Fayetteville at the time was in the hands of Federal forces and I would assume he died in a hospital under their control. Also, I believe he was assigned to the Howitzer Company of their regiment.
I would believe he was buried nearby in a single grave and properly marked. At some later time, they must have been re-interred into the National Cemetery in Fayetteville. I have checked their list and do not find his name. Also, in his files is the notation that his name also appears as Willburn, Willbourne, Williams in some documents. I checked these names also, no joy. See: http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/
One of two thoughts occur to me, first, his originally marker was lost, destroyed, rotted, etc., and his remains not identified before interment in the National Cemetery. The second, is that his widow had his body removed to their home for local burial.
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An application for a pension in the name of a minor was dated May 19, 1878, application # 236,060 and was granted by certificate # 242,389
T289: Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900.
These documents may be procured through the service noted in the Red enclosed box above.
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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLI/1 [S# 83] pp. 397-400
AUGUST 29-DECEMBER 2, 1864.--Price's Missouri Expedition.
No. 35.--Reports of Col. M. La Rue Harrison, First Arkansas Cavalry (Union).
HEADQUARTERS,
Fayetteville, Ark., October 28, 1864.
I have the honor to make the following official report of an engagement at this place, and request that you will forward the same to headquarters Department of the Missouri, together with my report of yesterday's skirmishing, which was sent you last evening:
Fayetteville was attacked this morning by a strong force, who posted themselves at sunrise on the almost inaccessible bluffs of East Mountain, about 1,000 yards east of town, and opened a brisk fire on my camp. I immediately ordered Capt. D.C. Hopkins, supported by Capt. E. B. Harrison, to move up the mountain with a line of dismounted skirmishers. When within about 200 yards of the top of the bluff they engaged the enemy, whom, as soon as their exact position was ascertained, I commenced shelling with a 12-pounder mountain howitzer, causing them to move their position several times. At the same time Captain Hopkins and Captain Harrison led their men, less than 100 strong, up the mountain in the face of a galling fire from 700 rebels, charging the topmost bluff three times, and the third time driving the enemy from their position. We found 12 rebels dead; among them 1 captain and 2 lieutenants, all of whom are now being buried by my men, who hold the top of the mountain top. We lost in the charge only 3 men seriously and 4 slightly wounded, none killed. East Mountain occupies the same relative position to Fayetteville, I am told, that Lookout does to Chattanooga, and too much honor cannot be given to the gallant men who carried its crest to-day, among whom I should not neglect to mention Capt. G. R. King, Lieutenant Vaughan, and Lieutenant Munday. About 9 a.m. I saw a thick cloud of dust rising in the southwest, and soon another rebel column was displayed on that side of the place and commenced a vigorous attack, but a few well-directed shells caused them to fall back. The firing ceased about 12.30 p.m., and the enemy retired. I am informed that a portion of Gano's command is to attack me in the morning with four pieces of artillery. It is also reported that a part of Magruder's infantry is crossing the Arkansas River. Should I find these reports to be true I will inform you at once. This position is a favorable one; has no wealth to tempt the enemy. Merchandise, subsistence, and quartermaster's stores mostly expended, and as they could not expect to hold it long, would not pay a great sacrifice in taking it With a re-enforcement of 1,500 men and a battery we could hold out against Price's whole army. I shall rely on you for daily information of movements north of me.
M. LA RUE HARRISON,
Colonel First Arkansas Cavalry, Commanding.
...
SATURDAY, October 29--11 a.m.
All is quiet here. No messengers have arrived from Fort Smith for more than a week. Several are known to be captured. Rebels are watching all roads. Dispatches were received here from Cassville yesterday morning. Messengers due this morning not arrived. Rumors from rebel sources still threaten us with a strong column from the south with artillery. My scouts are out endeavoring to obtain reliable information.
M. LA RUE HARRISON,
Colonel First Arkansas Cavalry, Commanding.
Lieutenant-Colonel BRUTSCHE,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dist. of S. W. Mo., Springfield, Mo.
...
HEADQUARTERS U.S. FORCES,
Fayetteville, Ark., November 13, 1864.
Maj. Gen. S. R. CURTIS,
Commanding Army of the Border:
GENERAL: Herewith I transmit to you my official report, in obedience to your orders. I have taken the liberty to extend it back to include the whole of the present campaign, believing that thereby I would be able to make it more satisfactory. Allow me to express my gratitude to you for your personal kindness to me from my first acquaintance with you up to the present time, as well as for the honor of commanding the advance of your army on the late march.
I remain, general, your most obedient servant,
M. LA RUE HARRISON,
Colonel First Arkansas Cavalry, Commanding.
...
HEADQUARTERS ARKANSAS TROOPS,
In the Field, Camp Sallisaw, November 10, 1864.
