1st Lt. William Lyle Hunter, Co. A
b. 1842, Augusta County, VA
m. 1875, Carrie Duval, California (5 children)
d. September 27, 1907, Georges Creek CaliforniaWilliam Lyle Hunter was undoubtedly one of the most interesting men of Mosby's command. One of the original 15 men of the First Virginia Cavalry detailed by Stuart to serve with Mosby, he originally enlisted in the 1st Virginia Cav., Co. E at Waynesboro on May 2, 1861. In November he was promoted to Corporal, and to 4th Sgt. in May of 1862.
As one of the first Rangers, he was involved in the early raids, including the famous March 9, 1863 kidnapping of General Stoughton. He was mentioned in Mosby's dispatches to Stuart following the engagement at Miskell's Farm on April 1, 1863, and promoted to 3rd Sgt. five days later.
A few weeks later, on April 25, he was captured by the Federals and sent to the Old Capitol Prison. He was exchanged on May 10. On June 10th when Mosby formally organized the 43rd Battalion at Rector's Cross Roads, Hunter enlisted and was elected 2nd Lt. of Company A. He was promoted to First Lt. on March 28th.
He was captured again on April 22, 1864 near Aldie after the attack on federal pickets near Hunter's Mill in Fairfax. Sent again to the Old Capitol Prison, this time his imprisonment would not be as easy a proposition as before.
In June, he was transferred to Fort Delaware. From there, he was transferred with other Confederate officers to Morris Island, SC, becoming part of the "Immortal 600", (also visit Immortal600.org for more information)who were used as a human shield, put in the trenches to discourage the Confederates from returing Yankee fire. They were moved to Ft. Pulaski, in Savannah, GA, then to Hilton Head. The survivors of this ordeal finally returned to Fort Delaware , where Hunter was paroled following Appomattox. Attempted to rejoin the 43rd, but the Command disbanded on April 21. Some men immediately applied for parole, others went with Mosby who initially hoped to join up with Johnston and continue operations. Hunter signed his final parole papers at Winchester on May 8th.
He is described in records as being 6 ft tall, fair complection, dark hair, hazel eyes. He came from near Staunton and resided in Stuart's Draft after the war for a few years, until leaving in 1868 for California.
He moved to Cerro Gordo, in Inyo County, California with his brother, and operated mule trains haulting borax out of Death Valley and bringing water and supplies to the mining community.
The men of Mosby's Command were good judges of horseflesh, and Hunter put this too good use in California, becoming a horse and mule broker.
According to his great granddaughter (see link below), "He migrated West, and ended up at Cerro Gordo. After the war, everyone was short of horses, and mules...they were extremely expensive after the war. A good mule could cost a year's wages. Someone owed great granddad money, and for payment he got a bunch of thoroughbred mares. He put them on the Hunter Ranch and then got some Mammoth Jacks and raised mules. Granddad leased mules to Mulholland for the Aqueduct. He had three hundred mules broke to harness."
Hunter became a prominent lcal citizen and was elected Inyo County Clerk, in 1884, serving for two years.
Mentions in various references:
(incomplete, more to be added)Keen and Mewborn - page 333 (index). Biographical listing, including major engagements in which he was involved.
Links Online:
There is a short bio of Hunter on James River Publishing Co.'s site
Descendants / Researcher Contacts:
Leslie Anderson, (great-grandaughter) is featured on the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro program "Adopt a Horse" website
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