Walker's Texas Division: Unit Strength

[Luke Freet]

I am looking up information regarding the Texas Greyhound Division. In particular trying to divulge its combat/unit/effective strength in and between the Vicksburg and Red River Campaigns.
According to the wiki page on the Battle of Young's Point, Hawes' Brigade had 1400 men. According to battlefield.org's page on Milliken's Bend, McCulloch's brigade numbered 1500 men. I believe reading somewhere that the division numbered around 3,000 men at Mansfield, though I can't remember where I found this.
I am not entirely sure if these numbers are accurate beyond close estimation. If there is an O.R. report I missed or if there is a source out there that gives approximate numbers, it would be a massive help.

 

[NedBaldwin]

I am looking up information regarding the Texas Greyhound Division. In particular trying to divulge its combat/unit/effective strength in and between the Vicksburg and Red River Campaigns.
According to the wiki page on the Battle of Young's Point, Hawes' Brigade had 1400 men. According to battlefield.org's page on Milliken's Bend, McCulloch's brigade numbered 1500 men. I believe reading somewhere that the division numbered around 3,000 men at Mansfield, though I can't remember where I found this.
I am not entirely sure if these numbers are accurate beyond close estimation. If there is an O.R. report I missed or if there is a source out there that gives approximate numbers, it would be a massive help.

The numbers i have seen for Mansfield are a little higher. There are references to Taylor having 7,000 infantry (Walker + Polignanc, for example OR 34-2 pge 1042) at the start of the campaign and I have read that Polignac's division was small (~2,500)

In May 1864, Kirby Smith claimed that Walker's division was about 4,500 (OR 34-1 pge 538), and this was after the battles of the Red River campaign though I believe it had picked up an additional regiment (3rd Texas) that it did not have before the campaign

 

[NedBaldwin]

I am looking up information regarding the Texas Greyhound Division. In particular trying to divulge its combat/unit/effective strength in and between the Vicksburg and Red River Campaigns.
According to the wiki page on the Battle of Young's Point, Hawes' Brigade had 1400 men. According to battlefield.org's page on Milliken's Bend, McCulloch's brigade numbered 1500 men. I believe reading somewhere that the division numbered around 3,000 men at Mansfield, though I can't remember where I found this.
I am not entirely sure if these numbers are accurate beyond close estimation. If there is an O.R. report I missed or if there is a source out there that gives approximate numbers, it would be a massive help.

I also recall reading that sickness had really reduced its size during Vicksburg summer but that it rested and recovered during early months of 1864.

There is a book out there written by a veteran of the division which recounts all its movements. I found it years ago free on the web but cant remember it right now. Would be a good source to find

 

[Luke Freet]

The numbers i have seen for Mansfield are a little higher. There are references to Taylor having 7,000 infantry (Walker + Polignanc, for example OR 34-2 pge 1042) at the start of the campaign and I have read that Polignac's division was small (~2,500)

In May 1864, Kirby Smith claimed that Walker's division was about 4,500 (OR 34-1 pge 538), and this was after the battles of the Red River campaign though I believe it had picked up an additional regiment (3rd Texas) that it did not have before the campaign

The 3rd Texas was ordered to join the division March 13th 1864. It arrived at Shreveport just as the division was marching north to take part in the Camden Campaign and the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry.
In October of 1862, the 3rd Texas numbered 648 men. However, according to AUG on a thread regarding the regiment, in November of 1863, with morale dropping from lack of combat action, loss of discipline due to the absence of Col. Phillip Luckett and both the Ltc. and Major out sick, men sent out on Furlough, and illness racking the regiment, the regiment numbered just 265 men. I presume it improved once some of the sick recovered and furloughed soldiers returned by the time it joined the Greyhounds, however, i am not sure how much. Whatever strength the unit was at, it was assigned to Scurry's brigade to boost his brigade's strength after the Red River Campaign. Presuming this means that it was rather large compared to the other regiments in Scurry's brigade at least.

 

[NedBaldwin]

I am looking up information regarding the Texas Greyhound Division. In particular trying to divulge its combat/unit/effective strength in and between the Vicksburg and Red River Campaigns.
According to the wiki page on the Battle of Young's Point, Hawes' Brigade had 1400 men. According to battlefield.org's page on Milliken's Bend, McCulloch's brigade numbered 1500 men. I believe reading somewhere that the division numbered around 3,000 men at Mansfield, though I can't remember where I found this.
I am not entirely sure if these numbers are accurate beyond close estimation. If there is an O.R. report I missed or if there is a source out there that gives approximate numbers, it would be a massive help.

Departmental Strength Return from November 1863 puts Walker's PDF at 4,253 (OR ser1, V26, part2 pg 465)

 

[Phil McBride]

I also recall reading that sickness had really reduced its size during Vicksburg summer but that it rested and recovered during early months of 1864.

There is a book out there written by a veteran of the division which recounts all its movements. I found it years ago free on the web but cant remember it right now. Would be a good source to find

The book you are thinking of may well be Blessington's history of Walker's Greyhounds. It 's a great read.