Union assault on Ft. Pemberton.

[cowdensman]

I believe Willis' Texas Cavalry Battalion was at Ft. Pemberton,and my question is, "what companies were stationed there during the Union assault from March 12-19,1863?"

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

I think the general in charge was William W. "Old Blizzards" Loring... that doesn't directly help you, but I think the info you need is in Bearss' trilogy. I'll give it a look when I get home from the office if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

 

[cowdensman]

I think the general in charge was William W. "Old Blizzards" Loring... that doesn't directly help you, but I think the info you need is in Bearss' trilogy. I'll give it a look when I get home from the office if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

Thank you.....My ggrandfather,Pvt.Vernon H. Lockley,was in Co.A of Willis' Battalion and died March 16,1863.....I am trying to find out if he was in the fort when he died.....If Co.A was there at that time,then he probably was,too.....So far,all I've been able to find out is that he was on detached duty herding cattle for the company,was buried in Warren County,Miss and that he was 37 years old.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I'm glad you're still trying to solve this mystery !

Although the topic in this thread from the Texas in the Civil War message Board is after March 1863, it might contain some leads for you:

http://www.history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs62x/txcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?md=read;id=13146

 

[cowdensman]

I'm glad you're still trying to solve this mystery !

Although the topic in this thread from the Texas in the Civil War message Board is after March 1863, it might contain some leads for you:

http://www.history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs62x/txcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?md=read;id=13146

Thanks....Yes,I'm still trying to find something.....I appreciate your interest.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Let's see... Bearss mentions Waul's Texas Legion, the Pointe Coupee Artillery, the 31st Mississippi (Col. John A. Orr), Company A of 22d Louisiana (Lt. J. E. Lambert), the 2d Texas Infantry, and the 20th Mississippi Infantry on a quick lookover... any of those ring a bell?

 

[cowdensman]

Let's see... Bearss mentions Waul's Texas Legion, the Pointe Coupee Artillery, the 31st Mississippi (Col. John A. Orr), Company A of 22d Louisiana (Lt. J. E. Lambert), the 2d Texas Infantry, and the 20th Mississippi Infantry on a quick lookover... any of those ring a bell?

Willis' Cavalry Battalion was part of Wauls' Texas Legion at the time....There were 6 companies under Col.Leonidas Willis.....After Vicksburg,they detached from Wauls' and became part of Gen.Chalmers Division...

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

OK, let me dig in a little deeper on Waul's then; might be something to see there.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

hmm.. I'm not seeing a lot of company-level detail here so far. Is it a safe assumption you've already consulted the OR?

 

[DixieRifles]

This is a webpage I made fir Ft Pemberton.
My childhood home was about 15 miles north onthe bank of the Tallahatchie River--- a good place to have seen the Union flotilla pass by.

http://custermen.com/DixieBoys/FtPembertonOrg.htm

 

[DixieRifles]

I am anxious to find the answer to your Q. So I went to the OR's.
The first reference that I found was to "Waul's Texas Cavalry"---not Willis. But I can't find that reference now. I think it was dated several months after Fort Pemberton, but this may have been the name of this Texas cavalry for a period of time.

Here are some references that I found that relate to the Fort Pemberton and then one dated July after the fall of Vicksburg.

Drats--- I cut off the Union officer who signed it. James H. Wilson.

I wasn't aware that Col. Waul was captured at Vicksburg. I have highlighted General Stephen D. Lee because he was exchanged so fast that General Sherman had a fit and protested that General Lee broke his parole.
.

 

[cowdensman]

OK, let me dig in a little deeper on Waul's then; might be something to see there.

hmm.. I'm not seeing a lot of company-level detail here so far. Is it a safe assumption you've already consulted the OR?

No...I only know bits & pieces so far. I assume Willis' Battalion was at Ft.Pemberton and was represented as Wauls' Legion,but I'm not positive....As far as I know,when Willis' Cavalry became detached from Wauls' they moved on to Tennessee,and Wauls' went back to Texas...... I believe this occurred after Vicksburg fell. I'm not even sure if all 6 of Willis' Cavalry Companies went to Tenn.

