David --

It would be easier to match signatures on wartime documents. Using this method, anyone can question whether the man in either image is William H King of Hamburg, Perry County AL. Very difficult to prove.

The historical record for Co K, 11th Alabama Regiment states that King was commissioned lieutenant of a company of "Home Guards". Well, yes and no. He received a commission from the War Department to serve as drill instructor at Camp of Instruction, Talladega AL. When a company was formed for provost guard duty, King was one of the four officers assigned. This was Captain's Lockett's "City Guard", soon sent to Selma AL. Definitely not home guards.

After several months at Selma, King was elected 2nd Lieutenant of a company of boys between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. Captain McCaw's "Stonewall Cadets" organized on Dec 22, 1863, and remained at Selma for provost guard duty. The roll notes that King had formerly been a drill officer at Talladega. Shortly afterwards Lockett's company was disbanded and enlisted men assigned to front-line regiments.

Several "boy" companies were assigned to Lockhart's Battalion, McCaw's becoming Co "H". Officers and men first saw action against Rousseau's cavalry at Chehaw AL in July 1864. Lockhart's Battalion officially became Junior Reserves. When William H King was elected Captain of a tenth "boy" company, the battalion organized as the 1st Alabama Junior Reserves Regt. By February 1865, the Junior Reserves still on roll were expected to have all turned 18, so the War Department designated it the 62nd Alabama Regiment.

Notes from different commands on W H King:
Private, enlisted June 11, 1861, Perry County AL, Co K, 11th AL Regt
Private, Co K, 11th AL Regt, historical roll, ADAH, transferred by appt of Lt of Home Guards, Selma AL, Nov 1862.
Wounded June 27, 1862, Gaines Mill VA
Corporal, paid Nov. 11, 1862, Feb 28 - June 30, 1862, C E Thomas
Sergeant, paid Nov. 28, 1862, July 1 - Sept 18, 1862, C E Thomas
Sergeant, paid Nov. 28, 1862, bounty

2nd Lieut PACS, paid July 31, 1863 for July 1863, Capt E J Fellows
2nd Lieut PACS, paid Aug. 31, 1863 for Aug. 1863, Capt E J Fellows, Selma
2nd Lieut Co D, 62nd AL Regt (Stonewall Cadets), muster roll Dec 22, 1863, previously Drill Instructor
1st Lieut Capt Alston's Co Provost Guards, Selma AL, Feb 1, 1864
2nd Lieut Stonewall Cadets, Post of Selma AL, Feb 1, 1864
1st Lieut Co H, Lockhart's Battn, Cahaba AL, Apr 26, 1864
1st Lieut Reserves, stationed at Selma AL, return June 1864.
Captain, Co K, 62nd AL Regt, paroled Meridian MS, May 11, 1865
Captain, Co K, 62nd AL, pension application, Martha E King, Perry County AL