BETHEL, W.R (1834 ~ 1911). Confederate veteran W.R. Bethel was born in Tennessee in 1834.
During the Civil War he belonged to Company L, 1st Tennessee Infantry, Maney's Brigade in the Army of Tennessee. The 1st was organized on May 9, 1861 at Nashville, Tennessee.
The 1st was originally under the command of Colonel George Maney. Maney was promoted to general at Shiloh. For the remainder of the war the 1st Tennessee Infantry was under the command of Hume R. Field.
The 1st took part in many actions including the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Nashville, and Franklin. General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered the 1st Tennessee Infantry on May 1, 1865 at Durham, North Carolina.
Bethel moved to Texas in 1885 and lived in San Antonio, Bexar County where he was a Christian. He was widowed and a self-described "traveling man" who suffered from rheumatism when he was admitted to the Confederate Men's Home. Bethel entered the Home twice, the first time was on January 23, 1906, and he was released at his request on October 11, 1907. The second time he was admitted was on February 19, 1910.
Bethel died at the Home on May 19, 1911 and was buried at the Texas State Cemetery.
Information taken from Texas State Cemetery file materials. |