12th Texas Cavalry Regiment

Last updated
12th Texas Cavalry Regiment
The fight at Blair's Plantation.jpg
At Blair's Landing on the Red River, the Confederates tried to stop a Federal flotilla without success.
Active11 September 1861 – 23 May 1865
CountryFlag of the Confederate States of America (1865).svg  Confederate States of America
AllegianceFlag of the Confederate States of America (1865).svg  Confederate States of America, Flag of Texas.svg  Texas
BranchBattle flag of the Confederate States of America.svg  Confederate States Army
Type Cavalry
SizeRegiment
Nickname(s)Parsons's Regiment
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders
William H. Parsons
Texas Cavalry Regiments (Confederate)
PreviousNext
11th Texas Cavalry 13th Texas Cavalry

The 12th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was enrolled in state service in September 1861 and in Confederate service the following month. The regiment fought at Whitney's Lane, Cotton Plant, and L'Anguille Ferry in 1862, Goodrich's Landing in 1863, and Blair's Landing and Yellow Bayou in 1864. The unit also participated in numerous skirmishes and scouts. It disbanded in May 1865.

Contents

Formation

Soon after the war started in April 1861, William Henry Parsons, a Waco newspaper editor, began recruiting men for a cavalry regiment. On 11 September 1861 the unit organized at Rockett Springs near Waxahachie as the 4th Texas Dragoons with Parsons elected colonel. On 28 October the regiment was mustered into the Confederate Army as the 12th Texas Cavalry. [1] The regiment enrolled approximately 940 men in 1861. [2] A number of Texas counties were represented as follows: [1]

Recruitment Areas of the 12th Texas Cavalry Regiment [1]
CompanyNicknameRecruitment Area
AHill County Volunteers Hill County
BFreestone Boys Freestone County
CJohnson County Slashers Johnson County
DBastrop Cavalry Company Bastrop County
EEllis Grays Ellis County
FEllis RangersEllis County and Parker County
GKaufman Guards Kaufman County
HEllis BluesEllis County
IWilliamson Bowies Williamson County
KEutaw Blues Limestone County

History

1862

Private Japhet Collins after enlisting with the 4th Texas Dragoons. He served in the war and was paroled at Brenham, Texas in September 1865. Private Japhet Collins, Confederate States Army) (5601052510).jpg
Private Japhet Collins after enlisting with the 4th Texas Dragoons. He served in the war and was paroled at Brenham, Texas in September 1865.

On 25 March 1862, Earl Van Dorn received an order from Albert Sidney Johnston to transfer his Army of the West to Corinth, Mississippi. Van Dorn proceeded to shift all available soldiers, ammunition, food, and weapons to the east side of the Mississippi River. [3] In May 1862, the Union Army of the Southwest under Samuel Ryan Curtis invaded eastern Arkansas and captured Batesville. Thomas C. Hindman, the newly appointed Confederate commander in Arkansas, was appalled to find almost no soldiers or military equipment to defend Little Rock. Hindman began improvising an army and a logistical base. Before Hindman's arrival, John Selden Roane started to detain Texas cavalry regiments as they crossed Arkansas headed for Memphis, Tennessee. [4] The 12th Texas Cavalry was one of the units appropriated to defend the state of Arkansas. [1]

Thomas C. Hindman Hindman, Thomas Carmichael, 1828-1868-full.jpg
Thomas C. Hindman

The regiment fought at the Battle of Whitney's Lane on 19 May 1862. [1] Before this skirmish, the local Union commander Peter J. Osterhaus reported to Curtis that Confederates and irregulars were harassing his division. At Whitney's Lane, the Texas cavalrymen surrounded a Union foraging party from the 17th Missouri Volunteer Infantry near Searcy. The Federals admitted losses of 15 killed, 32 wounded, and two missing; they claimed to have killed 18 Confederates. The Missourians complained that when they tried to surrender, their attackers yelled, "Damn you, we want no prisoners", and killed some of the Federal wounded. Curtis and Osterhaus called their attackers "armed bandits" and "outlaws" and threatened to shoot any prisoners taken. [5] Another source stated that 100 troopers of the 12th Texas under Major Emory Rogers plus 50 local militia attacked a group of Union foragers at the intersection of Whitney's Lane and the West Point Road a few miles east of Searcy. They claimed to have inflicted losses of 22 killed and 33 wounded on their enemies while capturing a surgeon and four ambulance wagons. The Confederates reported losing four killed and several wounded. [6]

