Tejano Confederates

63rdOVI

Corporal
Joined
Dec 1, 2012
Location
Houston, Texas
Tejano Confederates are an interesting topic and important to Texas history, despite the short-shrift they can sometimes receive in Civil War circles and current society at large. Despite this, I just had the pleasure of introducing a friend of mine to his newly-discovered Tejano Confederate ancestors.

Last year, while discussing some new Civil War genealogical finds of my own over dinner with friends, one of my buddies was intrigued despite never showing any previous interest in the war. He is Tejano; Civil War ancestry is thus not a topic of discussion for many families of his heritage. I previously found that part of his family came from the Canary Islands to help found the village and now city of San Antonio in 1731; his family has been in Texas since that time.

After recently helping another friend find his Union and Confederate ancestors, my Tejano buddy finally piped up and joked about us having so many “rebels” in our family trees. I told him to be careful, because I hadn’t researched his family for Civil War ancestors yet, but he was dismissive about me finding any.

So…

Carefully proceeding upon my quest, I pinged one of his 2nd great grandfathers, who was born in San Antonio around 1840, and bingo! He was a private in Company C, 8th Texas Infantry, and his brother was a 2nd lieutenant in the same regiment. Downloading the service records of both men from Fold3, I provided them to my friend, and he was gobsmacked. He couldn’t believe that his family had been participants in one of the great defining moments in our country’s history. I looked at him wryly and simply said, “Welcome to the club!”

I love this kind of research.
 
Thanks for the suggestion, CMWinkler! I'll certainly check it out.


Report of Maj. Santos Benavides, Thirty-third Texas Cavalry.

HDQRS. LINE OF THE RIO GRANDE,
Carrizo, Tex., September 3, 1863.
SIR: I respectfully submit the following report:

On the evening of the 1st instant, I received an official communication
from the first alcalde of Guerrero, stating that a detachment of troops
from that town had been attacked and routed by a party of outlaws,
under lead of Zapata. I at once set out from this post with a part of
Capt. C. Benavides' company (H), and went to Clarion, and there
took a part of Capt. [Thomas] Rabb's company (D), and crossed the
Rio Grande, and went to the point where the Guerrero soldiers and
banditti had their skirmish, and, finding nobody there, took the trail of
Zapata's party, and followed it to within a short distance of Mier, when,
about 9 o'clock of the 2d instant, I found the camp of the banditti. I
directed the non-commissioned officers of Company H to select the
leaders of the banditti, all of whom were known to them, and without
delay attack the scoundrels. After a short fight they were all dispersed,
and on account of the thickness of the chaparral, and our want of
knowledge of the country, many escaped.

We found dead of the enemy 10, among whom were all the officers,
viz, Octaviano Zapata, who claimed the rank of colonel; Monico
Salmas, captain; Manuel Villareal and Guillermo Vino, lieutenants. The
balance were unknown to us. We fortunately suffered no casualties,
which was remarkable, for the camp was in the bottom of a ravine,
which our men were obliged to enter in single file, under a sharp fire
from the thieves.

My force consisted of 3 lieutenants and 39 men from Company H, and
2 lieutenants and 35 men from Company D.

The officers and men without exception showed great gallantry.
Lieut. [R. F.] Haskins, of Company D, especially distinguished
himself. Corpl. Natividad Hererra, of that after his carbine was
discharged, finding that there was danger of the escape of Zapata before
he could reload, attached him, and gave him his death-blow with the
butt of his gun, although Zapata had a loaded pistol and was firing at the
corporal all the time.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SANTOS BENAVIDES,
Maj. Thirty-third Texas Cavalry, Comdg.

Lieut. Col. WILLIAM O. YAGER,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., C. S. Provisional Army.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 284-41 W. FLA., S. ALA., S. MISS., LA., TEX., N. MEX. [CHAP. XXXVIII.
[Series I. Vol. 26. Part I, Reports & Union Correspondence. Serial No. 41.]

***********************************************************************************
 
We have some posts about various Hispanic Confederates. Gregorio Esparza's (Alamo defender) son was in the Confederate Army, and I know I had a thread on him in the last year. I have a poster in my classroom from the National Park Service (which I got through the Texas Historical Commission) about Hispanics and the Civil War.

Just like Germans and other ethnic minorities, they did serve (pleaseeeeee! no you-know-whos)
 
We have some posts about various Hispanic Confederates. Gregorio Esparza's (Alamo defender) son was in the Confederate Army, and I know I had a thread on him in the last year. I have a poster in my classroom from the National Park Service (which I got through the Texas Historical Commission) about Hispanics and the Civil War.

Just like Germans and other ethnic minorities, they did serve (pleaseeeeee! no you-know-whos)

SHHHHHH!!!
 
We have some posts about various Hispanic Confederates. Gregorio Esparza's (Alamo defender) son was in the Confederate Army, and I know I had a thread on him in the last year. I have a poster in my classroom from the National Park Service (which I got through the Texas Historical Commission) about Hispanics and the Civil War.

Just like Germans and other ethnic minorities, they did serve (pleaseeeeee! no you-know-whos)
Latino participation in the war is very much unknown. Not just Texas Confederates, but also New Mexicans in the Union army.

