Born in Limestone County, Alabama, in 1843, printer William Inman joined Company H, Phelps’ Regiment, Missouri Infantry, on December 19, 1861, at Rolla, Missouri. Mustered into service on December 27, Private Inman was promoted to sergeant in early 1862, then to sergeant major on March 10, 1862. He was mustered out of service on May 13, 1862.

Inman then joined Company A, 8th Missouri Cavalry as a private on July 4, 1862, and was mustered into service on July 29, 1862. Soon named the adjutant of the regiment’s first battalion, Inman was promoted to second lieutenant in Company K in October 1862, then to first lieutenant in March 1863, and to captain that July.

The 8th Missouri Cavalry fought in the Battle of Prairie Grove, the Little Rock campaign, and the 1864 operations against General Joseph Shelby north of the Arkansas River.

Inman resigned from the army in September 1864, citing the fact that his family was “situated in South Western Missouri a section of country very much devastated by the frequent encroachments of guerrillas and bushwhackers,” making it “imperatively necessary” that he provide for them.

Inman died in Colfax, Washington, on August 11, 1924.

Carte-de-Visite, photographer unknown.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 12001