Benjamin L. Bowen's :
The Exploits of Waul's Texas Legion Table of Contents.
" It was a tornado of iron on our left, a hurricane of shot on our right. We passed through the mouth of hell.
Every third man fell, either killed or wounded."The 21st Iowa's Regimental Adjutant George Crooke recalling a battle with soldiers of Waul's Legion at Vicksburg.
The Bowen family web presents this compilation of records and information pertaining to Waul's Texas Legion. If you have information concerning Waul's Legion, particularly that which specifies personal accounts, locations or dates please forward it to me for prompt inclusion into this record.
My ancestor William M. Bowen [ link ] of Caldwell County, Texas served with Waul's Texas Legion's cavalry from January,1862 through the end of the war October/November 1864.
Waul's Texas legion :
A record of events.Waul's Legion completed its organization at Brenham, Texas, during the summer of 1862. It contained a cavalry battalion and an infantry regiment. However, the legion did not serve as one command. The cavalry battalion contained six companies, later increased to seven. It served in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, skirmished in Mississippi, then fought with Forrest in Western Tennessee and Kentucky. The unit returned to Mississippi, saw action in Hood's operations in Northern Georgia, and ended the war in Alabama. In October, 1863, it had 450 men present, but few surrendered with the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. The field officers were Lieutenant Colonel L. Willis; and Majors H. S. Parker, John R. Smith, and Benjamin F. Weeks.
The infantry regiment contained twelve companies and served in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. It fought in the Vicksburg Campaign and was captured on July 4, 1863. Here the unit reported 47 killed, 190 wounded, and 8 missing of the 381 engaged. After being exchanged and reorganized in Texas, it was stationed at Galveston attached to the Trans-Mississippi Department. In December, 1864, the regiment had 14 officers and 204 men, and in April, 1865, totalled 315 effectives. During May it disbanded. The field officers were Colonels Barnard Timmons and Thomas N. Waul; Lieutenant Colonels O. Steele and James Wrigley; and Majors E. S. Bollong, Allen Cameron, and Otto Nathusius.
Waul's Texas Legion organization
A legion is a military unit composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery components. Waul's Texas Legion, the only true legion of Texas troops in the Confederate States army, was raised in and around Brenham in spring of 1862 by Thomas Neville Waul. It originally consisted of twelve companies of infantry, six companies of cavalry, and a six-gun battery of field artillery with a total complement of 2,000 men.
Cavalry battalion [Willis' battalion]
Organized six companies (later seven) but owing to the difficulty associated with commanding mixed arms, in 1862 Waul's Texas legion was stripped of its cavalry and artillery components.
The cavalry battalion was first led by Lt. Col. Leonodias Willis and the artillery battery by Capt. William Edgar.
Waul's Texas Legion Cavalry (Battalion) was attached to Col. Robert McCulloch's 1st Brigade of Brig. Gen. James R. Chalmers' 5th Military District (headquartered at Panola, MS), Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Department of the West and was commanded by Col. Leonidas Willis. They were not at Vicksburg [Refer to Edwin Bearss' The Vicksburg Campaign, Volume III, page 1144.] after capture at Vicksburg, the legion was exchanged and re-organized in Texas the Cavalry Battalion became known as Willis' Battalion Texas Cavalry.
It served in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, skirmished in Mississippi, then fought with Forrest in Western Tennessee and Kentucky. The unit returned to Mississippi, saw action in Hood's operations in Northern Georgia, and ended the war in Alabama. In October, 1863, it had 450 men present, but few surrendered with the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. The field officers were Lieutenant Colonel L. Willis; and Majors H. S. Parker, John R. Smith, and Benjamin F. Weeks.
Infantry regiment
The infantry regiment contained twelve companies and served in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana.
The first infantry battalion was originally commanded by Lt. Col. Barnard Timmons and the second by Lt. Col. James Wrigley.
The legion was assigned first to Arkansas and Louisiana. There, In October 1862 the infantry companies were transferred to Mississippi and reorganized into two battalions of six companies each.
Wauls Texas Legion consisting of the 1st Battalion Infantry Commanded by Maj. Eugene S. Bolling, the 2nd Battalion Infantry Commanded by Lt. Col. James Wrigley an Artillery Company Commanded by Capt. J. Q. Wall and a
Cavalry Detachment Commanded by Lt. Thomas L. Cleveland. were raised , equipped and commanded by Col. Thomas N. Waul and were attached to Gen. John C. Pemberton's Army of Vicksburg with Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevenson's Division, the legion played a stalwart role in that city's defense. With the exception of the Cavalry Battalion commanded by Col. Leonidas Willis which was at the time attached to Col. Robert McCulloch's 1st Brigade of Brig. Gen. James R. Chalmers' 5th Military District (headquartered at Panola, MS), Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Department of the West , was captured with the fall of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863.
Here the unit reported 47 killed, 190 wounded, and 8 missing of the 381 engaged. After being exchanged and reorganized in Texas, it was stationed at Galveston attached to the Trans-Mississippi Department.
In 1864 part of the artillery battalion became the first Texas field Batt'y and the remainder was transferred to the 2d -21- 24 (?) Texas field Batt'y. The Infantry Batt'ns were consolidated in 1864 to form Timmons Reg't Texas Infantry.In December, 1864, the regiment had 14 officers and 204 men, and in April, 1865, totalled 315 effectives. During May it disbanded. The field officers were Colonels Barnard Timmons and Thomas N. Waul; Lieutenant Colonels O. Steele and James Wrigley; and Majors E. S. Bollong, Allen Cameron, and Otto Nathusius.[Refer to Edwin Bearss' The Vicksburg Campaign, Volume I, page 594 and Volume III, pages 780, 782, 872 & 965.]
