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

************************************************************* 
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@charter.net
26 January, 2002 
************************************************************* 
TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson 
W. J. SAUNDERS

W. J. Saunders, of Tyler, born August 31st, 1835, in Iredell 
county, North Carolina, and removed with the family to Coosa 
county, Alabama, the same year.  His father, Thos. M. Saunders, 
was killed by a runaway team on the trip.  His mother continued 
on to Wetumpka, and there joined her brother, Dr. W. S. Caldwell.  
His mother married John M. Patterson, and Julius moved with them 
to Smith county, Texas, and settled in Tyler in Feb. 1848.  
Enlisted in Douglas Texas battery as a private, in June 1861, 
but was afterwards made a lieutenant in May 1863.  He participated 
in all the important battles of the army of Tennessee, but being 
on detached service missed the battles of Murfesboro, Franklin, 
and Nashville.  With the exception of the above fights, he was 
in all from Elk Horn Tavern to the end of the war.  He has been 
a leading business man and has enjoyed the confidence of the 
people from his boyhood up to this good hour.  He is now retired 
from active business affairs.