The Boonville Enquirer
Saturday, May 5, 1888

We see by the Enquirer that William T. RAIBOURN has announced himself as a candidate for the office of sheriff of Warrick county, subject to the decision of the county democratic convention.

Mr. RAIBOURN has been almost a life long citizen of Warrick county, and has at all time been an unswerving and faithful democrat, working for the good of the party and principles. But aside from that he has other good and strong claims upon the voters as a soldier in defense of his country.

Of his hardships and suffering no one can have any idea except those that shared the same fate. He was at Mattoon, Ills; when the call was first made for ninety day men, where he answered that call, and in the month of April 1861 he enlisted in the first company and regiment from that state, the 7th infantry. After serving ninety days he re-enlisted in August 1861, for three years, and Veteranized December 1863.

Was engaged in all battles fought by his regiment up to the 7th day of May 1864, when he was captured at Sweetwater or Shoals, near Florence, with thirty-one of his comrades and was taken to Andersonville, Ga., where he remained a prisoner for over ten months, when he was returned to Washington City to find his company completely torn up not having men sufficient to officer it; he was then sent to Louisville, Ky., where he was mustered out on the 9th day of July 1865, being one of the five of his companions who lived to return home out of thirty-one captured at the same time.

It was claimed that the life of the average soldier who was captured and incarcerated in that slaughter-pen at Andersonville, was only ninety-five days as shown by the reports of that prison. It certainly is a remarkable coincidence in the life of Mr. RAIBOURN and one that should lay claim to the voters of every soldier and citizen of Warrick county.

Last modified on Monday, March 05, 2001