The 12th Texas took part in the Battle of Cotton Plant on 7 July 1862. [1] Unable to march to Little Rock due to breakdown of his supply line, Curtis moved his army south down the White River. [7] He was opposed by Albert Rust with 5,000 Arkansas infantry and Texas cavalry. While crossing the Cache River, Curtis sent Charles Edward Hovey with 400 men and one gun to scout ahead. Near Parley Hill's plantation, the Federals bumped into 1,000 men from the 12th Texas and 16th Texas Cavalry Regiments under Parsons. After some fighting, the Texans gained the upper hand and forced part of Hovey's troops to retreat. But when the Texas cavalry galloped after their enemies, they were ambushed by three companies of the 33rd Illinois Infantry Regiment concealed in a cornfield. After a lull, 200 Union troops and two more cannons arrived as reinforcements to push back the Texans. Later in the day another Union brigade under William P. Benton appeared as additional reinforcements. Rust's troops withdrew behind another river and destroyed their boats. [8] One Texan wrote that the 12th Texas lost 14 killed, 20 seriously wounded, 16 slightly wounded, and two missing. [9]

The regiment attacked Curtis's supply line in the Battle of L'Anguille Ferry on 3 August 1862. [1] On 29 July, the 1st Battalion of the 1st Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry Regiment led by Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Hugh La Grange reached Marianna on the L'Anguille River. That same day, the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry under Major Henry S. Eggleston left Wittsburg with a convoy, heading south, and reached the L'Anguille Ferry near Marianna on 2 August. Eggleston's force included 130 troopers, numbers of escaped slaves, 27 wagons, and 100 seized horses and mules. At dawn, Parsons led 600 horsemen of the 12th Texas in a surprise attack on the Union camp. After a half-hour of heavy fighting, the surviving Federals scattered into the woods. The Texans inflicted losses of 17 killed, 40 wounded, and 25 captured. They made off with seven wagons and the livestock and burned everything else. Parsons reported that the 12th Texas lost two killed and 10 wounded. Later that day, La Grange rode to the rescue with 200 troopers, but the Texans were gone. [10] At this time four cavalry regiments were dismounted because there was not enough feed for the horses. This caused a number of cavalrymen to desert. [11] Because it had distinguished itself, the 12th Texas was allowed to remain mounted. Union soldiers began calling it the "Swamp Fox Regiment" because of its habit of traveling through swamps and attacking at night. [1]

Late 1862–1865

Thomas Green ThomasGreen.jpg
Thomas Green

In early September 1862, Parsons assumed command of an 1,110-strong cavalry brigade that included the 12th Texas and 21st Texas Cavalry Regiments, and Chrisman's battalion, according to one source. [12] A second source stated that the brigade consisted of the 12th Texas, 21st Texas, and 19th Texas Cavalry Regiments, and Joseph H. Pratt's 10th Texas Field Battery. [13] Parsons was replaced in command of the regiment by Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mullen, and after he resigned, by Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Bell Burleson. In 1863, the 12th Texas was transferred to northeast Louisiana to fight along with General John George Walker's Texas division, known as Walker's Greyhounds. [1] Walker's Texas Division was about 4,000-strong. [14] At the Battle of Goodrich's Landing on 29 June 1863, Parsons left Gaines Landing, Arkansas with the 12th Texas, 19th Texas, and 15th Louisiana Cavalry Regiments, and Cameron's Arkansas and Ralston's Mississippi Batteries. Parson's brigade surrounded a small Union-held fort and accepted the surrender of its garrison. The Confederates seized large amounts of supplies and burned the cotton that was accumulated in the warehouses. Parsons then drove off a few companies of the 1st Kansas Mounted Infantry. The next day, Union reinforcements under Alfred W. Ellet were landed and, after some skirmishing, Parsons withdrew. [15] After the Federals successfully concluded the Siege of Vicksburg, the regiment returned to Arkansas. [1]