 

[DixieRifles]

Ah! Here is the only reference to Willis in this volume of the OR's.
Note the date of the first OR and the last one. The name Willis Texas Cavalry seemed to have caught on. Also note this about the time that General Chalmers began collecting his cavalry command but it didn't really take shape until after the fall of Vicksburg and the conscription age was expanded.

 

[cowdensman]

I am anxious to find the answer to your Q. So I went to the OR's.
The first reference that I found was to "Waul's Texas Cavalry"---not Willis. But I can't find that reference now. I think it was dated several months after Fort Pemberton, but this may have been the name of this Texas cavalry for a period of time.

Here are some references that I found that relate to the Fort Pemberton and then one dated July after the fall of Vicksburg.

View attachment 117361

View attachment 117362
Drats--- I cut off the Union officer who signed it. James H. Wilson.
It's possible that Willis' Battalion was known as Wauls' Texas Cavalry....Wauls' Legion comprised of approx.2000 men of Infantry,Cavalry & Artillery....Maybe since the Cavalry was commanded by Col.L. Willis it was known as Willis Texas Cavalry Battalion only after they detached from the Legion. I know that after 1863 they were part of Gen Chalmers' Division in N.B.Forrests' Corp. and known as Willis Battalion.

View attachment 117364
I wasn't aware that Col. Waul was captured at Vicksburg. I have highlighted General Stephen D. Lee because he was exchanged so fast that General Sherman had a fit and protested that General Lee broke his parole.
.

 

[cowdensman]

Ah! Here is the only reference to Willis in this volume of the OR's.
Note the date of the first OR and the last one. The name Willis Texas Cavalry seemed to have caught on. Also note this about the time that General Chalmers began collecting his cavalry command but it didn't really take shape until after the fall of Vicksburg and the conscription age was expanded.

View attachment 117366

OK... It makes sense..... The name Willis Cavalry Battalion started to catch on as you noted....And they must have been at Ft.Pemberton as Wauls Cavalry under the command of Col.Leonidas Willis.....They became known as WCB about the time they were detached from Wauls' legion,and later became part of Gen Chalmers' Division, under N.B. Forrests' Corps. I appreciate this information...Thank you.

 

[DixieRifles]

I'm looking at the Unit Notes in Fold3 and I'm having a hard time finding Cavalry Company A.

Here is an entry for Field & Staff. From this and the entry for Artillery Company B and Infantry Company A, it seems that the entire Legion went to Fort Pemberton on this steamer.

 

[DixieRifles]

There are 208 cards like this---many of them are just 1-line entry. They have a card for the Officers of each Company.
From what I read, most of Company A of Cavalry Btn deserted in Jan 1865 and returned to Texas and continued to operate on their on.

 

[DixieRifles]

Here is card for Officers of Company A, Cavalry Battalion.

I would like to look through the files of the Officers and see if there is a document that details what was going on with them in 1863.

This is an explanation that is printed at the bottom of the card by the Archives. Sometimes this is accurate but other times it can be a little confusing.
Note: It says the cavalry broke off after Vicksburg but they were continued to be called Waul's Texas Cavalry for awhile.

 

[cowdensman]

There are 208 cards like this---many of them are just 1-line entry. They have a card for the Officers of each Company.
From what I read, most of Company A of Cavalry Btn deserted in Jan 1865 and returned to Texas and continued to operate on their on.

I'm looking at the Unit Notes in Fold3 and I'm having a hard time finding Cavalry Company A.

Here is an entry for Field & Staff. From this and the entry for Artillery Company B and Infantry Company A, it seems that the entire Legion went to Fort Pemberton on this steamer.

View attachment 117372

Most of Co A Cavalry deserted in Jan.1865 and went back to Texas...That's interesting..

 

[cowdensman]

Here is card for Officers of Company A, Cavalry Battalion.

I would like to look through the files of the Officers and see if there is a document that details what was going on with them in 1863.

View attachment 117373


This is an explanation that is printed at the bottom of the card by the Archives. Sometimes this is accurate but other times it can be a little confusing.
Note: It says the cavalry broke off after Vicksburg but they were continued to be called Waul's Texas Cavalry for awhile.

View attachment 117374

Capt.Joseph C.Rowland rings a bell.....I think I heard his name mentioned regarding my ancestor Vernon H.Lockley. I just can't remember what it was about. I see he was in Co.A. Wauls' Cavalry in 1863.