William Gose Suiter

William Gose Suiter moved from Tazewell, County Va. in the fall of 1860 to Wise county Va.. He was called into the state militia. He then moved back to Bland County,Va. the next fall. ( Bland County was formed from Tazewell County in 1861) In the spring of 1862 he enlisted into Company F 8th Va. Cavalry.Also known as the Bland County Rangers. The 8th Va. fought mostly in West Va. and Va. but some battles where fought in TN., KY., Ohio, Penn. and MD. The 8th was heavily engaged in the " Battle of Monocacy" at Fredrick MD.. William was wounded in the shoulder with a round ball. On the 9th of July 1864 in the Battle of Monocacy at Fredrick MD. He was left on the field and was captured on the 10th of July and moved to Fort McHenry in MD. He was exchanged Oct. 30th 1864 at Point Lookout MD.. He was then paroled on the 13th of May 1865 at Charleston, West VA.. After the war he moved back to Wise County Va.. He lived in Wise County till the year of 1875. He then moved East of Frenchburg Ky. in Menifee County. I was told by his granddaughter that it took his family a month to make the journey by foot and wagon. William bought land a long a branch Known as Fly Blow Branch also Known as Suiter Branch. The branch runs between two large hills or mountains. He built his home on the west side of the branch. the log walls are still standing. ( 1990) William and his wife are buried in a cemetery north east of his home. William died at a very young age. He was 54 at the time of his death. His wife said that he never fully recovered from the bad treatment when he was a prisoner of war.