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Contributed by: Dallas J. Riedesel Graves, Houston H., born 31 May 1825 in Tennessee, died April 1862, near VanBuren, Arkansas. Buried in a unmarked mass or common grave. He taught school north of Guilford, Nodaway County, Missouri. After a few years bought a general store in Guilford. Houston operated this store until the beginning of Civil War. Houston joined for duty and enrolled December 27, 1861, at Green County, Missouri by Col. Alonzo W. Slayback, for a period of twelve months. On his enrollment papers the following notation is made: Confederate, Company G, 1 Cav. Mo. Houston H. Graves, Pvt., Co. G, Gates' Reg't Missouri Cavalry. Roll dated Camp Price near Springfield, Mo., Jan 16, 1862. Muster in date January 16, 1862. The 1st Missouri Cavalry was enlisted on December 30, 1861, with the majority of men being transferred from the Missouri State Guard. Following the Battle of Pea Ridge the Confederate troops retreated, passing thru Huntsville, the turning toward VanBuren. Hundreds of cold, hungry, and discouraged soldiers deserted or straggled, and blood dripping from the wounds congealed into icicles. Finally on March 16, 1862, they reached VanBuren, weak, broken down, and exhausted. Here they remained for the rest of the month, reorganizing, reinforcing and recuperating. Casualties at Pea Ridge were reported as between 800 and 1,000 dead or wounded, plus 200-300 missing, but these figures refer mainly to Price's Division, so undoubtedly the total loss was considerably higher. Source of some of the above information: Battle of Pea Ridge by Albert Castel. |