William (Deaf Bill) Hunt, Sr.

Co H, 19th Ark Inf (with Harrison); joined Feb 22, 1862@ Waldron, Ark.

Captured Jan 11, 1863 @ Ft. Hindman, Arkansas Post

Captured Sept 2, 1864 near Jonesboro, Ga., exchanged Sept 19-22, 1864 @ Rough & Ready, Ga.

Captured Dec 17, 1864 near Franklin,Tenn, incarcerated @ military prison Louisville, Ky and discharged to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill Dec. 20, 1864. Released June 6, 1865

William was conscripted into a Confederate Artillery unit (between April and Dec. 1863, conscription started in April. Union forces controlled Ft Smith after Dec. He was taken to Ft. Smith, but 3 weeks later he slipped over the wall and went home, hiding out until enlisting 3-10-1864 in Co. A, 4th Ark Inf, US, under Col Stephenson. When insufficient enlistment's did not materialize, he was transferred to Co. I, 2nd Ark Inf US. Suffered from exposure while on guard duty about 1-1-1865, lost most of his hearing. Reassigned as a cook at Clarksville for the rest of his tour of duty. Discharged 8-8-1865. He was 5' 5 tall, dark complexion and hair, Gray eyes. Applied for a pension 1-25-1890, granted 8-1-1890 at 54 years of age, last payment was 5-4-1894. Nancy, age 53, applied for a pension on his service on 10-16-1894. William was called "Deaf Bill."

William Hunt m. at Olio, 3-5-1858 Nancy F. James 17, Scott Co., AR. Wedding was in the home of Luther F. Pollard, J.P. (per William's Pension Papers) She was the dau. of Honor (d. 1856) and Susan Manus (d. 1848) James of Saline Co., Ar.

From Norman Goodner's "Scott County Days Gone By"

HUNT

That I am 44 years of age, and have resided in Scott County all my life; I knew William Hunt, who died about the year 1890, leaving a widow, Nancy E. Hunt, who died about the year 1893, without remarrying. That their only children were: W.I. Hunt, their son, called Wiseman Hunt; Frances Garner, daughter, wife of George M.Garner; Anna Millard, daughter, wife of John H.N. Millard; Almeda Hunt, daughter, wife of Joel H. Hunt, she now deceased; Ellen Williams, daughter, wife of Joseph T. Williams; Mollie Hunt, daughter,

wife of Jesse Olive.

L. J. Hunt December 7, 1923

"William Hunt and Nancy James Hunt had eight children. . .By the time they had started their family, in no more than a couple of years after their marriage, the Civil War broke out. William was forced into service in the Arkansas State Militia of the Confederacy, for a period of about three weeks. Three statements support this data: by Jeremiah J. Tate, by James Hunt, and by his wife Nancy Jane Hunt.

"At a later date William Hunt joined the Union Army because his sympathy lay with the North. He served from 23 April 1864 to 1 Aug 1865. In combat, he was disabled by loss of hearing in both cars, effects of an explosion, giving rise to the nickname he became known by "Deaf Bill." While William Hunt was away in the War bushwhackers made raids throughout Dutch Creek Valley as they did in so many places across the South. William and Nancy's place was one of the places looted. The bushwhackers drove away the milk cow, took food supplies and other items. The loss of food supply resulted in the death of their firstborn, Jonathan Hunt, and as a result of the calamity, which had befallen, Nancy became ill and never fully recovered. Escapades of the bushwhackers created much sorrow and many people suffered at their hands. Their evil doings may explain why five of William Hunt's children were living with Elizabeth Willis in 1880.

"Once the War was over and William discharged from service, he returned to the farm and family and to the life he had known."

1870 Scott County, Arkansas

Hunt Township

Hunt, William 31 AR

Nancy 25 AR

Wiseman 3 AR

Francis 1 AR

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1880 Scott County, Arkansas

Hunt, William 43 Hd AR GA GA

Nancy 40 Wf AR AL TN

Wiseman 13 Son AR AR AR

1880 Scott County, Arkansas

Willis, Elizabeth 47 Hd TN NC NC

Martha A. 21 Dau AR TN TN

Mary 19 Dau AR TN TN

Issabel 14 Dau AR TN TN

Nancy E. 10 Dau AR TN TN

George B. 08 Son AR TN TN

Hunt, Francis 11 Ward AR AR AR

Almeda 9 Ward AR AR AR

Annie 5 Ward AR AR AR

Ellen 1 Ward AR AR AR

Parthena 30 Ward AR AR AR