A year following the American Civil War, Covington moved to Texas, and there in 1876, he was elected to serve as the first district court clerk of the newly formed Camp County.

In 1838 William Covington was born in a two-story chestnut log home built by his relatives in 1799.

A few months later he rejoined his regiment, the 18th North Carolina Infantry (Lane's Brigade, Pender's Division, III Corps, Confederate Army of Northern Virginia).

Signing his parole on July 18, 1865, he was released and with one leg and a pair of crutches he made his way "walking" back to Spartenburg Dist.

Before arriving at home he met his older brother who had been shot through the neck and captured late in the war.