The 12th Texas fought at the Battle of Blair's Landing on 12 April 1864 during the Red River Campaign. [1] After the Union defeat at the Battle of Mansfield on 8 April, the Union fleet reversed course and began to move downstream. Thomas Green took his cavalry division to Blair's Landing to intercept the Federal gunboats and transports as they descended the river. The Confederate forces claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on Union soldiers in the transports as they passed, but Green was killed by a shot from one of the gunboats. [16] Thomas Oliver Selfridge Jr., the commanding officer of the monitor USS Osage reported that the Confederates lined the high banks of the river and fired their rifles at the vessels as they passed within 100 yd (91 m). The Osage fired canister shot in reply, and when that was exhausted, the gun crews fired shrapnel shell with the fuses cut to one second. The battle lasted one hour and a half. Selfridge reported that everything aboard made of wood was riddled by bullets, and the armor plate of his ship's pilot house had 60 bullet marks in it, but his crew only lost seven wounded. [17] The Confederates reported negligible losses, except for Green, and about 50 Union soldiers on the transports became casualties. [18]

The 12th Texas continued to harass the retreating Federal troops and fought in the last action of the campaign at the Battle of Yellow Bayou on 18 May 1864. [1] In this final action, the Federals sustained 267 casualties while the Confederates lost 452. [19] The regiment then returned to southern Arkansas. In early 1865 it was ordered to march to Texas. On 23 May 1865 the 12th Texas Cavalry disbanded. [1]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Bailey 2011a.
  2. Oates 1994, p. 28.
  3. Shea & Hess 1992, pp. 288–289.
  4. Shea & Hess 1992, pp. 293–296.
  5. Shea & Hess 1992, pp. 298–299.
  6. Powers 2011.
  7. Shea & Hess 1992, pp. 299–300.
  8. Patrick 2018.
  9. Hanna 2008, p. 20.
  10. Honnoll 2016.
  11. Dimitry & Harrell 1899, p. 115.
  12. Oates 1994, p. 49.
  13. Bailey 2011b.
  14. Dimitry & Harrell 1899, p. 101.
  15. Civil War Talk 2017.
  16. Dimitry & Harrell 1899, pp. 146–147.
  17. Battles & Leaders 1987, pp. 363–364.
  18. Boatner 1959, p. 687.
  19. Battles & Leaders 1987, p. 360.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Prairie Grove</span> Battle of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War

The Battle of Prairie Grove was a battle of the American Civil War fought on December 7, 1862. While tactically indecisive, the battle secured the Union control of northwestern Arkansas.

The Battle of Whitney's Lane was a small, but psychologically important, land battle of the American Civil War fought on May 19, 1862, in north-central Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Cotton Plant</span> Battle of the American Civil War

The Battle of Cotton Plant also known as Action at Hill's Plantation or Action at Cache River or Action at Round Hill was fought during the American Civil War in Woodruff County, Arkansas. Frustrated in its attempt to march to Little Rock by a lack of supplies, the Union Army of the Southwest under the command of Samuel Ryan Curtis moved south down the White River. Curtis's army encountered a Confederate force led by Albert Rust on the east bank of the Cache River near Cotton Plant. Rust was only able to bring two Texas cavalry regiments into action. These horsemen attacked the Federal advance guard under Charles Edward Hovey, but after a spirited fight, Union reinforcements arrived and drove off the Texans. Rust's force made a disorderly retreat and Curtis's army was able to march south to Clarendon before veering east to occupy Helena on the Mississippi River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of St. Charles</span> 1862 battle of the American Civil War

The Battle of St. Charles was fought on June 17, 1862, at St. Charles, Arkansas, during the American Civil War. Earlier in 1862, a Union Army force commanded by Major General Samuel R. Curtis moved against Little Rock, Arkansas, but became bogged down in the Batesville area due to lack of supplies. The Union leadership decided to send a naval force from Memphis, Tennessee, up the White River to resupply Curtis's men. Major General Thomas C. Hindman, the Confederate commander in Arkansas, had fortifications constructed near St. Charles to stop the Union movement. Two artillery positions were built, and three ships, including CSS Maurepas, were scuttled to obstruct the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">33rd Illinois Infantry Regiment</span> Union infantry regiment during the Civil War

The 33rd Illinois Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment from Illinois that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. A number of the soldiers were college students and graduates, and for a time the regiment included a 17-piece band. The unit fought at Fredericktown in 1861, Cotton Plant in 1862, the Vicksburg campaign and Fort Esperanza in 1863, and at Spanish Fort in 1865. The original enlistees were mustered out in October 1864 while the veterans and recruits were mustered out in December 1865.

