1. The 6th child and 1st son of Daniel and Louise. Born in Johnston County, North Carolina probably around Boon Hill (now Princeton) He attended Wake Forest College and moved to Mississippi about 1836-1841. Was active in the Hernando Baptist Church. Maried twice. The first to Augusta Ann White, second Ursula Jane Sherrod 2. Mississippi Comands in the Army of Tennessee First Regiment Infantry Colonel: John M. Simonton, resigned October, 1863 Leutenant Colonels: A. S. Hamilton, died at Johnson's Island November 2, 1863; Thomas H. Johnston Majors: Thomas H. Johnston, Milton S. Alcorn Adjutants: G.F. Simonton, J.C. Culbertson Surgeon: A.S. Yarbrough Chaplain: J.T. Borah Company D, DeSoto Greys, DeSoto County, mustered into State service at Iuka, Mississippi 27 August, 1861 Captain: W.J. Boone First Lieutenant: L.H. Hall, J.C. Culbertson Second Lieutenant: T.G. Tait Third Lieutenant: L.L. Jones, promoted to Captain First Sergeant: J.W. Johnson 3. Listed in the 1850 Desoto County Census as having $45,000 in real estate and $60,000 in personal property. 4. Letter of resignation: ______ ______ 1st Misp. Regt Camp near Port Hudson, La. March 23, 1863 To S. Cooper Adjt + Inspector Genl Richmond, Va. General, I have the honor of tendering my "unconditional & immediate" resignation of the office of Capt. of Co. "D"1st Regt. Mississippi Vols; & would give the following statement of facts as my reason for so doing. . On the reorganization of the Regiment Sept. 24, 1862. I was re elected Capt. of said company being absent since of the time. As soon as I learned the fact I immediately notified the Col. of the state of my health, & that I could withdraw, with justice to my self, or to the service, accept the position. It would seem my letter declining to accept the Captaincy of said company did not reach its destination until sometime in Dec. last and the reply stating that my letter declining the position was too late to effect anything, as the ______ had all been made out and forwarded and not much more until about the 7th inst. During all this time I was laboring under the impression that I was out of the service. As soon, however, as I learned "better?" I reported then, but with the intention of tendering in form, my resignation and report the grounds which first _______ me to this as a Captain of the _______ to _____ my continued bad health Adjt. Insp. Genls Office Richmond, January 17 Special Orders No. 14 The resignation of the following Officers have been accepted by the President to take effect immediately. Captain W.J.A. Boone Company "D" 1st Mississippi Volunteers By the command of the Sec of War Jno. Withers Asst. Adjt. Gen Genl A. S. Johnston Bowling Green Ky 5. My Grandfather, William John Abner Boon William J. A. Boon was born December 21, 1821 on the Boon Plantation in Johnston County, North Carolina. He came from prominent family. His grandfather Joseph Boon had been a Colonel in the Johnston County Militia in charge of prisoners at the time of General Gates retreat during the battle of Camden in 1780. Colonel Joseph Boon had also served as a 3 term representative for the North Carolina Assembly in 1787. The height of his political prominence was to serve as State senator as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1788. His son, the Reverend Daniel Boon, a Baptist minister and one of the founding trustees of Wake Forest College, was a large landholder and cotton/tobacco farmer. The Boon Plantation was located near the present town of Princeton, a small town 50 miles southeast of Raleigh Richardson Bridge Rd. at the intersection of State Route 1007 (Brogden Road), close to the Neuse River.The town was named Boon Hill prior to the Civil War. He attended Wake Forest College (1836-1841), and the year following his graduation moved with his family to Hernando (De Soto County), Mississippi about 20 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The 6th child and 1st son of Daniel and Louise, he arrived with his parents, brothers Joseph and William, sisters; Harriet, Sarah, Evaline, Eliza, Mary Louise, Daniel Estelle and 13 slaves. On Febuary 1, 1846 he married Augusta Ann White near Goldsburg, North Carolina at the tender age of 18, by George Tucker, Minister of the Gospel. She bore him four children; Mary Elizabeth, Daniel, Louise Miller, and Daniel Ratcliffe. He was a planter and raised fine horses on his plantation. When Augusta died at the age of 39 he erected a monument in the old Baptist Cemetery in Hernando the inscription: Sacred To the Memory of Augusta