William McKnight was an Ohio resident and American Civil War combatant. He was born in New Brunswick, Canada on July 2, 1832. His father was Thomas McKnight from Dumfrie Scotland and his mother was Jane McKnight, nee McMaster. McKnight appears in the 1850 Census as a sixteen year old resident of Rutland Township in Meigs County, Ohio, working in farming and living with his parents and siblings John, James, Mary and Samuel. McKnight married Samaria Braley of Langsville on March 8, 1855. They had six children: Leila, Thomas, Susan, Mary, and twins Martha and Myrta. McKnight later appears in the 1860 Census as a blacksmith. McKnight entered the army at age 29 on September 12, 1862 and was mustered in November 8, 1862 with Company K of the 7th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry (OVC) as 1st Sergeant. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on April 19, 1864. The 7th OVC was known as the "River Regiment" as most of the men were recruited from counties that bordered the Ohio River. From 1862 until McKnight's death in 1864 the 7th OVC was in Kentucky and Tennessee and a portion of the Regiment (not including McKnight) helped chase down Morgan's Raiders in Ohio. McKnight was able to make two visits home while he was in the cavalry. The first was in April 1863 and the second was in April 1864. McKnight's death occurred during the Battle of Cynthiana in Kentucky. His remains were returned to Meigs County, Ohio, and buried in Miles Cemetery in Rutland Township. The Ohio University Press published a book of McKnight's letters entitled Do They Miss Me at Home: The Civil War Letters of William McKnight, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
From the guide to the William McKnight Collection, 1862-1864, (Ohio University)
