William A. Ryan was born around 1840 in Alabama to Martin and Nancy Ryan. His father was a merchant who owned $4,100 of real estate and $44,000 of personal property by 1860. The family moved to Travis County, Texas, sometime before 1860.

 

He joined the Confederate army, and on March 15, 1862, he mustered in as an adjutant in the 18^th Texas Cavalry. He was promoted to major in May 1862. Union forces captured him at the Battle of Arkansas Post on January 11, 1863, and he was exchanged three months later. Confederates consolidated the regiment with parts of the 17^th Texas Cavalry, the 24^th Texas Cavalry, and the 25^th Texas Cavalry. The consolidated regiment took part in the Battle of Chickamauga, the Atlanta campaign, and the Battle of Nashville. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in February 1864. The regiment surrendered as part of General Joseph E. Johnston’s Army of Tennessee on April 26, 1865.

 

He returned to Austin, Texas, after the war and earned a living as a merchant. He may have married a woman named Rosine. By 1870, the family owned $15,000 of real estate and $20,000 of personal property. He died on July 15, 1886.

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