Born in 1845, Campbell County, Virginia native William H. Magann enlisted with the “Campbell Rangers” on June 8th, 1861 under the command of Captain John D. Alexander. The “Campbell Rangers” were mustered into the 2nd Virginia Cavalry as Company I at Lynchburg on June 14th, 1861, and William was present as they made their way to Manassas Junction to join the rest of the Confederate forces forming there. William served with Co. I, “Campbell Rangers” through the entire war. He was present on every muster roll except when he was detailed to go to his home in Campbell County on April 3rd-19th, 1863, when he was sick in a hospital at Charlottesville, VA due to debilities (weakness) from March 10th-30th, 1864, and when he was admitted to the Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, VA due to scabies on March 4th 1865. William returned to duty on March 9th.

During the Appomattox Campaign, William and the 2nd Virginia Cavalry belonged Thomas Munford’s Brigade, Fizhugh Lee’s old Division commanded by Thomas Munford, Fitzhugh Lee’s Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. At the Battle of Five Forks on April 1st, 1865, the Virginians attempted to anchor the left flank of the Confederate battle line on the White Oak Road. However, when the entire US 5th Corps attacked their position and passed beyond the Virginians rear, William and the 2nd Virginia were forced to fall back. For the next couple days, the 2nd Virginia attempted to fend off attacks to the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia’s rear guard and gain information on the whereabouts of any Union army trying to complicate Lee’s march. On April 6th, the Virginians discovered a federal force trying to burn the High Bridge over the Appomattox River. Trying to protect and save the bridge, William and the 2nd Virginia charged the Yankees capturing almost the entire force. Lee’s army was only able to escape for a few more days after the Battle of High Bridge. On April 9th, the Confederate army found itself in a predicament. The Richmond Lynchburg Stage Road, Lee’s avenue of retreat and march, was blocked by Federal soldiers in their front near Appomattox Court House village. Lee ordered an assault to reopen the road. William and the 2nd Virginia were on the far right flank of that battle line over 10,000 men strong. The attack was initially successful, but when the Confederates ran into the Federal Army of the James, the assault started to stall and fall apart. Seeing the writing on the wall, William escaped the defeat with most of the Confederate cavalry, thus not being present for the surrender of Lee’s army at Appomattox Court House. Upon their arrival in Lynchburg and realizing further resistance would be futile, the 2nd Virginia Cavalry disbanded at the fairgrounds on April 10th. William then made his way home to Campbell County. A little more than a month later, he was officially paroled and received his paper pass at Campbell Court House on May 26th, 1865.