William Mason Owens

By: Jaden delaConcepcion

William Mason Owens was a member of the 6th Regiment Virginia Cavalry as a part of the Confederate side during the U.S. Civil War. Based off the information of his census he was born sometime roughly within 1787 in Maryland. He later moved to Carthage Hancock, Illinois. There he had married his wife, Ann M. Owens, and had a daughter, Eliza C. Frys. On May 20, 1867 he was enrolled and enlisted in the 6th Regiment Virginia Cavalry as a private. Not much is known about how he died, but we do know that he died in Loudoun Heights Virginia on January 10, 1864 at the age of 77. Owens work within the Cavalry had supported the confederate’s side and helped contribute to the Civil War.

The 6th Regiment Virginia Cavalry was a cavalry regiment located in Virginia that served for the Confederates State Army during the American Civil War as a private. His wage was roughly around 11 bucks a month which would be enough to support his family back then. Their role within the war is like today’s security, to defend survey and protect the surroundings. In the cavalry, Owens was not called by his name Williams but instead was called by his middle name Mason. On the date Owens had died, a small battle had happened between the cavalries known as the Battle of Loudoun Heights. The battle was between the Union led by Henry A. Cole and the Confederate led by John S. Mosby. Owens was a part of the Confederates side It was a night raid led by the Confederate to invade the Union. Based on the event, Owens was one of the 4 men who were killed during the event. It is unknown how Owens was killed, but based within the scenario he most likely died during the night raid and was one of the people who were part of the front line during the raid due to his role as a private. The people who were raided on that night were known as Mosby’s Raiders. The invasion did not go as planned resulting in the Confederates to retreat.

Based on his date of death we can confirm that he had died during the Civil War due to the fact that it had ended on May 9, 1865. Owens was buried at Riverside Cemetery located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. There are many theories on why his daughters last name change to Frys but based on the age her parents we can conclude that Eliza had been remarried, but it is unknown who her husband could have been. His wife, Ann M. Owens never remarried and was 66 when her husband died at war. With his position in the cavalry, he was never promoted and died as a private within the cavalry. Even though he was killed in battle his death will never be forgotten as the retreat in the night raid against the Union helped develop the country the way it is today.

Works Cited

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BattleofLoudoun_Heights

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6thCavalryRegiment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6thVirginiaCavalry

https://www.fold3.com/browse/271/hAoZO-WDbkWEt5Uog2VZ5dSE0uetd6ZH8

https://www.ancestry.com

William Owens