Golden Thread Hood's Texas Brigade

[Drew]

If I could only get one, it would be Lee's Grenadier Guard, the main history of the brigade. No luck so far, but that's all right.

I'll lend my copy if you like. PM me your name and address and off she goes...postage is not a problem...

Just promise you'll send her back...

 

[OldReliable1862]

I'll lend my copy if you like. PM me your name and address and off she goes...postage is not a problem...

Just promise you'll send her back...

Thank you for the very kind offer, but far too much can go awry when I'm involved! I'd hate to see your book be lost, damaged, or worse.

 

[Drew]

Thank you for the very kind offer, but far too much can go awry when I'm involved! I'd hate to see your book be lost, damaged, or worse.

Keep looking, you'll find a copy you can make your own. It's worth it.

 

[OldReliable1862]

I just recently got John F. Schmutz's two-volume history of the 5th Texas, and I was very pleasantly surprised to find they included signed bookplates, even though I hadn't specifically requested them! I'm up to June 1862, and I'm really liking the book so far.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

"VIRTUAL CEMETERY CREATED BY PAUL GILLETTE
1st Texas Infantry CSA Virtual Cemetery
A Civil War virtual cemetery of the 1st Texas of Hood's Brigade"

1st Texas Infantry CSA Virtual Cemetery: a Virtual Cemetery - Find a Grave

A Civil War virtual cemetery of the 1st Texas of Hood’s Brigade

www.findagrave.com

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

"A VIRTUAL CEMETERY CREATED BY THE STUBBS
CSA Hood's Boys 1st TX Inf"

CSA Hood's Boys 1st TX Inf: a Virtual Cemetery - Find a Grave

A curated virtual cemetery for names in CSA Hood's Boys 1st TX Inf: a Virtual Cemetery, a Find a Grave.

www.findagrave.com

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

 

[USS ALASKA]

A MYSTICAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY: HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE AND THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSIONS OF COMBAT SUCCESS IN THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
THESIS
Texas State University-San Marcos
Master of ARTS
Phillip Michael Sozansky, B.A.
San Marcos, Texas
December 2006
COPYRIGHT by Phillip Michael Sozansky, B.A. 2006

INTRODUCTION:
"THEY HAVE FOUGHT GRANDLY AND NOBLY"
Between 1861 and 1865, some 4,346 Confederate citizen-soldiers left behind their families, livelihoods, and home communities in east and central Texas and traveled to Virginia to serve as their state's sole representatives in the eastern theater of the American Civil War. Formally organized into the 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas Volunteer Infantry Regiments, these men comprised the rigid backbone of arguably the finest combat organization of its size to fight with any army, North or South: Hood's Texas Brigade. Named in honor of John Bell Hood, its most popular—and most effective— commander, this command regularly counted at least one formation of non-Texans on its rolls as well. Be that as it may, the brigade's ever-present Texas regiments not only constituted the bulk of its numerical strength throughout the war, they also provided its principal source of identity. Blossoming under Hood's steady leadership, the men and officers from the Lone Star state rapidly gained an incomparable reputation for battlefield heroics and ferocity under fire, martial qualities that elicited admiration from rank-and-file comrades and superiors alike in the rebel Army of Northern Virginia. In an after-action report written in late spring 1862, Major General Gustavus W. Smith declared: "In praise of the Texas Brigade of my Division, I could talk a week, and then not say half they deserve." A member of Major General D. H. Hill's staff, Major James Wylie Ratchford, also extolled the fighting abilities of Hood's troops, insisting their "very name was worth more in battle than two such brigades could have been without their well-deserved reputation." None other than General Robert E. Lee offered the weightiest tribute to the Texas regiments' record with the Virginia army, writing shortly after the Maryland Campaign of 1862: "I need them [additional Texas soldiers] very much. I rely upon those we have in all our tight places. . . . They have fought grandly and nobly, and we must have more of them. . . . With a few more such regiments as those which Hood has now, as an example of daring and bravery, I could feel more confident of the results of the campaign."

