1st Lt. (CSA), William Z. Mead

Mead, the son of a prominent minister, enlisted as a Private in Company "C", 1st Virginia Cavalry Regiment in Lexington, Virginia on 19 April 1861.

In September 1862, in part using the influence of his mother and other respected persons in Richmond and elsewhere, Mead obtained a commission as a 1st Lieutenant in Company "A", 17th ("Yancey's") Alabama Infantry Battalion Sharpshooters (1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of Mississippi). His superiors described him as "efficient and competent."

He was killed in action at the Battle of Resaca, while serving under his mother's cousin, Gen. Joseph Wheeler, and was initially buried on that battlefield. Gen. Wheeler wrote to his mother on November 14, 1865:

"Last year I wrote several letters to Cousin Edward regarding his noble martyred brother who fell while gallantly defending the post of danger at Resaca Geo more than a year since. I saw Willie in the heat of the engagement, and was called to another portion of the line and upon returning found he had been killed during my absence. I immediately made a detail from of [sic] a staff officer and a portion of my escort who carried his body some four miles south of Resaca on the Calhoun road. They then made a rude coffin and interred his body in a gentlemans yard. After the battle I visited the grave the description & location of which I noted down with great accuracy and had several of my staff officers take a copy of the description so that some would certainly be preserved. I have sent for these notes and immediately upon their receipt will write you again. My Cousin Willie had by his real gallantry high culture and intelligence won the esteem & confidence of all his Generals."

His remains were in fact recovered, and he was re-interred at Shockoe Hill Cemetery on 2 December 1865.

Through the generosity of Mead family members, a government marker was placed at the grave in June 2015.

(Thanks to Mead family relatives Jim Mead and Leslie Sprott for supplying biographical information.)