(from the archived Roots of Roane Web site)

From We’ll Call It Wheat, by Dorothy Moneymaker

William Jackson Watson fought with the Union Army during the Civil War. He was a Pvt., Co. I, 1st TN. Inf. with Capt. Jesse W. Littleton. He joined the Army on August 9, 1861. He took part in the Battle of Chattanooga on November 23-25, 1863. Here the Confederate Artillery commanded the roads and the Tennessee River. The Northern Troops were threatened by starvation but had manpower enough to meet their needs. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant came to Chattanooga with part of his Army of Tennessee. Lookout Mountain and other high points fell the first two days and Missionary Ridge was taken on the third day. There were 5,500 Northern and 2,500 Southern casualties. (World book, Vol. 4, “Civil War”). William Jackson Watson took part in all of this fighting, as well as other battles. He would tell, in later years, of the dreadful fighting and always, he wept.

William Jackson Watson‘s brother, James Wylie, fought with the Confederacy. His company can not be ascertained, for there are 10 James Watsons listed in the Confederate Roster. These brothers fought against each other.

William Jackson Watson (1843-1925) married Mary Elizabeth McKinney (1842-1920) in Roane County on January 29, 1865 by T. M. Burns (JP). They lived in Wheat.