Submitted by Renee Kernan
William Calvin Earnest was born April 27, 1841 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. His parents were Moses and Mary Earnest. He had ten brothers and sisters including, Jane E. Earnest (b. 1833), Nancy Ann (b. 1835), Harriet S. (b.1837), John J. (b. 1839), Marion H. (b. 1845), Thomas P. (b. 1846), Barran D. (b. 1848), Sarah F. (b. 1854), Mary M. (b. 1857), and Jailor (b.1861). By 1860 the family had relocated to the Eastern Division of Fayette county, Alabama where they’re enumerated on the census for that year. When the Civil War began, William was eighteen years old and living in a county that had strong Union sentiment. However, his older brother John J. Earnest, joined the Confederacy serving in the 51st Alabama and died in a Confederate hospital in April 1863. The following year, William joined with the Union. On January 5, 1864 he enlisted with the 1st Alabama Cavalry at Camp Davies for a period of 3 years and was placed in the "new" Co. A.
While present most of 1864, it wasn’t until the next year that William’s record shows a lot of activity. On March 10, 1865 William participated in the action at Monroe’s Cross Roads. That same day he was captured in Fayetteville, North Carolina and from Raleigh, he was sent to Richmond, Virginia. After being paroled at Bulvares and Coxes Wharf, Virginia, he reported at College Green Barracks, Maryland on March 30. Next, he was sent to Camp Chase in Ohio where he reported April 5, 1865. A few days later he was given a 30 day furlough after which he reported back and was present through the end of August. What happened after this is explained only through reading the various affidavits contained in William’s pension records.
According to Elizabeth Mackey Earnest, widow of William Earnest, they married on September 17, 1865 at the home of Elizabeth’s father in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It seems that the marriage took place during a furlough (one affidavit stated it was a sick furlough) and William was being treated by a Dr. Baker for a couple of months. William had been coughing violently and began coughing up blood and suffering from night sweats. Eventually, the doctor told him that he couldn’t do anything else for him. He said he had contracted consumption from exposure while in the army and recommended that William go north- adding that this would either cure him, or kill him.
Elizabeth accompanied William and they made their way north. They got as far as Decatur, Alabama when he took a turn for the worse becoming very weak and could go no further. He died about two months later on December 21, 1865. In Elizabeth’s affidavit she states that a Captain J.J. Hines (Hinds) was present at the time of her husband’s death. He had been her husband’s captain while in the army and was very kind. In fact, he even paid the $5.00 for her husband’s burial. Another affidavit given by Jere (Jeremiah) F. Files, Lt., says that he also saw William at the home of J.J.Hines (Hinds) while he was very sick with consumption just a few days before his death. Not only was J.J. Hinds apparently very good to both William and Elizabeth, but it’s thanks to him that William was buried initially somewhere in Decatur with a marker bearing his name and the name of his regiment. This information was necessary when later he was moved to Corinth National Cemetery where he rests today.
Service records compiled by Glenda Todd and used with her permission. This and other information about the history of the First and the men who fought with the unit
can be found in her book, First Alabama Cavalry, USA: Homage to Patriotism.