Ann The beloved Wife of William J. A. Boone Born June 13, 1828 Died May 27, 1857 She died as she had lived a Christian After the death of Augusta he returned to North Carolina where on April 20, 1859, he married Ursula Sherrard from Smithville (born about 1830, died in Goldsboro October 1886) She bore him two daughters, Sarah Euzelia and Ursula Willie Boon. Civil War had begun but just a few short years after his return to Hernando with his second wife Ursula Sherrard. In an attempt to place in context with the history of the time the details of his war years will be described. William had joined what was to become General Albert Sidney Johnston's First Regiment Infantry. He was appointed Captain of the 'DeSoto Greys'from the volunteers who had assembled in Hernando from the surrounding towns. It has been passed down through the family that he equiped his entire Company from his own private means They went to Iuka, Mississippi for furhter training and instruction to become Company D on August 1861. His Company was listed in a roster at the outset of the war: DeSoto Rifles---Pleasant Mount, Miss. Co. D---First Mississippi Regiment William A. Boone, Captain. L.C.H. Holt, First Lieutenant Thomas G. Yates, 2d Lieut. L.L. Jones, 3d Lieut. John W. Johnson, 1st Serg't Elbert Oliver, 2d Serg't D.B. White, 3d Serg't W.T. Sanders, 4th Serg't Robert Rutland, 5d Serg't He was elected with the other field officers on September 10, and the First Regiment Infantry of Mississippi was formally established. The First Mississippi was one of four regiments sent by Governor Pettus to Kentucky to reinforce General Johnston's camp near Hopkinsville, Kentucky, October 17. The First and Third formed part of the Brigade of General Charles Clark, at Hopkinsville, in the winter of 1861-62. His regiment was then sent to Fort Donelson probably in early February. General Pillow assigned them with Gregg's Texas and Lyon's Kentucky Regiment to a brigade under the command of Colonel Davidson of the Twenty-third, on February 9, 1862. The regiment was posted in the trenches under the command of Lieut-Col. A.S. Hamilton. General Grant attacked on the 13th, and the line was exposed to the fire of artillery and sharpshooters. About midnight between the 14th and 15th, it was decided to advance. Colonel Davidson being sick Colonel Simonton commanded the brigade which marched out at dawn. A serious engagement began, and for over an hour the Captain Boon's as well as the others in his regiment fought bitterly over the possession of a hill. The Mississipians charged and won the crest. A second charge drove the Blue line further back and captured Schwartz's battery. Simonton reported that he had advanced over a mile and a half, then halted and was ordered back to the rifle pits, which he regained without sight of the foe. The first had a total of 331 in battle; casualties 16 killed and 61 wounded. The regiment then became prisoners of war until exchanged. Some escaped and joined other commands. In the assignment of exchanged prisoners by General Van Dorn, October 16, 1862, Colonel J.M. Simonton's consolidated regiment was ordered to report to General Sterling Price, commanding the Army of the West, and was made a part of Maury's Division, the consolidated regiment then included the First Mississippi, Fifty-third, Ninth and Forty-sixth Tennessee and Twenty Seventh Alabama. October 26 they were ordered to report to Meridian. In his organization of troups in the breastworks at Port Hudson, January 7, 1863, General Gardner assigned Col. Simonton to command of a cosolidated Alabama regiment, while the Thirty-ninth and the First Mississippi, were cosolidated under Col. W.B. Shelby, all forming part of General Beale's Brigade. Though not known in any detail Capt. WJA tendered his resignation in a letter dated March 23, 1863. ______ ______ 1st Misp. Regt Camp near Port Hudson, La. March 23, 1863 To S. Cooper Adjt + Inspector Genl Richmond, Va. General, I have the honor of tendering my "unconditional & immediate" resignation of the office of Capt. of Co. "D"1st Regt. Mississippi Vols; & would give the following statement of facts as my reason for so doing. . On the reorganization of the Regiment Sept. 24, 1862. I was re elected Capt. of said company being absent since at the time. As soon as I learned the fact I immediately notified the Col. of the state of my health, & that I could withdraw, with justice to my self, or to the service, accept the position. It would seem my letter declining to accept the Captaincy of said