The 30th Arkansas Infantry (1862–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. This regiment was also called the 5th Arkansas Cavalry, the 5th Trans-Mississippi Regiment or 39th Regiment after April, 1863. This regiment was converted to mounted infantry for Price's Missouri Expedition in 1864 and was known as Rogan's Arkansas Cavalry. There were two regiments officially designated as the 30th Arkansas Infantry. The other 30th Arkansas served east of the Mississippi River and was redesignated as the 25th Arkansas Infantry.

The Battle of Van Buren was fought at Van Buren, Arkansas, on December 28, 1862, during the American Civil War. After defeating Confederate forces led by Major General Thomas C. Hindman at the Battle of Prairie Grove on December 7, 1862, Union forces under Brigadier Generals James G. Blunt and Francis J. Herron prepared for a raid against the Confederate positions at Van Buren and Fort Smith. Disease, lack of supplies, and desertion had previously forced Hindman to begin withdrawing most of his force from the area. Setting out on December 27, the Union troops struck an outlying Confederate cavalry unit near Drippings Spring, north of Van Buren, on the morning of December 28. The Confederate cavalry fled to Van Buren, which was then overrun by Union troops.

Reid's Arkansas Battery (1862), was a Confederate artillery battery that served during the American Civil War. Another Arkansas battery, the 1st Arkansas Light Artillery, a.k.a. the Fort Smith Artillery, was also once known as "Reid's Battery". Captain Reid had commanded the Fort Smith Artillery during the Battle of Wilson's Creek, but left that organization and later organized a second battery that is the subject of this article.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayou Fourche order of battle</span>

The Battle of Bayou Fourche saw Union forces under the overall command of Frederick Steele clash with Confederate forces led by Sterling Price near Little Rock, Arkansas. The only fighting occurred when Steele's cavalry commanded by John W. Davidson crossed to the south side of the Arkansas River and compelled the Confederate cavalry under John S. Marmaduke to abandon its defensive position behind Bayou Fourche. Price's outnumbered forces evacuated Little Rock and withdrew south to Arkadelphia. The Union occupation of Little Rock was the final action in a campaign that started on August 18 when Steele's troops marched west from DeValls Bluff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 9th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment fought at Round Mountain and Bird Creek (Chusto-Talasah) in 1861, Pea Ridge, Siege of Corinth, Second Corinth, Hatchie's Bridge and the Holly Springs Raid in 1862, and in the Atlanta campaign, Franklin, and Murfreesboro in 1864. The unit fought dismounted at Second Corinth and Hatchie's Bridge before being remounted as cavalry for the remainder of the war. The regiment surrendered to Federal forces on 4 May 1865 and its remaining personnel were paroled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 15th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of cavalry volunteers mustered into the Confederate States Army in March 1862 and fought during the American Civil War. In July 1862 the unit was dismounted and served the remainder of the war as infantry. The regiment was captured at Arkansas Post in January 1863. After being exchanged three months later, the much-reduced 15th Texas was consolidated with two other regiments and assigned to Patrick Cleburne's division in the Army of Tennessee. The consolidated regiment fought at Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Ringgold Gap in 1863. After a re-consolidation, the regiment fought in the Atlanta Campaign, and at Franklin and Nashville in 1864. After a final consolidation the troops fought at Averasborough and Bentonville in 1865. The regiment's 43 surviving soldiers surrendered to Federal forces on 26 April 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32nd Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 32nd Texas Cavalry Regiment, sometimes incorrectly named Andrews's 15th Texas Cavalry Regiment, was a unit of volunteer cavalry mustered into the Confederate States Army in May 1862 and which fought during the American Civil War. The regiment was formed around companies from Richard Phillip Crump's 1st Texas Cavalry Battalion which fought in Indian Territory and at Pea Ridge. Many of the soldiers died of disease in the unhealthy camps near Corinth, Mississippi. The cavalrymen were dismounted in July 1862 and served as infantry for the rest of the war. The regiment fought at Richmond, Ky., Stones River, and Chickamauga in 1862–1863, in the Meridian and Atlanta campaigns and at Nashville in 1864, and at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley in 1865. The regiment's 58 surviving members surrendered to Federal forces on 9 May 1865.

