Washington Co., AR - Biographies - William D. Reed *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** William D. Reed (deceased), an uncle of George W. M., and an elder brother of Alvis Reed, made a settlement here in 1829, his farm adjoining A. A. Reed's. He married Sarah Alexander, daughter of John Alexander, a native of Kentucky, who made a settlement here in 1829. William D. Reed, by his marriage, had twelve children, eleven of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, of whom Ester (who married Jonas Peerson). John H., Richard, William J., George W. C., Samuel M., Abigail (who married Enos Yoes), Martha (who married Charles Pence), Sarah (who married Jacob Yoes, Sr.), Mary Ann (who married Jacob Yoes, Jr.), James W. (who died as bugler of Capt. Reed's company, Company D, First Arkansas Cavalry, Federal service). The following war song, composed by Col. W. M. Reed, is taken from a file of the Arkansas Sentinel, of October 22, 1885. "It was often sung here by his father, Anthony A. Reed, in long years ago," says the Sentinel, and its publication has been requested. Col. George Reed sings it well, and says it reminds him of the days when his father used to sing it around the old hearth-stone in his childhood days: When thundering war's loud cannons roar, We left our families and our homes, Marched to the field of destiny To die, or gain sweet liberty. Near Nashville town we did encamp, On Cumberland's bank we pitched our tents- Staid there some eight days or more, Boats and provisions to secure. Some did weep while others rejoice, Their wives and sweethearts for to eave, To leave them all so far behind, Awaiting for their long return. The Mississippi deep and wide, As we sailed down its troubled tide, And many dangers we did screen, In sailing down to New Orleans. But when these dangers were past and gone, We soon did meet a thousand men, And in the field of battle go To meet a bloody tyrant foe. December the 23d, at night, The first attempt was made to fight; The volunteers from Tennessee Were, killed and captured, ninety-three. We kept the ground in battle array. Till December the twenty-eighth day, They marched in order to our lines Till we frustrated their designs. We kept the ground in battle array, Artillery on both sides did play; Their fiery darts they at us threw, Were cannon balls and rockets too. On New Year's morning as the sun did rise A heavy fog darkened the skies; A British cannon did us alarm, Which made us fly to our arms.