In looking over the roster of the Spanish company of the Garibaldi Guard, I found a number of Central Americans.
 
This book details two Tejano officers from San Antonio.

image.jpg


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005H0KGXY/?tag=civilwartalkc-20
 
Last edited:
Latino participation in the war is very much unknown. Not just Texas Confederates, but also New Mexicans in the Union army.
It's worth noting that many of those New Mexicans joined only because of yet another Texas invasion - and mustered out as soon as Sibley's invasion failed. Ultimately, the Civil War in New Mexico was just an excuse to fight one last battle over an issue of land that had been in contention for decades.

Unsurprisingly - considering the regional demographics and politics - the overwhelming majority of troops and officers were Hispanic.
 
It's worth noting that many of those New Mexicans joined only because of yet another Texas invasion - and mustered out as soon as Sibley's invasion failed. Ultimately, the Civil War in New Mexico was just an excuse to fight one last battle over an issue of land that had been in contention for decades.

Unsurprisingly - considering the regional demographics and politics - the overwhelming majority of troops and officers were Hispanic.
And of course, they were not U.S. citizens by birth.
 
Latino participation in the war is very much unknown. Not just Texas Confederates, but also New Mexicans in the Union army.

In looking over the roster of the Spanish company of the Garibaldi Guard, I found a number of Central Americans.

First New Mexico Infantry
New Mexico Territory
(3-YEARS)
First New Mexico Infantry. -- Cols., Ceran St. Vrain,
Christopher Carson; Lieut.-Col., J. Francisco Chaves; Maj.,
Arthur Morrison.

This regiment was organized at Fort Union and Santa Fe, N.
Mex., from July 1 to Aug. 13, 1861, and was mustered into the
U. S. service for three years. The officers and men not
selected for retention in service were mustered out May 31,
1862, and the remaining members were consolidated with
portions of the 2nd, 4th and 5th N. Mex. infantry to form a
new regiment, designated the 1st N. Mex. cavalry (q. v.).

The regiment formed a part of the force gathered at Fort Craig
by Col. Canby to oppose the advance of Sibley's brigade of
Texans, which had entered New Mexico by way of El Paso early
in Jan., 1862. Under the gallant Col. Carson it rendered
effective service at the battle of Valverde, losing 1 killed,
1 wounded, and 11 missing.

Eight companies participated in the action, and in the latter
part of the battle assisted in supporting Hall's battery on
the right of the Union line. In a furious attempt of the
enemy to capture the battery the 1st poured in a well directed
fire at short range which materially assisted in driving the
enemy in confusion from that part of the field and the guns
were saved. When at the close of the long and bloody
engagement the order was given to retreat and recross the Rio
Grande, the movement was executed in good order.

The regiment, together with detachments of the 2nd and 4th,
garrisoned Fort Craig until after the final defeat and retreat
of Sibley's forces in April, 1862. At the end of May, 1862,
the original 1st infantry ceased to exist as a separate
organization as above stated.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 457


P2360171.gif


Christopher Houston Carson

Residence was not listed; 51 years old.

Enlisted on 7/25/1861 as a Lieut Colonel.

On 7/25/1861 he was commissioned into Field & Staff NM 1st Inf (Old)
He was transferred out on 5/31/1862

On 5/31/1862 he was commissioned into Field & Staff NM 1st Cavalry
He was transferred out on 10/8/1866

On 10/8/1866 he was commissioned into Field & Staff NM 1st Battn Cavalry
He was Mustered Out on 11/22/1867


Promotions:
* Colonel 9/20/1861
* Brig-General 3/13/1865 by Brevet
* Lt Colonel 10/8/1866


Other Information:
born 12/24/1809 in Richmond, KY
died 5/23/1868 in Fort Lyon, CO
Buried: Kit Carson Cemetery, Taos, NM

(GAR Post #42, Albion, NE was named in honor of this soldier)

- Index to Compiled Military Service Records
- Official Army Register of the Volunteer Force 1861-1865
- Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903
- Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue
- Research by Brian Heintzelman
 
And of course, they were not U.S. citizens by birth.
That didn't matter much; most of the residents of the region considered themselves citizens of New Mexico, and that's about it. When essentially ignored for over two-and-a-half centuries by three different national governments, people tend to be apathetic to national concerns.
 
I though National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep. 15 to Oct. 15) might be good opertunity to remind everyone that Hispanics have not only been loyal citizens for a very long time, but are a diverse people. People of Hispanic heritage fought for both the North and the South which demonstrates that they are a diverse people who are willing to fight for what they believe to be right.
 
Latino participation in the war is very much unknown. Not just Texas Confederates, but also New Mexicans in the Union army.

In looking over the roster of the Spanish company of the Garibaldi Guard, I found a number of Central Americans.

Hi Nathan, I was overjoyed about 10 years ago while doing a civil war ancestor research event in San Francisco Bay Area.

A Hispanic woman came into my research seminar and had a few names of great grand uncles and great grandfathers

I researched them and was able to tell her and show her that her ancestors were at the Battle of Glorieta Pass, New Mexico serving in the New Mexico Union cavalry, a very very rare occurrence

Information and detail is very sparse on these guys.
 
Back
Top