The Battle of Cotton Plant saw a 10,000-strong Union Army commanded by Samuel Ryan Curtis encounter a 5,000-man Confederate force led by Albert Rust. A Union advance guard commanded by Charles Edward Hovey did most of the fighting, repelling an attack by two Texas cavalry regiments led by William Henry Parsons. Union reinforcements under William P. Benton arrived and pressed the Texas cavalry and Arkansas infantry into a disorderly retreat. Curtis's army subsequently occupied Helena. Earlier in the campaign, Texas cavalry inflicted 49 casualties on a Union foraging party in the Battle of Whitney's Lane near Searcy on May 19, 1862. At the Battle of L'Anguille Ferry near Marianna on August 3, 1862 the Texas cavalry overran a Union wagon convoy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">16th Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 16th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers from Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was recruited in early 1862 and mustered into Confederate service in April 1862. The unit fought as cavalry at the Battle of Cotton Plant but it was dismounted in the summer of 1862. The 16th Cavalry served as infantry in Walker's Texas Division for the remainder of the war. The regiment fought at Milliken's Bend, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry. The unit marched to Texas in early 1865 and disbanded in May 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 3rd Texas Cavalry Regiment or South Kansas-Texas Mounted Volunteers was a unit of mounted volunteers that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment fought at Wilson's Creek and Chustenahlah in 1861, Pea Ridge, Corinth siege, Iuka, Second Corinth, and the Holly Springs Raid in 1862, Thompson's Station in 1863, and at Yazoo City, in the Atlanta campaign, and at Nashville in 1864. The regiment fought dismounted at Iuka and Second Corinth before being remounted for the rest of the war. The regiment surrendered to Federal forces in May 1865 and its remaining 207 men were paroled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">27th Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 27th Texas Cavalry Regiment, at times also known as Whitfield's Legion or 1st Texas Legion or 4th Texas Cavalry Battalion, was a unit of mounted volunteers that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. First organized as the 4th Texas Cavalry Battalion or Whitfield's Legion, the unit served dismounted at Pea Ridge and First Corinth. Additional companies from Texas were added and the unit was upgraded to the 27th Texas Cavalry Regiment or 1st Texas Legion later in 1862. Still dismounted, the unit fought at Iuka and Second Corinth. The regiment was remounted and fought at Holly Springs in 1862, Thompson's Station in 1863, and at Yazoo City, Atlanta, Franklin, and Third Murfreesboro in 1864. The regiment surrendered to Federal forces in May 1865 and its remaining soldiers were paroled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Louisiana Infantry Regiment (Confederate)</span> Military unit

The 3rd Louisiana Infantry Regiment was a unit of foot soldiers from Louisiana that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment distinguished itself at Wilson's Creek in 1861. The 3rd Louisiana fought at Pea Ridge, First Corinth, Iuka, and Second Corinth in 1862. The unit defended Vicksburg in 1863 where it was captured. At Vicksburg, the unit's fortification was twice blown up by powerful land mines. The surviving soldiers were paroled and exchanged, after which they performed guard duty for the rest of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Confederate mounted volunteers, American Civil War

The 6th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment fought at Chustenahlah in 1861. The following year the unit fought at Pea Ridge, First Corinth, Second Corinth, Hatchie's Bridge, and Holly Springs. The 6th Texas Cavalry participated in the fighting at Thompson's Station in 1863, the Atlanta campaign, and the Franklin–Nashville Campaign in 1864. The regiment formally surrendered to Union forces in May 1865 and its remaining soldiers were paroled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Missouri Field Battery</span> Unit of the Confederate States Army

The 1st Missouri Field Battery was a field artillery battery that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The battery was formed by Captain Westley F. Roberts in Arkansas in September 1862 as Roberts' Missouri Battery and was originally armed with two 12-pounder James rifles and two 6-pounder smoothbore guns. The unit fought in the Battle of Prairie Grove on December 7, as part of a Confederate offensive. Roberts' Battery withdrew after the battle and transferred to Little Rock, Arkansas, where Roberts resigned and was replaced by Lieutenant Samuel T. Ruffner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Missouri Sharpshooter Battalion</span> Military unit

The 9th Missouri Sharpshooter Battalion, also known as Pindall's Missouri Sharpshooter Battalion, was a unit that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The battalion was formed in late 1862, in compliance with an earlier authorization by the Confederate States Congress for each brigade to have an associated battalion of sharpshooters. When first formed, the men had no unique qualifications to serve as sharpshooters and were drawn from a defunct artillery battery, a partisan rangers unit, and infantrymen. The unit saw action at the Battle of Prairie Grove in December 1862.

References