STEELE, William, soldier, born in Albany, New York, in 1819; died in San Antonio, Texas, 12 January, 1885. He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1840, assigned to the 2d dragoons, and served in the Florida war, the military occupation of Texas, and the war with Mexico, being promoted 1st, lieutenant, 9 May, 1846, and brevetted captain for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco. He was stationed in Texas from 1849 till 1852, being promoted captain, 10 November, 1851, and was then in New Mexico till 1854. From that time till the civil war he was chiefly in Kansas, Dakota, and Nebraska, taking part in several expeditions against hostile Indians. He resigned on 30 May, 1861, joined the Confederate army as colonel of the 7th Texas cavalry, and took part in General Henry H. Sibley's expedition to New Mexico. On its return he was made brigadier-general, 12 September, 1862, and in January, 1863, was assigned to the command of the Department of Western Arkansas and the Indian territory. He commanded at Galveston, Texas, in December, 1863, and had charge of a cavalry division in Louisiana in 1864, where he opposed the Red river expedition of General Nathaniel P. Banks. In 1867 he became a commission merchant in San Antonio, Texas, and for some time after 1874 he was adjutant-general of the state. In this office he did good service by procuring and publishing, at great pains and expense, lists of escaped convicts and other fugitives from justice, which he furnished to the sheriffs of the various counties in the state.