FOURTH GENERATION

86. William Robert Hunter was born in 1840 in White's Creek, Davidson County, Tennessee. He appeared on the census on 6 Jul 1860 in P. O. Owensville, JP No. 1, Robertson County, Texas.⁽²³⁵⁾ He enlisted in Robertson's Five-Shooters Infantry on 3 Mar 1861 in Oenaville, Bell County, Texas. ⁽²³⁶⁾ He was transfered to Company C, 4th Texas Infantry, CSA on 15 Jul 1861 in Robertson County, Texas.⁽²³⁷⁾ He was admitted to Chimborazo Hospital No. 4 on 23 May 1862 in Richmond, Virginia.⁽²³⁸⁾ He was discharged from CSA General Hospital on 16 Jun 1862 in Danville, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. ⁽²³⁹⁾ He died on 27 Jun 1862 in Cold Harbor, Virginia.⁽²⁴⁰⁾ He was buried in Cold Harbor Battlefield Cemetery, Cold Harbor, Virginia.

William Robert Hunter left Tennessee with his brother, Joseph Love Hunter, about 1858, and settled with their older half-brother, Gilbert Marshall Hunter, in Robertson County, Texas. His brother's family referred to him as Robert.

When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in Captain Townsend's Company C, 4th Texas Infantry, in Robertson County, Texas. When the unit was sent to Virginia, we was admitted to the Chimborazo Hospital No. 4, in Richmond, Virginia, on May 23. 1862. On June 1 he is listed in Lynchburg, Virginia, and on June 9th at the CSA General Hospital, Danville, Virginia, complaining of diarrhea. He returned to duty on June 16, 1862.

At the battle of Coal Harbor, Virginia, he appeared on a list of casualties of the 4th Texas Regiment, on June 27, 1862. He is buried in the military cemetery nearby.

His regiment's history, through Robert Hunter's death, is as follows:

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL

September 30, 1861
Ten companies of infantry from Texas were mustered into Confederate service and designated the Fourth Texas Infantry. John Bell Hood was appointed commander.

October 1861 - February, 1862
Assigned Texas Brigade, forces near Dumfries (Whiting's Command) 2nd Corps, Potomac District, Dept. Of Northern Virginia

November 7, 1861
The regiment was manning the Potomac defense line in Northern Virginia based at Camp Texas.

February - March 1862
Assigned Texas Brigade, Forces Near Dumfries (Whiting's Command), Potomac District, Dept. Of Northern Virginia

March - June 1862
Assigned Texas Brigade, Whiting's-G.W. Smith's-Whiting's Division, Army of Northern Virginia

March 8, 1862
Moved south to Rappahannock defense line in Virginia. Colonel Hood promoted to Brigadier General.
>H3>March 12, 1862

Took up positions at the Rappahannock defense line with John Marshall in command of the regiment.

April 3, 1862
The regiment played hide and seek with the Excelsior Brigade from New York during the night.

April 7, 1862
The regiment pulled out of the Rappahannock defense line and started the march to Yorktown.

April 15, 1862
The regiment took up positions at Yorktown - Warwick River defense line.

May 4, 1862
Withdrew from the Yorktown - Warwick River defenses towards Richmond by way of Williamsburg. The Fourth Texas was selected for rear guard duty, and was the last Confederate unit to leave Yorktown.

May 7, 1862
The regiment was involved in the battle of Eltham Landing. At ten o'clock Whiting's forces took up the march as the rear most Confederate division with the Texas Brigade assuming the function of the rear guard of the entire Southern army.

May 12, 1862
Crossed over the rain swollen Chickahominy River and went into bivouac two miles west of the river.

May 15, 1862
After being relieved from duty in the front lines the regiment marched towards Richmond and camped at "Pine Island" three miles northeast of the city on the Mechanicsville Turnpike.

May 31 - June 1, 1862
The Battle of Seven Pines. The regiment was not directly engaged in the battle either of the two days.

June 1862
Assigned Texas Brigade, Whiting's Division, Valley District, Dept. of Northern Virginia

June 12, 1862
Boarded the Richmond and Danville trains and six days later after 235 miles and many changes of trains arrived at Staunton, Virginia.

June 20, 1862
After passing through Charlottesville they went to Gordonsville and then onto Frederick Hall northwest of Richmond.

June 23, 1862
The regiment detrained at Frederick Hall and marched toward Ashland.

June 25, 1862
The regiment arrived at Ashland, receiving their rations and ammunition issue here.

June - July 1862
Assigned Texas Brigade, Whiting's Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia

June 26, 1862
Skirmish in the vicinity of Totopotomy Creek.

June 27, 1862
The Battle of Gaine's Mill. During the battle Colonel Marshall was killed.
[This is the battle where W. R. Hunter was listed as killed]