Great-grandfather of Gail Roche

Private    Co. H    64th IL Infantry

Dates of Service:  3 Mar 1864 - 10 Oct 1864

William G. Buckler was born about 1812 to Richard and Janet (Thompson) Buckler in Kentucky. 

In 1837, William married Lavina Mattingly and to that union were born nine children. Two of their sons, Green B. Buckler and William M. Buckler, also served in the American Civil War. 

William G. Buckler joined the Union Army on December 20, 1863 at Paris, Illinois, volunteering to serve his country for a period of 3 years. He was 52 years old, 5' 11" tall, had gray hair, black eyes, a dark complexion and was a farmer by trade. Buckler mustered in on March 3, 1864, when Company H of the 64th Illinois Infantry was formed. He was a member of Yates Sharpshooters and served in Georgia campaigns. Seven months later, on October 10, 1864, William died of disease at Marietta, Georgia, just before the beginning of Sherman's "March to the Sea".

Source: Illinois Civil War Muster and Description Rolls

On July 1, 1865, his widow, Lavina Buckler, applied for and was granted a widow's pension for her husband's service in the Civil War.