shared by descendant Martha Mitchem.

He married Paulina F. Strader (1838-1875) in December 1855 and they had 8 children.

10/20/1835; Anson County, NC

04/12/1869; Lilesville, NC; burial in Cedar Creek Meeting House Cemetery, Lilesville, NC