Claunch and Stewart Families

2nd Mississippi Infantry Roster:

"THOMAS, William E. Buried U Of VA Charlottesville VA"

http://msgw.org/confederate/2ndmiss.htm

Biographical Sketch

William E. Thomas was born in Guntown, Itawamba Co., Mississippi to Laban Gilbert and Rachel Helen Maples Thomas.

William was the 6th of 13 children, including 3 sets of twins! His brothers and sisters were Martha Lattie Thomas; Bertha Thomas twin to John Laban Thomas; Nancy Elizabeth Ann Thomas; James F. Thomas; Benjamin K. Thomas; Emmarilla Thomas, Rachel Francis (Pink) Thomas; Sarah Matidla Angeline Thomas; Laban Henry (Bud) Thomas; James Burton Thomas (my Great-Grandfather) and Martha Custus Talitha Thomas.

My Great Grand Uncle, William E. Thomas enlisted April 30, 1861, in Co E, 2 Reg MS Inf, Pvt, under John F Booth.

His war records show that he fought in the First Battle of Manassas, July 21, 1861; the Battle of Seven Pines (also called Fair Oaks) May 31 & June 1, 1862; the Battle of Gaine's Mill (also known as Chickahominy) June 27, 1862; and Malvern Hill, August 28-30, 1862; and the Second Battle of Manassas (Second Bull Run) where he was wounded on August 30, 1862. He was not taken to a hospital until September 7 and died on September 30, 1862 in Charlottesville, Virginia at the age of 19 years.

According to the research of my FAG friend Pat James, my uncle is probably one of the 250+ men buried in the mass grave at the Confederate Cemetery in Manassas, VA. (Thank you so much Pat for your time and effort researching the burial of William Thomas.)

The monument pictured as "...a bronze statue of a Condererate Soldier "AT REST", which is not only typical of those who sleep beneath the shift, but adds much to the appearance of the Memorial, placed by loving heart and hands over them..." "...This monument was dedicated on August 30, 1889, to the heroes of Virginia and her sister States, who yielded their lives on July 18 and 21, 1861 and August 28, 29 and 30, 1862. in defence of the Confederate Cause."

"In 1867 an acre of land was donated for a cemetery for Southern soldiers. One year later, more than 250 men had been laid to rest. In 1874, the Town of Manassas acquired the adjoining land and began a Citizen's Cemetery. The cemetery features a statue of a Confederate soldier under which a majority of the soldiers are buried. The public library has a list of those buried here."

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22427851/william-e_-thomas

Biographical Note

Joined (with his brother, John) 2nd Miss. Reg/t, and was sent to Lynchburg, Virginia. Was in the Battle of 1st Mnassas (Bull Run), and also Battles of Seven Pines, Gaines Farm, and Malvern Hill (Seven Days Battle around Richmond). He was wounded during the Second Battle of Manassas on Aug. 30, 1862. He did not reach a hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia until Sept. 6, and died of blood poisoning on Sept 30, 1862. He is buried in a Charlottesville cemetery.

Research Notes from Mary Louise Claunch