Military Data: Enrolled in the 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry on November 16, 1862, Co. K with Capt. Harry Ford; later transferred to Co. B. Discharged: September 15, 1865, at Louisville, KY. William also fought with the 29th Inf. Reg. VA, Co. G (Confed.). Conscripted March 27, 1862, deserted/dropped January 15, 1863. Neighbors James Burk and William Swords, Sr. of Island Creek, Pike County, KY testified on his behalf on December 3, 1895: "Everyone old and young in [our] neighborhood was frightened and run away from home by reports that was sent ahead of the Federal Army and he [William Compton] was forced to join the confederated army and to our knowledge he was commanded to enlist in said army."

Family Data: Born: November 15, 1827, in Russell Co., Va. Died: March 4, 1904, in Dassel, MN; buried in the Dassel Cemetery. He was 5'9" tall, had a red complexion, black hair, and blue eyes. Wife: Mary Swords, married April 6, 1851, by George Powell in Pike County. Children: They had sixteen children. Residences: Russell Co., Va.; Pikeville, Pike County, KY; Island Creek, Pike Co., KY. In 1901 moved to Meeker Co., MN. Known as "Uncle Billy of Island Creek."

Illness: December, 1861, he contracted heart disease and rhuematism from exposure. He was treated at the hospital at Peach Orchard, KY, some time in December, 1862, until January 1, 1863. James Burk testified, "At the time of the boat fight we had to run to make our escape and had to walk the river and claiment was immediately taken sick." William Swords, Sr., said, "He had to walk the river to keep from being captured [which] was the cause of his illness. James Bellitter of Island Creek, "By about February 1890, he came down with fever, lost use of right arm and walks in a hobbling bent over way."

Enlisted on 11/16/1862 at Peach Orchard, KY as a Private. On 2/16/1863 he mustered into "K" Co., KY 39th Infantry. He was mustered out on 9/15/1865 at Louisville, KY. Intra Regimental Company Transfer from Company K to Company B. Veteran applied for (474,047) and received (821,004) an invalid pension in 1883 as a resident of Kentucky. Widow, Mary, applied for (805,904) and received (626,393) a pension in 1904 as a resident of Minnesota. (www.civilwardata.com; www.ancestry.com; Report of the Adjutant General of Kentucky)