CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY:  Henry W. Graber - Dallas County, TX

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Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
7 June 2002 
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson, pages 238-239 

H. W. GRABER.

Henry W. Graber, of Dallas, a veteran of the famous Terry Rangers, 
or the 8th Texas Cavalry Regiment, that made a reputation for 
gallantry and bravery in the army of the Ten­nessee, is a native of 
Germany, born in the city of Bremen in 1841, where his father was at 
the head of a large manu­facturing and exporting business.  The 
family emigrated to the United States and in the year 1853 settled 
in Houston, Texas, where both parents and one brother died the same 
year.  Young Graber soon received employment in a whole­sale grocery 
business, and subsequently conducted a general merchandise store in 
Waxahachie, Cypress City and Hempstead.  In 1850 he was made the 
junior partner in the firm of Fraddis & Graber, at Hempstead, doing 
a prosperous bus­iness at the breaking out of the war between the 
States.  It was at this place he joined the State Troops, went to 
Brazos, Santiago, and Indianola.  These troops caused the surrender 
of the Federal forces at above points.  In September 1861 he enlisted 
for the war as a private in Company B, 8th Texas Cavalry, commarded 
by Col. C. F. Terry.  Henry Graber felt it to be his duty to 
sacrifice his business prospects and offer his services in defense of 
his adopted country, and being elected a second lieutenant of the 
company, he declined the honor, preferring the position of a private 
soldier, having no ambition save that of serving his country in an 
humble capac­ity. He was with his company and regiment in the Ken­tucky 
campaigns in 1861, was with Col. Wheeler at Shiloh, took part in 
the first battle of Murfreesboro under Gen. Forrest. Was with Bragg
at Mumfordsville, Bardstown and Perry­ville, and many minor engagements 
in that famous campaign in Kentucky.  Young Graber was severely 
wounded in a fight with an infantry force near Bowling Green, captured 
and sent to Louisville and placed in irons for resenting an in­sult by 
a negro captain and threatened with a court martial. Subsequently he 
was imprisoned at Camp Chase and from there to Fort Delaware where he
escaped after four months detention.  Assuming another name he went 
with a party of Marylanders that were expecting to be paroled, but 
were sent to Point Lookout, and thence after several months were 
ex­changed at City Point.  Soon he rejoined his command in Tennessee 
and saw active service in the Georgia campaign, participating in 
numerous engagements from Dalton to At­lanta and was with Gen. Joe 
Wheeler during Sherman's march to the sea, participating in daily 
engagements. His company was then detached as an escort to Gen. McLaws, 
with whom he remained until the surrender in North Carolina, 
participating in the battle at Bentonville where his command was 
surrendered.  Returning to Texas he again engaced in merchandising 
successfully at Hempstead, Courtney, Rusk and Waxahachie until he 
made his home at Dallas in 1885, where he has placed himself at the 
front as a business man of prominence and commercial influence.  He 
was always prominent in the work of the U. C. V. 's and was made 
Quartermaster-General on the staff of Lieut. Gen. W. L. Cabell, and 
later on commanded the 4th Brigade of the Texas Division of the 
U. C. V.  He is a leading member of Sterling Price Camp and was 
several times its commander. In social circles Gen. Graber is highly 
regarded among the people of Dallas, and in fact the whole State.