https://digital.library.txst.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/9f0e8097-862c-486f-8a79-54fdd228861f/content

Because of copyright, please use above link.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[bankerpapaw]

View attachment 131993
Hood's Texans by Mark Maritato

The Texas Brigade was organized on October 22, 1861, in Richmond, Va. It was initially commanded by Brig. Gen. Louis T. Wigfall and composed of the 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas Infantry regiments, the only Texas troops to fight in the Eastern Theater. On November 20, 1861, the 18th Georgia Infantry was attached to the brigade, followed by the infantry battalion of Wade Hampton's South Carolina Legion on June 1, 1862. The Georgians and South Carolinians were later transferred out in November 1862 and the 3rd Arkansas Infantry joined the brigade.

Wigfall resigned command on February 20, 1862, and on March 2, Col. John Bell Hood, commanding the 4th Texas, was promoted to brigadier general and placed in command. Hood would only command the brigade until fall of 1862 - when he rose to division command - but because of his courageous and resolute leadership throughout the Peninsula Campaign, and his popularity among the troops, Hood's Texas Brigade would forever bear his name.

The small band would see some of the hardest fighting in Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, taking part in nearly every major battle from the Peninsula Campaign to Appomattox, with the exception of Chancellorsville. They would gain a reputation as some of the best fighters in the army. In the Peninsula Campaign, summer of 1862, they saw their first battle at Eltham's Landing, where they held back a Union attempt to get around the army's flank. And at Gaines' Mill they made a famous charge, led by Hood in person, that broke through the Federal line. Those two actions were the Texans' first claim to fame.

Hood's Texans would go on to see action in the following battles and campaigns: Second Manassas; Fox's Gap at South Mountain; in the infamous Cornfield at Sharpsburg (Antietam); Fredericksburg; Siege of Suffolk; July 2 at Gettysburg on Houck's Ridge, in Devil's Den and up Little Round Top; Chickamauga in the Viniard Field; Chattanooga and Wauhatchie; the Knoxville Campaign; the Wilderness on May 6, including the famous "Lee to the rear" incident; Spotslyvania C.H.; North Anna; Cold Harbor; the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign; and finally Appomattox.

After Hood had risen to division command, Col. Jerome B. Robertson of the 5th Texas was promoted to brigadier general on November 1, 1862. Robertson commanded the brigade until late 1863, after which Brig. Gen. John Gregg was given command. Gregg led the Texas Brigade throughout the Overland Campaign and on into the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, where he was later killed in the brigade's last charge of the war in the battle of Darbytown and New Market Roads on October 7, 1864.

Of the estimated 5,300 men who served in the three Texas and one Arkansas regiments throughout the war, only 617 remained to surrender at Appomattox. The 1st Texas surrendered with 16 officers and 133 enlisted men, the 4th Texas with 15 officers and 145 enlisted men, the 5th Texas with 12 officers and 149 enlisted men, and the 3rd Arkansas with 15 officers and 130 men. (Note that these numbers vary slightly according to different sources.)

References:
Simpson, Harold B., Hood's Texas Brigade: Lee's Grenadier Guard (Waco, Texas: Texian Press, 1970)
Williams, Edward B., Hood's Texas Brigade in the Civil War (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 2012)

 

[Aaron Vinson]

Came across a section of William A. McClendon's account "Recollections of War Times" p.189-190, "There were six regular scouts in Hood's Division, that carried Whitworth Rifles. They were Texans, Georgians and one Alabamian, and he was from the 4th Regiment of Law's Brigade."

He later mentions 2 by name "Sergeant Champion, 4th Texas" and "Chandler, 1st Texas." It has been bugging me since I can find nothing on these men. I've found a William M. Chandler of the 4th Texas so perhaps he got those regiments mixed up. As for a Sergeant Champion, I've only found a Lorenzo Dowe Champion, 4th Texas. There was a Sergeant Alonzo D. Chaudoin, so maybe the names sounded similar.

