William B. Gilliland (b. ca. 1825) was from Marshall County, Alabama and served in Co. E, 22^nd Alabama Infantry.  He was killed at the Battle of Chickmauga on September 20, 1863.  Most of the letters in his collection were written by Gilliland to his wife, Martha Jane (b. ca. 1830).  At the time of the 1860 Census the Gillilands were living on their small farm with their four children, Sarah J. (14), Nancy J. (12), John M. (10), and James M. (1).