company did not reach its destination until sometime in Dec. last and the reply stating that my letter declining the position was too late to effect anything, as the ______ had all been made out and forwarded and not much more until about the 7th inst. During all this time I was laboring under the impression that I was out of the service. As soon, however, as I learned better I reported then, but with the intention of tendering in form, my resignation and upon the grounds which first induced me to decline the acceptance of the position to suit my continued bad health. Adjt. Insp. Genls Office Richmond, January 17 The adjutant general's office did receive this letter (now located in permanent records) and a special order was made. Special Orders No. 14 The resignation of the following Officers have been accepted by the President to take effect immediately. Captain W.J.A. Boone Company "D" 1st Mississippi Volunteers By the command of the Sec of War Jno. Withers Asst. Adjt. Gen Genl A. S. Johnston Bowling Green Ky Records indicate that he went on a furlough for recruitment purposes. Capt. WJA Boon subsequently was assigned to Col. Simonton's 'Unattached' Cavalry Company organized on August 28, 1864. The First Mississippi with Fetherston's Brigade crossed the Tennessee River from Tuscumbia, Alabama, November 20, and marched to Columbiaand thence in the flank movement to Spring Hill. November 30 the regiment participated in the assualt upon an intrenched line at Franklin, and shared the casualties of the brigade-76 killed, 200 wounded,76 missing. From Franklin they marched to Nashville and took their place in the line of Loring's Division across the Granny White Pike, which was carried by the trups of General Thomas, December 15. In the battle of the 16th Loringrepulsed all attacks until the line was broken on their left. Capt. Owen D. Hughes was in command of the First, December 10. The return of December 21 showed an aggregate present of 67. On the retreat the regiment was part of the heroic guard Commanded by General Whalthall, and Fetherston's Brigade was in action December 25-26, at Anthony's Hill and Sugar Creek. They recrossed the Tennessee River on December 28, and marched to winter quarters near Tupelo. About the first of February, 1865, the remnants of Loring's Division bagan the movement to reinforce General Johnston in the Carolinas. They were ordered forward from Augusta, Georgia, to Newberry, South Carolina, February 25. In the Carolina campaign against Sherman they participated in the Battle of Kinston, March 10, and Bentonville, March 19-21; on the 19th making a gallant and successful charge, but with heavy loss. Organization of army near Smithville, N.C., March 31, 1865, shows Major-general Walthall in command of Stewart's Corps, former Army of Mississippi, Featherston's Brigade commanded by Major Martin A. Oatis, the First Regiment by Capt. L.L. Jones. April 9, the First, Twenty-second and Thirty-third Regiment and First Battalion were consolidated as the Twenty-second Regiment, Col. Martin A. Oatis commanding. Stewart's Corps, March 17, including the Mississippi brigades of Featherston and Lowry with others, had 890 effective. Hostilities were suspended on April 18, the Army was surrendered April 26 near Durham Station and paroled at Greensboro. After the war Ursula Sherrard and her two children, Willie and______ came to live with one of the Sherrard uncles in Goldsboro, N.C. and they lived in New Bern, N.C. After the war he refused to accept defeat. He believed that the southern cause was right and would eventually return. Consequently he bought the worthless Confederate currency with his reserve of gold and other monies. He paid his debtors with this currency who later confiscated his property to settle the debts. He moved to Lonoke, Arkansas shortly after. Current thought suggests that he left Hernando in haste to escape certain criminal proceedings, or more plausable, he moved to be near his oldest son, Daniel Ratcliffe Boone. He died in June 1884. Misc. W. J. A. Boone Factoids: In the minutes of the Board of Police for July 17, 1865, it is recorded that by an order of W. L. Sharkey, Provisional Governor, Judges of election were appointed to hold an election for delagates to a convention of August 6, 1865. The delagates elected from the 5th District: W.J.A. Boon, W.K. Love, R.E Doggett, C.S. Meriweather, Dr. H. Dockery. Samuel Cobb mentioned as having served in Captain W. J. Boon's Company D of the 9th Mississippi Regiment.. He was captured at Ft. Donaldson and remained a prisoner of war on Johnson's Island for 2 1/2 years. Member of Masonic Lodge, listed in monthly meetings, 1882. Mentioned as having been suspended for non-payment of dues 1883, Masonic Lodge. Mentioned as member of Masonic Lodge, listed in monthly meetings, 1881. 