William Lemuel Cantelou's great-grandfather was a French immigrant who had joined General George Washington's Continental Army in it's struggle for American independence. Young William and his brother grew up listening to stories of their ancestor's courage at Yorktown, where he had been seriously wounded. His sword was proudly displayed over the fireplace. Small wonder, then, that when the Civil War broke out, the Cantelou brothers jumped at the chance to follow in their great-grandfather's footsteps.
By the time William enlisted in the 6th Alabama Infantry in April 1861, he was 26 years old and was the widowed father of a son, Willie. His military career appeared destined to be even shorter than his 20-month marriage: he was discharged in December 1861 due to rheumatism. But after a year of recovery and a second marriage--to Joanna R. "Josie" Conally on December 29, 1862--Cantelou reenlisted in January 1863 and was made a Lt. in the 53rd Ala. Cavalry, Partisan Rangers. It was as a member of this unit that he sat for the portrait shown here.
Sometime between Jan 1863 and August 1864, Cantelou left the army and returned home to Lowndes County in south central Alabama, wher he settled with his wife on a 390-acre estate and eventually fathered four children. When the need arose, however, he would still be ready to serve: Cantelou's name appears on an August 1864 muster-in roll at Hayneville, Alabama, for the J.F. Clements Local Defense Infantry. Cantelou died in 1883 and was buried Oak Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.
By the time William enlisted in the 6th Alabama Infantry in April 1861, he was 26 years old and was the widowed father of a son, Willie. His military career appeared destined to be even shorter than his 20-month marriage: he was discharged in December 1861 due to rheumatism. But after a year of recovery and a second marriage--to Joanna R. "Josie" Conally on December 29, 1862--Cantelou reenlisted in January 1863 and was made a Lt. in the 53rd Ala. Cavalry, Partisan Rangers. It was as a member of this unit that he sat for the portrait shown here.
Sometime between Jan 1863 and August 1864, Cantelou left the army and returned home to Lowndes County in south central Alabama, wher he settled with his wife on a 390-acre estate and eventually fathered four children. When the need arose, however, he would still be ready to serve: Cantelou's name appears on an August 1864 muster-in roll at Hayneville, Alabama, for the J.F. Clements Local Defense Infantry. Cantelou died in 1883 and was buried Oak Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.
William Lemuel Cantelou's great-grandfather was a French immigrant who had joined General George Washington's Continental Army in it's struggle for American independence. Young William and his brother grew up listening to stories of their ancestor's courage at Yorktown, where he had been seriously wounded. His sword was proudly displayed over the fireplace. Small wonder, then, that when the Civil War broke out, the Cantelou brothers jumped at the chance to follow in their great-grandfather's footsteps.
By the time William enlisted in the 6th Alabama Infantry in April 1861, he was 26 years old and was the widowed father of a son, Willie. His military career appeared destined to be even shorter than his 20-month marriage: he was discharged in December 1861 due to rheumatism. But after a year of recovery and a second marriage--to Joanna R. "Josie" Conally on December 29, 1862--Cantelou reenlisted in January 1863 and was made a Lt. in the 53rd Ala. Cavalry, Partisan Rangers. It was as a member of this unit that he sat for the portrait shown here.
Sometime between Jan 1863 and August 1864, Cantelou left the army and returned home to Lowndes County in south central Alabama, wher he settled with his wife on a 390-acre estate and eventually fathered four children. When the need arose, however, he would still be ready to serve: Cantelou's name appears on an August 1864 muster-in roll at Hayneville, Alabama, for the J.F. Clements Local Defense Infantry. Cantelou died in 1883 and was buried Oak Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.
By the time William enlisted in the 6th Alabama Infantry in April 1861, he was 26 years old and was the widowed father of a son, Willie. His military career appeared destined to be even shorter than his 20-month marriage: he was discharged in December 1861 due to rheumatism. But after a year of recovery and a second marriage--to Joanna R. "Josie" Conally on December 29, 1862--Cantelou reenlisted in January 1863 and was made a Lt. in the 53rd Ala. Cavalry, Partisan Rangers. It was as a member of this unit that he sat for the portrait shown here.
Sometime between Jan 1863 and August 1864, Cantelou left the army and returned home to Lowndes County in south central Alabama, wher he settled with his wife on a 390-acre estate and eventually fathered four children. When the need arose, however, he would still be ready to serve: Cantelou's name appears on an August 1864 muster-in roll at Hayneville, Alabama, for the J.F. Clements Local Defense Infantry. Cantelou died in 1883 and was buried Oak Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.
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