Submitted by: Tim

William Andrew Jackson CHESSER/CHESER was born 29 Dec 1830 in Morgan County, Georgia. He enlisted 4 Nov 1861 in Texas as a private, Company K, 32nd Texas Cavalry. He was captured at Chickamauga, GA on 19 Sept 1863 and was discharged at Camp Douglas, IL, 12 Jun 1865. He had married Emily Frances BRYANT 28 Dec 1857 in GA; moving to Cass County, TX in the spring of 1861. Before moving to Texas, W.A.J. was an overseer in Georgia. He and Emily had three children: Clara born in GA 16 Nov 1858; Ella Emily and Jasper Bryant (twins) were born in Cass County, TX 4 Mar 1866. Emily Frances BRYANT CHESSER died 5 Mar 1866. W.A.J. married second Alice Sarah Johnson on 28 May 1866. W.A.J. owned his own land in the Union Chapel area and was a farmer until his death 20 Mar 1913. He is buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery, Cass County, TX. Alice died 30 Dec 1927 and was also buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. W.A. J. CHESSER/CHESER was my great-grandfather.

I show Chesser's record as following: Enlisted November 4, 1861, at Camp Crump, Jefferson, Texas, in Capt. Jim Clark's company, which later served in Crump's Texas Cavalry Battalion, which was merged into the 32nd Texas Cavalry.

Chesser's horse and equipment was valued at $200 and $25, respectively. He is marked present from January 1, 1862-December 31, 1862, and January-August, 1863. He was captured at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863 (the information I've found about this was incredible. Ector's Brigade, serving temporarily under Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, was ordered across Chickamauga Creek into battle. Forrest was facing fully two Union divisions, but he did not know it at the time. Wilson's Georgia brigade preceded the Texans, routing a
battery, and then were smashed. Ector's Texans then charged the Yankees, routing another battery, until taking 40% casualties. Most of Ector's captured were serving as skirmishers. Ector's line was advancing so fast, that the skirmishers were in Yankee hands before they knew what was happening). Chesser and about 140 others of Ector's Brigade were sent to Nashville, until their transfer to Louisville, Kentucky, on September 30, 1863. Chesser was then sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois, until he took the oath of allegiance to the United States on June 12, 1865 (the oath Chesser took was not the 'ironclad' oath, but the oath swearing to abide by the laws of the United States, until properly exchanged. This never happened).

Chesser's residence is given as Linden, Texas; he was shown to be 5'7 1/2" tall, with dark complexion and hair, and hazel eyes.
Chesser's captain, William Somerville, had a most interesting war experience. Somerville was scouting at Allatoona, Georgia, October 5, 1864. The 32nd Texas Cavalry was assigned to guard the artillery at this battle, thus, were not supposed to be engaged. Somerville, who was from Ireland, had ventured too far near some warehouses, when spotted by the Yankee line. Somerville was 'gut'-shot, and left for dead. He gave the Mason distress signal, and was found by some Yankees and taken to their surgeon. He is listed in Major-General Samuel G. French's official report of the battle as "killed after vainly endeavoring to enter the last work, where his conspicuous gallantry had carried him and his little band." After recovering from his wound and the war being almost over, the Feds allowed him to have 'free-rein' around Nashville. He walked up the road to his house in Red River County, where he survived his "death" wound by 53 years- he died at the age of 87 on May 13, 1917, and is buried in Becknell Cemetery in Red River County.

Just so you'll have a little information about some of the battles your ancestor was involved in, as he is marked present the whole time until his capture:
Richmond, Kentucky, August 30, 1862- Ector's Brigade, then under Col. McCray of the 31st Arkansas, assisted in capturing a battery of artillery and driving the Union army completely off the field. This battle is stated as the most complete Southern victory of the war, 4,303 Yankees taken prisoner, about 1,000 killed and wounded.

Mufreesboro, Tennessee, December 31, 1862- at 6:00 AM, John McCown's Confederate division, over 4,000 men, stepped off together. The Yankees, who were cooking breakfast, did not know they were being attacked until the Johnnies were within about 250 yards. The Yankees fired their cannon double-shotted canister when the Rebels were within 100 yards; at that point, Ector's Brigade of gallant Texans gave the Rebel yell for the first time that day, breaking the Yankee lines, and capturing three batteries of artillery.

I've already given you a little on Chickamauga. Hope this helps you get a feel for Chesser's part that his regiment occupied during the war.