1863 County Personal Property Tax Roll as owning one carriage, one watch, and 41 slaves. Listed in the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 federal census. 1863 member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. 1841 listed as Church Delegate Hernando Baptist Church. 1846 married Augusta Ann White. Confederate service records: Jan. 17, 1862: General orders No. 14 Johnston's Date of appointment Sept. 19, 1861 Date of resignation Jan. 17, 1862 The resignation of the following officers have been accepted by the President to take effect today. Captain W.J.A. Boone, Company "D" 1st Mississippi (Infantry) Volunteers. Appears on a list of officers of the 1st Miss. Reg't surrendered at Fort Donelson: (Feb. 16, 1862) List not dated. Remarks......Om furlough Re-Elected Sept. 24, 1862 W.J.A Boone Capt. Co. D, 1 Reg't Mississippi Vols Appears on a roster of the 1st Regiment of Mississippi Volunteers Lee's Corps, Army of Mississippi; organized Sept. 9, 1861; mustered into Confederate Service Sept. 19, 1861, for one year. Roster dated June 30, 1864 Date of entry or muster into State service: Aug. 27, 1861 Date of entry or muster into Confederate service: Sept. 19, 1861 Date of Rank July 15, 1861 Date and cause of vacancy resignation 1862 Name of successor....re-elected Note: This regiment reorganized, electing its officers, 24th Sept., 1862, for three years of the war. Confed. Arch., Chap. 1, File No. 82, page 298 Absent. On recruiting service January & Feby, 1863 Age 39 years Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Aug. 27, 1861 to Aug. 27, 1862 Mustered into service in Iuka, Miss. In the minutes of the Board of Police for July 17, 1865, it is recorded that by an order of W. L. Sharkey, Provisional Governor, Judges of election were appointed to hold an election for delagates to a convention of August 6, 1865. The delagates elected from the 5th District: W.J.A. Boon, W.K. Love, R.E Doggett, C.S. Meriweather, Dr. H. Dockery. Samuel Cobb mentioned as having served in Captain W. J. Boon's Company D of the 9th Mississippi Regiment.. He was captured at Ft. Donaldson and remained a prisoner of war on Johnson's Island for 2 1/2 years. Member of Masonic Lodge, listed in monthly meetings, 1882. Mentioned as having been suspended for non-payment of dues 1883, Masonic Lodge. Mentioned as member of Masonic Lodge, listed in monthly meetings, 1881. 1863 County Personal Property Tax Roll as owning one carriage, one watch, and 41 slaves. Listed in the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 federal census. 1863 member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. 1841 listed as Church Delegate Hernando Baptist Church. 1846 married Augusta Ann White. Confederate service records: Jan. 17, 1862: General orders No. 14 Johnston's Date of appointment Sept. 19, 1861 Date of resignation Jan. 17, 1862 The resignation of the following officers have been accepted by the President to take effect today. Captain W.J.A. Boone, Company "D" 1st Mississippi (Infantry) Volunteers. Appears on a list of officers of the 1st Miss. Reg't surrendered at Fort Donelson: (Feb. 16, 1862) List not dated. Remarks......On furlough Re-Elected Sept. 24, 1862 W.J.A Boone Capt. Co. D, 1 Reg't Mississippi Vols Appears on a roster of the 1st Regiment of Mississippi Volunteers Lee's Corps, Army of Mississippi; organized Sept. 9, 1861; mustered into Confederate Service Sept. 19, 1861, for one year. Roster dated June 30, 1864 Date of entry or muster into State service: Aug. 27, 1861 Date of entry or muster into Confederate service: Sept. 19, 1861 Date of Rank July 15, 1861 Date and cause of vacancy resignation 1862 Name of successor....re-elected Note: This regiment reorganized, electing its officers, 24th Sept., 1862, for three years of the war. Confed. Arch., Chap. 1, File No. 82, page 298 Absent. On recruiting service January & Feby, 1863 Age 39 years Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Aug. 27, 1861 to Aug. 27, 1862 Mustered into service in Iuka, Miss. 6. Mentioned in "DeSoto Descendants" p. 22 : John W. Johnson enlisted in Capt. W.B. Boone's Company D of the 9th Mississippi Regiment". He was elected 1st Lt. and captured at Fort Donnelson. He remained a P.O.W. for two years on Johnson's Island.