Looking for a start

[Locke]

Sorry if this isn't the best place. I'm new to researching CW and I'm looking for a good start.
I was hoping to be directed to a few good books on Texas Cavalry units. More of a broad view first before narrowing down on a particular unit. I have read a few general cavalry books but not anything on Texas Cav. Most of what I find is on a specific unit and many of those are filled with obvious male bovine excrement. I'd like to avoid those. I do have a soft spot for first hand accounts.
Any suggestions?

 

[Stone in the wall]

Might try "Texans in the Confederate Cavalry"-Ann J Bailey probably worth a shot at less than $15 (1998)

 

[DixieRifles]

Okay, I know you didnt ask for this but keep this info handy for when you need it.
My cousin wrote this book using a soldier's letters he wrote.

"Riding With the 19th Texas Cavalry in the War West of the Mississippi: 1862-1865", by Gary C. Cole.

 

[Locke]

Might try "Texans in the Confederate Cavalry"-Ann J Bailey probably worth a shot at less than $15 (1998)

Okay, I know you didnt ask for this but keep this info handy for when you need it.
My cousin wrote this book using a soldier's letters he wrote.

"Riding With the 19th Texas Cavalry in the War West of the Mississippi: 1862-1865", by Gary C. Cole.

Both of those are the kinds of things I'm looking for! Awesome! I'm getting both now.
DixieRifles that book your cousin wrote looks interesting. I'm looking forward to reading it.

I've ordered both of them and a couple of others.
Spartan Band: Burnett's 13th Texas Cavalry in the Civil War
Horse Sweat and Powder Smoke: The First Texas Cavalry in the Civil War

That should be a good start for the next couple of weeks. I'm open to more suggestions.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Confederate Cavalry West of the River by Stephen B. Oates is a good general overview.
All Afire to Fight: The Untold Tale of the Civil War's Ninth Texas Cavalry deals with a Texas regiment east of the river.
The Ragged Rebel: A Common Soldier in W. H. Parsons' Texas Cavalry, 1861-1865 is based on a first-person account.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Ah, an interesting search. Here's some I'd suggest:

From Desert to Bayou: The Civil War Journal and sketches of Morgan Wolfe Merrick

Rebel Private Front and Rear: Memoirs of a Confederate Soldier by William A. Fletcher
(He was infantry and cavalry, 8th Texas Cavalry to be specific)

1491 Days in the Confederate Army by W.W. Heartsill

There's many more, this site has a long list of Cavalry memoirs in general with Texan ones listed:

CS Diaries & Reminiscences

CONFEDERATE SOLDIER DIARIES & VETERAN’S REMINISCENCES The following is a list of published diaries and reminiscences by soldiers that saw service in the mounted units of Confederate caval…

confederatesaddles.com

 

[Stone in the wall]

Don't forget about Terrell's Texas Cavalry.

 

[DixieRifles]

While searching for another regiment, I looked at the Appendix to "Campaigns of General N B. Forrest" by Jordan and Pryor.
He has a table for each regiment with names of officers. He included some Texas regiments---I guess they served with him under Colonel Sul Ross.
This is a clip of the two pages that include info on FIVE Texas regiments. So if they are listed in this Appendix, I would expect you can find some history about them in this book.

 

[Locke]

Ooooooooh. Alright! This is perfect! It'll give me a good summer research project. I'm saving these posts so I can find them easier. Those memoirs are promising. Thank you all so much.

 

[RedRover]

Here are some accounts online:

Online Books; Texas Cavalry, CSA

 

[Locke]

Okay, I know you didnt ask for this but keep this info handy for when you need it.
My cousin wrote this book using a soldier's letters he wrote.

"Riding With the 19th Texas Cavalry in the War West of the Mississippi: 1862-1865", by Gary C. Cole.

DixieRifles, your cousin's book arrived a little bit ago. I'll start reading it tonight. I hope he won't mind me marking up his work. I tend to take notes as I read. Looks promising from the first few pages.

 

[DixieRifles]

I hope he won't mind me marking up his work. I tend to take notes as I read. Looks promising from the first few pages.

I would like to hear how you liked it. I will pass it along to him.

 

[Locke]

I'll let you know. I'm starting on it here as soon as I get settled in. Hard to stop moving only to get going again.