From: Confederate Military History Extended Edition.  Edited by Gen. 
Clement A. Evans of Georgia.  Wilmington, NC. Broadfoot Publishing 
Company, 1987; pages 208-209.

ADDITIONAL SKETCHES ILLUSTRATING THE SERVICES OF OFFICERS AND 
PRIVATES AND PATRIOTIC CITIZENS OF WESTERN VIRGINIA.

*CAPTAIN WILLIAM RICHMOND GUNN*

Captain William Richmond Gunn, of Point Pleasant, W. Va., a gallant
soldier of the Eighth Virginia cavalry throughout the war, was
born in Ohio county in 1832, but at the age of five years removed
with his parents to Mason county, his subsequent home. He entered
the Confederate service in June, 1961, as a private in the Eighth
Virginia cavalry, and subsequently organized a company for the
same regiment, of which he was appointed captain. In this rank he
served until the close of the war, at the time of the surrender
of the army being stationed on outpost duty at Lynchburg. His
career as a soldier was active and continuous, beginning with the 
early battle at Scary creek. Other engagements in which he 
participated upon West Virginia soil were those at Carnifex Ferry, in 
the fall of 1861; actions at Beverly, Loop creek and Guyandotte, and 
the engagements at Hurricane bridge and Point Pleasant, during the 
raid under General Jenkins, in March, 1863. He participated in the 
siege of Knoxville, Tenn., in the brigade of Gen. W. F. Jones, also 
the affairs at Rogersville and Powder Spring Gap, in the same State. 
In the latter encounter he was captured by the enemy, and was 
subsequently sent to Louisville, Ky., and thence was started under 
guard for Johnson's island.  But he made a daring escape while 
passing through Indiana, and after an exciting and romantic 
experience, succeeded in rejoining his command.  He afterward took 
part in the operations against Hunter near Lynchburg, and 
participated in the important battles of Winchester and Fisher's 
Hill, in the army under General Early.  After an experience in many 
campaigns and affrays with the enemy, such as characterize the career 
of a cavalry soldier, he returned to Mason county, and in 1872, 
entered upon the practice of law, having been admitted to the bar in 
1859.  He has taken an active part in political affairs, as a 
Democratic leader, and in 1879 was elected to the legislature.
 

(Linda Fluharty)