New Commander of the Fourth Brigade (UCV)

H. W. Graber, elected Brigadier General to command the Fourth Brigade (comprising eighty six Camps) of the Texas Division, U. C. V., enlisted from Austin County, Tex., in 1861, for the war, with Terry's Texas Rangers (Eighth Texas Cavalry), at the organization of this celebrated command, was with his regiment in all of its operations until the close of hostilities, save about twelve months while a prisoner. He was wounded in March, 1863, near Bowling Green, Kentucky, while on a scout in an engagement with a large infantry force, though making his escape from the field. He was such an incumbrance to his comrades, endangering their safety from capture or annihilation, that he begged them to leave him to his fate and save themselves, which they were reluctantly compelled to do. After several months in the hospital and in prison at Bowling Green, awaiting court martial, he was sent to the Louisville prison, and while there honored with a pair of handcuffs, though still suffering from his wounds, for resenting an insult by a negro official. He was subsequently sent to prisons at Camp Chase, O., Fort Delaware, and Point Lookout Prison, from the latter of which he escaped under a dead man's name.

On arrival at Richmond he called on Senator Oldham, through whom he secured transportation to his regiment in camp, near Greeneville, East Tennessee, where they had just arrived from the Knoxville campaign.

His next service was from Dalton, Ga,, to Savannah, thence through the Carolinas.

At Savannah his company was detailed for scout duty with Gen. Lafayette McLaws until after the battle of Bentonville, and when returning one night to camp, near Greensboro, N. C., from a scout, learned the army had surrendered. He determined not to surrender, but to make his way to Texas and join the army over there. He succeeded in persuading about thirty of the regiment to start out with him, and during the night the balance of the regiment started in small bodies, and as far as known not a single member of the Eighth Texas surrendered with Johnston's army. The country was surrendered faster than they could ride over it, and when finally they reached New Orleans the Trans Mississippi Department had surrendered. Gen. Graber's connection with the U. C. V. dates back to its organization in Texas, and on the organization of the Trans Mississippi Department he was commissioned Quartermaster General on the staff of Gen. W. L. Cahell, which position he resigned to assume command of the Fourth Brigade.

As a member of Camp Sterling Price, he has ever proven himself worthy of the honors conferred (having served as its Commander several years ago), always ready with counsel, labor, time, and purse to assist in all worthy objects undertaken by the Camp.

Oliver Steele,
Adjt. Sterling Price Camp, 31.