William Irion

William M. Irion was an American soldier who served as the Captain for Company G of the 32nd regiment of Mississippi Infantry during the first couple of years of the American Civil War. He was shot on the field of the Battle of Perryville in 1862 and died in a field hospital.

Early life

William McKinney Irion was born to William Lewis Irion and Amelia Wooten Cade. His maternal great-grandfather, Col. Thomas Wooten, led militia troops during the American Revolution in the Georgia Militia. He married Mary-Ann Glasgow circa 1850. They had two children, only one of which survived childhood: his daughter, Mary Irion McElderry, who married the son of Col. Thomas McElderry.

Military service

Civil War

Joining the Confederate Army as a Corporal in 1861, Irion was soon promoted to Captain of company G in the 32nd Mississippi Infantry. They were first present for the Siege of Corinth in April/May of 1862 and later began the Kentucky Campaign under Braxton Bragg. At the Battle of Perryville in October of 1862, the 32nd Mississippi was part of the center and right flank of the Confederate line. Located in "Evans' Brigade" which was A Part of Polk's Division. The southerners right, launched a frontal assault on the union forces led by Don Carlos Buell and were fired apon by soliders from the 33rd Ohio Infantry aswell as eight artillery pieces that were 200 yards north. 219 of the 370 men who were apart of that attack were slain. After this more of the center tried to advance but was stalled, causing the Confederate center to advance forward to support them. All in all the battle had 4276 casualties on the Northern side, and 3401 on the Southern side, Captain William Irion being among them. He record states that he was wounded on the field of battle, and laid there for sometime, where men from a hospital wagon would have taken him to a nearby field hospital where he died at age 32.

Legacy

He has been mentioned in several local and family history books as well as a couple of Civil War history books.