GENERAL: In obedience to your orders of the 8th instant, I have the honor to make the following report of the movements of my command as connected with the present campaign:
Shortly after the return of General Steele's Camden expedition Maj. Buck Brown returned to Northwestern Arkansas with a band of 180 marauders, which has since increased to about 500, and Colonel Brooks with 300, since increased to nearly 1,200 men. Brooks was appointed by Magruder to take charge of this district and to organize all the predatory bands into a cavalry brigade, to be commanded by himself. These bands during the summer have given Union citizens great annoyance, constantly plundering and driving them from their homes, until the rebel rule in the surrounding country has been for a time almost complete. Until lately they have been unable to effect anything against the troops here more than to annoy small foraging parties, mail-carriers, and telegraph repairers. The duties devolving upon my command (eleven companies of cavalry), which was the only one in a country 110 miles broad and 250 miles long, have been so arduous that with from 100 to 300 horses (the greatest number at any one time on hand during the summer and autumn) it has been impossible to carry mails to Cassville and Van Buren, fifty-five miles each way, to keep the telegraph in repair, forage for the post, escort supply trains, and at the same time do the amount of scouting necessary to keep the country rid of the roving bands of the enemy. Since the commencement of Price's raid these desperadoes had become more bold and seriously threatened for some time the post of Fayetteville and the Government supply trains. On the 20th of October, while I was passing with a train through Benton County from Cassville, Mo., with an escort of 170 men, I met and attacked 600 men under Buck Brown, who was awaiting my approach. The engagement lasted for over two hours, when the rebels were routed in confusion, with a loss of several killed and wounded. Before my arrival I learned that Brooks, with 800 men, was lying in ambush at Fitzgerald Mountain, and at midnight passed around his camp, leaving it five miles on my left, and arrived in safety with my train at 1 p.m. on the 25th. Brooks then invested the town of Fayetteville with his forces, expecting thereby to starve the garrison into submission, but in this he was deceived. By reducing my issues to seven ounces of bread per day I found that my stores would hold out for twenty days, and felt assured that ere that was exhausted assistance would come. My only trouble was forage. It was impossible to send out my train without the most imminent danger of its capture. I therefore procured gunny-sacks for each teamster and mounted man, and watching the safest opportunities sent out my men as often as possible under an experienced officer.
On the 27th Capt. D.C. Hopkins, commanding forage detachment, after procuring his supplies, was attacked by 500 men under Brown and fought his way into camp for five miles, occupying four hours in falling back, which he did in good order, without loss, though narrowly escaping, being attacked in his rear by 800 men under Brooks, who had gone to Brown's assistance. At sunrise October 28 Brooks occupied East Mountain and commenced an attack on my outworks. I immediately detached Capt. D. C. Hopkins and Capt. E. B. Harrison, First Arkansas Cavalry, with a dismounted force, who charged up the side of the mountain in face of a deadly fire from the enemy, and at the third attempt drove him from the summit, capturing his dead and wounded, together with quite an amount of forage and some small-arms. At 10 a.m. Brown attacked the west side of the works, but was repulsed with loss in about two hours; the whole engagement lasted from sunrise until noon, when the enemy retreated. Brooks' loss on the east was, by admission of the enemy, 12 killed and about 25 wounded, several mortally. Brown's loss on the west 11 killed and wounded. My own 2 mortally, I severely, and 4 slightly wounded. The enemy still hovered about, cutting off my communications and supplies, evidently with the hope of obtaining assistance from Price on his return, and it came at last. Early on the morning of the 3d of November a scout came into the garrison with the report that 8,000 rebels, with two pieces of artillery, under command of Major-General Fagan, were marching upon the town from Cane Hill. I found this report to be very nearly correct. Price detached Fagan with 5,200 men and two pieces of artillery, which force was joined on the march by 1,500 men under Brooks and Brown. They attacked my pickets and commenced bombarding the town with all their boasted chivalry, not giving me the least time to remove families (mostly their own at that) nor demanding a surrender. The bombardment was kept up with one 6-pounder rifled gun and one 12-pounder field howitzer until nearly sunset. Three times the order was given to charge the works, but each time the men on coming within range of my rifles shrank from the assault and fled to a safe position. At sunset the retreat of the enemy commenced and was continued during the whole night by divers routes, the majority, with the artillery, returning to Cane Hill; at sunrise on the 4th instant only about 600 remained to cover the retreat. By the admissions of the enemy and reports from prisoners their loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners was about 100 (over 75 being killed and wounded). My loss was 9 wounded--1 mortally, 8 slightly. The strength of my command during the engagement was 958 volunteers and 170 militia; total. 1,128. On the arrival of the Army of the Border I was ordered with my command to join in the pursuit of Price, and at 11 a.m. November 5 moved out in advance of the column, which post of honor I was permitted through the favor of the commanding general to hold until the close of the campaign (four days), when I watered the horses of my command in the Arkansas River and returned to this place, arriving on the 12th.
During the siege, which lasted from October 26 to November 4, ten days, the troops, both volunteers and militia, labored faithfully by day and several nights by torchlight upon the fortifications under command of Capt. H. C. C. Botchfuhr, First Arkansas Cavalry, to whose calmness and faithfulness as well as bravery much of our success is due. By all the officers and men of my command much credit is deserved for their zeal in carrying out my orders and their hearty co-operation.
I remain, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. LA RUE HARRISON,
Colonel First Arkansas Cavalry, Commanding.
Maj. Gen. S. R. CURTIS,
Commanding Army of the Border.