Anyone more familiar with the Texas Brigade and its scouts could maybe reveal this information. Or information regarding the (possibly 2) whitworths used by the mentioned men.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

View attachment 131993
Hood's Texans by Mark Maritato

The Texas Brigade was organized on October 22, 1861, in Richmond, Va. It was initially commanded by Brig. Gen. Louis T. Wigfall and composed of the 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas Infantry regiments, the only Texas troops to fight in the Eastern Theater. On November 20, 1861, the 18th Georgia Infantry was attached to the brigade, followed by the infantry battalion of Wade Hampton's South Carolina Legion on June 1, 1862. The Georgians and South Carolinians were later transferred out in November 1862 and the 3rd Arkansas Infantry joined the brigade.

Wigfall resigned command on February 20, 1862, and on March 2, Col. John Bell Hood, commanding the 4th Texas, was promoted to brigadier general and placed in command. Hood would only command the brigade until fall of 1862 - when he rose to division command - but because of his courageous and resolute leadership throughout the Peninsula Campaign, and his popularity among the troops, Hood's Texas Brigade would forever bear his name.

The small band would see some of the hardest fighting in Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, taking part in nearly every major battle from the Peninsula Campaign to Appomattox, with the exception of Chancellorsville. They would gain a reputation as some of the best fighters in the army. In the Peninsula Campaign, summer of 1862, they saw their first battle at Eltham's Landing, where they held back a Union attempt to get around the army's flank. And at Gaines' Mill they made a famous charge, led by Hood in person, that broke through the Federal line. Those two actions were the Texans' first claim to fame.

Hood's Texans would go on to see action in the following battles and campaigns: Second Manassas; Fox's Gap at South Mountain; in the infamous Cornfield at Sharpsburg (Antietam); Fredericksburg; Siege of Suffolk; July 2 at Gettysburg on Houck's Ridge, in Devil's Den and up Little Round Top; Chickamauga in the Viniard Field; Chattanooga and Wauhatchie; the Knoxville Campaign; the Wilderness on May 6, including the famous "Lee to the rear" incident; Spotslyvania C.H.; North Anna; Cold Harbor; the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign; and finally Appomattox.

After Hood had risen to division command, Col. Jerome B. Robertson of the 5th Texas was promoted to brigadier general on November 1, 1862. Robertson commanded the brigade until late 1863, after which Brig. Gen. John Gregg was given command. Gregg led the Texas Brigade throughout the Overland Campaign and on into the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, where he was later killed in the brigade's last charge of the war in the battle of Darbytown and New Market Roads on October 7, 1864.

Of the estimated 5,300 men who served in the three Texas and one Arkansas regiments throughout the war, only 617 remained to surrender at Appomattox. The 1st Texas surrendered with 16 officers and 133 enlisted men, the 4th Texas with 15 officers and 145 enlisted men, the 5th Texas with 12 officers and 149 enlisted men, and the 3rd Arkansas with 15 officers and 130 men. (Note that these numbers vary slightly according to different sources.)

References:
Simpson, Harold B., Hood's Texas Brigade: Lee's Grenadier Guard (Waco, Texas: Texian Press, 1970)
Williams, Edward B., Hood's Texas Brigade in the Civil War (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 2012)

Interesting post.

 

[Scott1967]

Came across a section of William A. McClendon's account "Recollections of War Times" p.189-190, "There were six regular scouts in Hood's Division, that carried Whitworth Rifles. They were Texans, Georgians and one Alabamian, and he was from the 4th Regiment of Law's Brigade."

That's an expensive rifle for a scout like $16,000 in todays money are you sure they weren't sharpshooters? I doubt a scout would carry such a rifle only around 80-150 were imported.

