This is what I summarized from his service record:

Private William Y. Ritter -- enlisted 7/21/62 Gainesville, AL; on detached service 3-4/63 Haynes Bluff (near Vicksburg); 7-8/63 present in arrest (cause not stated); present at last official muster 8/64; further service unclear (aged 28 years at enlistment); from Dan McCaskill's MS CS Graves database: "Ritter, William Y. Born: Dec. 23, 1833, Itawamba County, MS. Pvt; Co. H, 43rd MS Inf. Buried: Union Cem., 6 mi NW of Tupelo, MS. Enlisted: Apr 30, 1862. Died: Apr 12, 1918, Belden, MS. Discharged: Apr 26, 1865. Confederate marker”

You can purchase a full set of his service records from the link at the top of this page.

Compatriot Scott Bell of Texas is currently writing a history of "the Camel Regiment." -- Jim Huffman, 43rd MS

PS: If you have letters, diaries, photos (esp. in uniform!), reminiscences, or newspaper accounts of William's wartime experiences, please contact me directly at huffman1234@bellsouth.net! Thanks!