WILLIAM T. CARROLL
Company E & C, 17th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry

William T. Carroll was born in about 1835 in Kentucky. He is shown in the 1860 Census in Grayson County, Kentucky as a 26-year old farmer living alone. He owned about $600 in real property and $100 in personal property. The family immediately above him in 1860 is also named Carroll, and its head is a 50-year old Joseph Carroll who was born in Kentucky in about 1810. In this family is a James S. Carroll. Jospeph is likely the father of William. James S. Carroll, his brother will enroll with William in the 17th Kentucky Infantry (Volunteer) on October 28, 1861 in Calhoun, Kentucky.

The records show that William was mustered on December 31, 1861, as a Sergeant in Company E. William is not shown in the Adjutant General's Report as mustering with the 17th a few days later on January 4th. He was with his unit in Tennessee, and on Arpil 30th he was transferred from Company E to Company C as a 5th Sergeant. This was about the time of the consolidation with the 25th Regiment.

On June 4, 1862 he was carried absent in the hospital in Mississippi and later in Louisville. Eventually, he went home to Grayson County. He was dropped from the rolls on May 31, 1863. He returned to his unit, then stationed in Tennessee, shortly thereafter. It was determined that he was absent without authority from from December 17, 1862 until August 21, 1863. He recieved forfiture of pay for the period.

It is interesting to note that there were others in William's company and throughtout the regiment who were carried as absent during the same period. The beginning of the absence corresponds with the issuance of the Special Order by Colonel McHenry upon his reflief from command, and it may be that the absence of these men was realted to a deep disatifaciton with the actions of President Lincoln in the relief of Colonel McHenry.

William became ill again on May 7, 1864 and was placed on sick leave. In the September/October 1864 muster he was detailed as a nurse at the Regimental Hospital. In the November/December muster he was detached to the General Hospital. On January 23, 1863 he was musterd out of the Regiment, at the age of 27, with the rest of his unit members. William is seen again in Grayson County at age 33 on his farm with a new family.


Note: in the 1890 Veterans Census in Woodford County there is a William T. Carroll enumerated; however this does not appear to be the same person.

 
Sources:
1860 Census of Grayson County, Kentucky
1870 Census of Grayson County, Kentucky
Kentucky Adjutant General's Report
Microfiche of Records of Volunteer Union Soliers of Kentucky #397 Roll 299