William M. Graham

William Montrose Graham, Jr.
Captain William Montrose Graham, Jr., September 1863. Library of Congress.
Born	(1834-09-28)September 28, 1834 Washington, D.C.
Died	January 16, 1916(1916-01-16) (aged 81) Wardour, Maryland
Place of burial	Congressional Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1855–1898
Rank	Major General
Commands held	2nd District of Columbia Infantry 5th Artillery Regiment Second Army Corps
Battles/wars	American Civil War Peninsula Campaign Battle of Antietam Battle of Gettysburg Battle of Malvern Hill Spanish–American War

American Civil War

William Montrose Graham, Jr. (September 28, 1834 – January 16, 1916), was a career soldier in the United States Army, reaching the rank of major general. He was a veteran of both the American Civil War and the Spanish–American War.

Graham was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Colonel James Duncan Graham (1799–1865) and Charlotte Meade (sister of George Gordon Meade). He married Aroostine Brewerton Ricketts in 1860 at Fortress Monroe, VA. His uncle and namesake, William Montrose Graham (1798–1847), was killed during the Mexican–American War while commanding the 11th U.S. Infantry at Molino del Rey.

The junior Graham was commissioned into the 1st Regiment of Artillery in 1855, and earned two rapid promotions to captain with the outbreak of the Civil War.

During the war, he was cited for gallantry during the Peninsula Campaign, for actions at Antietam, and for his actions at Gettysburg. Graham earned multiple brevet (honorary) promotions for these actions, including major (July 1, 1862, Malvern Hill), lieutenant colonel (September 17, 1862, Antietam), and colonel (July 3, 1863, Gettysburg). His unit, 1st U.S. Light Artillery, Battery K, was, from 1863, part of the famed U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade.