Minix, William

Headstone of Private William Minix

NPS

Quick Facts

Significance:

Private - 9th Kentucky Infantry, USA, Company A

Place of Birth:

Kentucky

Date of Birth:

1835 or 1836

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Date of Death:

June 16, 1863

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

William Minix was born in 1835 or 1836 and enlisted on September 25, 1861 in Allen County, Kentucky at the Flatwood School House. He mustered into Compan A of the 9th Kentucky Infantry on November 11, 1861 as a cook.

On September 10, Minix was cooking for Captain Leggett when they were ordered to leave their baggage and wagons behind at Nashville in preparation for pursuing Gen. Braxton Bragg's Confederates into Kentucky. Leggett told Minix to stay with his baggage and not to leave it under any circumstance. When the train caught up with the regiment at Bowling Green, Kentucky, Minix was nowhere to be found. This was reportedly the third time he had deserted.

Minix was gone for eight months before he was found by military authorities and brought to Murfreesboro somewhere between April 1-10, 1863. Minix's court martial began on Thursday, May 7, 1863. Many witnesses were called during his trial, including Captain Leggett. The court found Minix guilty of derestion and sentenced him to death.

While awaiting his execution, Minix wrote a letter to his commanding officer, Colonel Henry Cram asking him to intervene stating that others with the same sentence who had done worse had been saved. He ended his letter saying “I feel sure if you would interest yourself in my behalf my life might be saved and I will promise, no swear, if I escape that awful degrading death I will henceforth be a true and loyal and a law abiding soldier. May God help me for I cannot help myself.”

On the morning of June 16, 1863 Minix walked to his execution site, following a wagon holding his coffin with a chaplain by his side. The soldiers watching formed a square, leaving one side open, where Minix’s coffin was placed. Minix sat atop it and the Adjutant General read the court martial's verdict aloud. Afterwards, those assigned to fire at Minix were handed their muskets, half of which had blanks in them. Minix was blindfolded and the order was given to fire.

William Minix was one of 234 United States soldiers to be executed between 1861 and 1866. He is buried at Stones River National Cemetery in plot O-5921.