William Montrose Graham, son of James Duncan and Charlotte Graham (sister of Gen. George G. Meade) was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1855. By 1861 he had attained the rank of captain. He served through the civil war as an officer in the regular army. He was brevetted major, July 1, 1862, for gallant and meritorious services during the Peninsular campaign; lieutenant-colonel, Sept. 17, 1862, for gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Antietam; colonel July 3, 1863, for gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Gettysburg; and brigadier-general, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services in the field during the war. He was made colonel of the 2d District of Columbia volunteers, April 7, 1865, and mustered out of the volunteer service, Sept. 12, 1865. He continued to serve until he was retired as Brigadier General at age 64 in 1898 after serving in the Spanish American War.