CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: W. J. CAVEN -  Smith County, TX 

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Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@home.com 26 
October 2001 
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson

W. J. CAVEN

The Dallas News contains the following: 

The memorial committee reported as follows, the report being adopted:

"Commander J. R. Cole:  Your committee appointed to prepare and 
present to Sterling Price Camp No. 31, U. C. V., suitable resolutions 
of respect to the memory of our deceased comrade, Lieut. W. J. Caven, 
respectfully beg leave to report as follows:

"Our late comrade, Lieut. W. J. Caven, was born at Augusta, Ga., 
Oct. 27, 1833, and departed this life in Dallas, Texas, July 25, 1907, 
being 73 years 8 months and 28 days of age.  He came to Texas with his 
father, Col. David Caven, in 1859, settling in Harrison county, not
far from Caddo Lake, his home being in that county until 1886, when he 
removed with his family to the city of Dallas, where he resided until 
his death.  

"In 1867 he was married to Miss Virginia Driscoll, of Tyler, Texas.  Of 
this marriage four sons and four daughters were born, six of whom, 
William, David B., George P., Thomas P., Mrs Paul H. Traylor, and Miss 
Janie, who, with their mother, survive the deceased.

"When, in 1861, the call to arms resounded throughout all our beloved 
Southland, a call to her sons to rally to her defense and rescue from 
the invader and oppressor, William J. Caven was one of the first to 
respond and enrolled himself in Capt. Dick Winston's company, made up 
of Harrison young men of the brightest and best and bravest of the 
flower of the chivalry of the South.  This company became Co. A, of 
the 3rd  Regiment, Texas Cavalry, and was mustered into the Confederate 
service in the city of Dallas, Texas, on June 30, 1861. Pretty close up 
to the front in getting ready, wasn't it?  In fact, this regiment was 
one of the very first to begin service for the Confederacy and one of 
the very last to quit.

"The first field officers of the regiment were Elkanah Greer of 
Marshall, Colonel; Walter P. Lane of Marshall, Lieutenant Colonel; 
George W. Chilton of Tyler, Major, and the Adjutant was Matt D. Ector 
of Henderson.  What a group of immortals, indeed, for every one of them 
won his spurs.  It was brave company our comrade was keeping, but he 
was worthy of it and not one of them ever went further into the fray nor 
where it was  thickest or laid on with steadier, truer hand. 

"Elkanah Greer, in the Mexican War, had been adjutant of the regiment 
of Mississippi Rifles commanded by our own Jefferson Davis, and had 
learned what service was from that distinguished cheiftan.  Walter P. 
Lane had been a soldier at San Jacinto, being promoted to a Lieutenancy 
from the ranks, although but a beardless Irish boy that he was, for 
courage on the field; had later been in the Ranger service of the 
Republic of Texas and commanded in the Mexican War a Texas cavalry 
battalion that won renown for itself and its commander.  George W. 
Chilton, father of former United States Senator Horace Chilton, was 
one of the foremost lawyers and most brilliant orators in all Texas.

"Of these first field and staff officers, three of them, Col. Greer, 
Lieut. Col. Lane and Adjt. Ector became Brigadier Generals in the 
Confederate service.  Yes, it was a fighting regiment, winning honor 
and glory for itself and honor and glory for its officers.  Major 
Chilton was desperately wounded in one of the regiment's first 
engagements and was sorely disabled.

"When you are told that five line officers fought themselves up to 
the rank of field officers you will know that it was indeed a 
fighting regiment, one whose battle flag bore as many scars of honor 
as any other regiment's and was always as far to the front on the 
firing line as any command of all the Southern army.  This was the 
sort of company our comrade served and fought with and he was deemed 
worthy to be given a position of command.

"After the war had ended Comrade Caven returned home, like all his 
comrades, from one end to the other of our battle riven, desolated 
South, bereft of his property, but gathering up the straggling ends 
of the little left, with that same courage, fortitude and devotion 
to duty that had characterized him during the four years of war, he 
went bravely to work and by his energy, enterprise and sound 
business sense, accumulated a competency for himself and family 
during his life and now that he has gone.

"For several terms Comrade Caven served Harrison county in the State 
Legislature, where he soon made his influence felt, and on some of 
the best laws on the statute books he has left the impress of his 
sound, mature judgement, his strong, practical good sense.  A good 
citizen in the fullest and truest sense of the word; a faithful 
friend always; a generous, kindly neighbor; a devoted husband and 
father; a true man in every relation of life, when death called him 
he drew the drapery of his couch about him and sank into pleasant 
slumber.

"Resolved, That in the death of Comrade William J. Caven, Sterling 
Price Camp, United Confederate Veterans, has lost a comrade indeed, 
one who loved his Southland and who did all for it in war and in 
peace that mortal man could do, his very best.

"Resolved, That the camp sincerely mourns his loss and above his 
honored grave shed the tears of sorrow.

"Resolved,  That these resolutions be spread on the minutes, a copy 
be sent to the bereaved family, with the camp's assurance of our 
sympathies with them in their grief and the further assurance that 
we hold in reverence and tenderest respect with them in their love 
the memory of our comrade.

"Resolved,  That a copy of these resolutions be furnished the city 
daily papers for publication, also to the South, to Dixieland and 
to the Confederate Veteran.

Charles L. Martin, Chairman,
W. H. Gaston, 
John H. Traylor, Committee."