28th Infantry Regiment completed its organization at Lynchburg, Virginia, in June, 1861. Its members were raised in the counties of Botetourt, Craig, Bedford, Campbell, and Roanoke. After fighting at First Manassas the unit was assigned to General Pickett's, Garnett's, and Hunton's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It was active in the campaigns of the army from Williamsburg to Gettysburg except when it served with Longstreet at Suffolk. The 28th moved to North Carolina, then was on detached duty at Richmond. It fought at Cold Harbor, endured the battles and hardships of the Petersburg trenches, and was engaged in various conflicts around Appomattox. The regiment totalled 600 men in April, 1862, and reported 40 casualties at Williamsburg at 47 at Seven Pines. It lost 12 killed and 52 wounded at Second Manassas, had 8 killed and 54 wounded during the Maryland Campaign, and, of the 333 engaged at Gettysburg, half were disabled. Many were captured at Sayler's Creek, and 3 officers and 51 men surrendered on April 9, 1865. The field officers were Colonels Robert C. Allen, Robert T. Preston, and William Watts; Lieutenant Colonels Samuel B. Paul and William L. Wingfield; and Majors Michael P. Spesard and Nathaniel C. Wilson.
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William A. Galyean [Galjean/Galgran]
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 3/12/1864 at Dublin, VA as a Private.
On 3/12/1864 he mustered into "C" Co. VA 28th Infantry
(date and method of discharge not given)
He was listed as:
* Deserted 5/15/1864 (place not stated) (Estimated day)
* Under arrest 8/3/1864 E. D. M. Prison (Pardoned by the President by volunteering for the Winder Legion for the defense of Richmond, Va. against the Sheriden raid in 1864)
The "Winder Legion → ."
--Another full company, organized among the prisoners in Castle Thunder, went into the field on Saturday, under command of Major Vowles. This makes four companies sent from that institution since operations around Richmond commenced. They have adopted the name of the "← Winder Legion."
[The Richmond Daily Dispatch: May 16, 1864]
From the Richmond Examiner, 5/21/1864
REWARDED. – An order was yesterday received at Castle Thunder from the President, directing that the three hundred prisoners comprising the “Winder Legion,” who volunteered for the defence of Richmond, and manned one of the batteries, be discharged and returned to their respective regiments, without trial, as soon as the necessity for their present organization ceases. Some of these prisoners were confined on very grave charges, but the order applies to all who have behaved themselves, and that has been generally the case, with two or three exceptions.
From the Richmond Examiner, 5/28/1864
THE WINDER LEGION, composed of prisoners in Castle Thunder, who volunteered for the defence of Richmond, and acted with signal bravery on several occasions, returned to the city yesterday, and were reviewed by General Winder in front of his headquarters, addressing them some complimentary remarks. They have solicited the President to authorize the permanency of their present organization, under Major Vowels, their temporary commander, and there is a possibility of the President acceding to their request, if it can be done with justice to the commands to which they originally belonged. The President has granted them all amnesty from trial, further imprisonment or punishment upon the charges against them. They number about two hundred and fifty. They quartered at the Soldier's Home last evening.