Sam Watkins wrote that only the best shots were allowed to carry a Whitworth and these men worked on their own nobody could give them orders they went where they wanted and didn't do duties however that is the AoT not the AoNV but it might be all of the men mentioned were from different brigades and only told to attach themselves to Hoods Division.

 

[Aaron Vinson]

That's an expensive rifle for a scout like $16,000 in todays money are you sure they weren't sharpshooters? I doubt a scout would carry such a rifle only around 80-150 were imported.

Sam Watkins wrote that only the best shots were allowed to carry a Whitworth and these men worked on their own nobody could give them orders they went where they wanted and didn't do duties however that is the AoT not the AoNV but it might be all of the men mentioned were from different brigades and only told to attach themselves to Hoods Division.

they were sharpshooters, in October 1863 Longstreet's Corps was with the AoT and a special sharpshooting assingment was required during the siege of Chattanooga. With there being only 6 riflemen in a very large and isolated area the 4th Alabama was dispatched to support and also act as sharpshooters (just enfields) on Raccoon Mountain. Shooting from the riverbank would be around 600 meters but shooting from top of the mountain across the river about a mile. Maybe they had some to assign for this task.

 

[Drew]

Interesting post.

Interesting, but not consistent with the historical record as far as I can see. My GG Grandfather was an original and surviving member of Hood's Brigade and left a written account of the war. He enlisted May 10, 1861 at Linden, Texas and stated his first Colonel was Wigfall. How the latter organized the brigade at Richmond five months later is beyond me. GG Grand's pension records hold up the timeline and are witnessed by A.G. Clopton, the first Captain of the 1st Texas' Company D and also a War survivor.

There is record of a Thomas Chandler in the 19th Georgia who was in Northern Virginia with the ANV. If he was a crack shot and operating near the 18th Georgia (part of Hood's Brigade) it is possible he got "borrowed" into Hood's organization. Further homework would be necessary.

 

[Stryker65]

Interesting, but not consistent with the historical record as far as I can see. My GG Grandfather was an original and surviving member of Hood's Brigade and left a written account of the war. He enlisted May 10, 1861 at Linden, Texas and stated his first Colonel was Wigfall. How the latter organized the brigade at Richmond five months later is beyond me. GG Grand's pension records hold up the timeline and are witnessed by A.G. Clopton, the first Captain of the 1st Texas' Company D and also a War survivor.

The post is consistent with the historical record; Wigfall was appointed Brigadier General in the Confederate Provisional Army on October 21, 1861, to rank from the same date. Many, many colonels became brigadiers in the first six months of the war; Wigfall was the sixty-fifth officer to receive the rank.

 

[Bryce]

There were some really amazing brigades in Lee's Army that were cut off from the state they recruited from. That means they became very small. Somehow, though they maintained their morale throughout the war. One of these was the Texas brigade. Another was a Mississippi brigade that fought at Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865.

 

[Wizard of Cozz]

There were some really amazing brigades in Lee's Army that were cut off from the state they recruited from. That means they became very small. Somehow, though they maintained their morale throughout the war. One of these was the Texas brigade. Another was a Mississippi brigade that fought at Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865.

Hood/Robertson/Gregg TX Brigade
Law/Perry AL Brigade
Barksdale/Humphrey MS Brigade
Hays + Stafford/York LA Brigade(s)

Are the four that come to mind. They retained their high morale and hard hitting capacity even as they shrunk due to lack of reinforcements!

 

[Stryker65]

There were some really amazing brigades in Lee's Army that were cut off from the state they recruited from. That means they became very small. Somehow, though they maintained their morale throughout the war. One of these was the Texas brigade. Another was a Mississippi brigade that fought at Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865.

Always wondered why that MS brigade and Humphreys' MS brigade were never combined; it was probably because they were in different corps. The Louisiana brigades were combined, as is well known, and the Florida brigade was heavily reinforced in 1864.

Also, I would've thought that after the exchange of the Arkansas Post troops at City Point, they would have been merged with the Texas brigade.