William A. Garrison (b. ca. 1837) was a farmer from Greene County, Virginia. He cannot be located in the 1860 Census, but in 1870 Garrison and his wife, America (b. ca. 1835), and their four children were living next door to James Wilkerson, who is mentioned in the letters, as is another neighbor, James Sullivan. It is unclear what exactly what company and regiment he belonged to, although he appears to have been part of the Virginia brigade commanded by William Smith at the Second Battle of Winchester (June 13-15, 1863). The letters are written on captured stationary featuring a picture of the Union commander, Gen. Robert Milroy, whose forces were overwhelmed by the Confederates. In his first letter, Garrison describes feasting on captured provisions.