Background
In 1838 William Covington was born in a two-story chestnut log home built by his relatives in 1799.
In 1838 William Covington was born in a two-story chestnut log home built by his relatives in 1799.
Private A year following the American Civil War, Covington moved to Texas, and there in 1876, he was elected to serve as the first district court clerk of the newly formed Camp County, Texas. Private (Pvt) Covington fought in eight major Civil War battles. Among these were the battle of Harpers Ferry, Antietam, battle of Fredericksburg, battle of Chancellorsville, battle of Gettysburg and battle of Williamsport also known as Falling Waters.
After surviving the battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, he was captured at Falling Waters, Maryland on July 14, 1863 during Lee"s retreat from Baltimore, Maryland.
From Baltimore he was sent to Point Lookout Prisoner Of War camp. Private Covington was among the 975 repatriated soldiers who traveled the New York exchange steamer to City Point, Virginia, after being formally exchanged on March 19, 1863.
A few months later he rejoined his regiment, the 18th North Carolina Infantry (Lane"s Brigade, Pender"s Division, III Corps, Confederate Army of Northern Virginia). During the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road, he was wounded and re-captured.
His leg was amputated at City Point and again at Campbell General
Hospital in District of Columbia. He was sent to two different hospitals in Washington, District of Columbia (where the Mall is now located by the Smithsonian Institution). Signing his parole on July 18, 1865, he was released and with one leg and a pair of crutches he made his way "walking" back to Spartenburg District South Carolina. The two arrived home together, both had been long given up for dead.
After the harvesting of crops in the early fall of 1870, the Covington, Weaver and McIntyre families traveled by covered wagons from Rutherford Company, North Carolina to Upshur Company, Texas, arriving in late 1870.
In 1874, Camp County, Texas was formed out of Upshur Company, Texas and Covington was elected as the first district/county court clerk of the newly created Camp County. The positions for district and county clerks were a consolidated position in Texas until the end of the reconstruction period in 1876.
Private His place of burial was designated with an official historical plaque from the State of Texas Historical Survey Committee on October 20, 1970.