From the Museum of Southern HistoryWaul's Texas Legion
A timeline For the cavalry timeline see..[Willis' battalion]Waul's Legion was organized at Brenham on May 13, 1862, it trained at Camp Waul until it was ordered out of state on August 18, 1862.
originally consisted of twelve companies of infantry, six companies of cavalry, and a six-gun battery of field artillery with a total complement of 2,000 men
The first infantry battalion was originally commanded by Lt. Col. Barnard Timmons and the second by Lt. Col. James Wrigley.
The cavalry battalion was first led by Lt. Col. Leonodias Willis and the artillery battery by Capt. William Edgar.
The legion was assigned first to Arkansas and Louisiana.
Department of The Mississippi
In October 1862 the infantry companies were transferred to Mississippi and reorganized into two battalions of six companies each
Waul's Texas Legion got their uniforms in November 1862 from a Mississippi depot probably at Jackson.With Forrest in western Tennessee & Kentucky
Return to Mississippi
Action with Hood's operations in Northern Georgia
With the exception of the Cavalry Battalion commanded by Col. Leonidas Willis which was at the time attached to Col. Robert McCulloch's 1st Brigade of Brig. Gen. James R. Chalmers' 5th Military District (headquartered at Panola, MS), Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Department of the West The legion Fought at Vicksburg and was captured July 4th, 1863
Composition of Waul's Texas Legion at Vicksburg under Col. Thomas N. Waul
1st Infantry Battalion, Maj. Eugene S. Bolling
2d Infantry Battalion, Lt. Col. James Wrigley
Zouave Battalion, Capt. J.B. Fleitas
Cavalry Detachment, Lt. Thomas J. Cleveland
Artillery Company, Capt. J.Q. Waul
Attached
Company C. 1st Tennessee Cavalry, Capt. Richard S. Vandyke
Botetourt Virginia Artillery, Capt. John W. Johnston, Lt. Francis G. Obenchain
Signal Corps Detachment, Lt. C.H. Barrott
unit exchanged by mid-july & re-organized in Houston and attached to the Trans-Missippi Dept. at Galveston, TexasThomas Waul was promoted to brigadier general on September 18, 1863, and given command of the first brigade, formerly that of Brig. Gen. James M. Hawes, of Maj. Gen. John G. Walker's Texas Division,which he led during the Red River campaign of 1864. After the battles of Mansfield (April 8, 1864) and Pleasant Hill (April 9, 1864), Waul and his brigade were transferred to Arkansas, where, at the battle of Jenkins' Ferry on April 30, 1864, they helped to repulse federal major general Frederick Steele's attempted invasion of Texas and where Waul was wounded in action.
Ended the war in Alabama
William M. Bowen's
service record shows him leaving at camp at Hall's Mills Alabama being last recorded on the Muster rolls in October of 1864Disbanded May , 1865
Record of events by date
GRENADA, January 24,1863.
Maj. J. H. WADDY:
First Division, commanded by [W. W.] Loring, consists of [A.] Rust's and [L.] Tilghman's brigades and [T. N.] Waul's Legion.
Second Division, commanded by [S.] Price, consists of [J. S.] Bowen's and [M. E.] Green's. Cavalry commanded by Colonel [R.] McCulloch.W. W. LORING
CAMP PEMBERTON, Yazoo River, February 21,1863.
Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON, Commanding, &c.:
GENERAL: Upon my arrival here today, I found that Major [M.] Merriwether had, in accordance with my instructions, acted promptly in his selection of a place where we may be enabled to construct suitable works for the defense of this river. He has chosen this point (Beck's Ferry), and vigorously commenced the erection of works which I trust, when completed, will do much toward preventing the passage down of the enemy. The location is 2 1/2 miles by land and about 4 by water below Greenwood. The banks are some 8 feet above water, and the guns will be mounted upon works constructed of earth and cotton bales, so as to place them at an altitude that insures a plunging fire upon the enemy's boat. The Tallahatchee and the Yazoo Rivers are only about 500 yards apart here, and the works commanding each will be connected by suitable lines of entrenchment's. Colonel [T. N.] Waul with his troops is encamped here. He is judicious in his arrangements, and I would recommend that he be kept in command of this position.
The river here will also be obstructed with rafts, if it can be done before the enemy approach. This is highly probable, as there is not the least apparent prospect of their speedy descent, and no present indication of a further rise in the river. It; however, the obstruction by rafts cannot be completed in time, I shall use the C. S. S. Star of the West, as stated in my last dispatch, and, if necessary, sink her athwart the channel.
I would remove the two pieces sent by you to Yazoo City, but do not think it best to do so unless others could be sent there. That position, naturally strong, should be kept in a condition of defense in the event we should be compelled to abandon the works up the river.
I have given orders that those boats now being used for the transportation of supplies on the Tallahatchee and Yalabusha livers for Grenada, and on the Yazoo for Vicksburg, shall not be interfered with, and to this end the rafts which I have spoken of will not be placed in position to obstruct the streams until the enemy's approach renders it absolutely necessary to do so. Those boats not in use for this purpose are now being encircled with cotton bales, under the direction of Captain [I. N.] Brown, who will command them, and assist our works by boarding the enemy if he should attempt a descent of the river.
I have issued an order to Colonel [B.] McCulloch to hold his cavalry in readiness to march in the direction of the Coldwater, if a practicable road can be discovered.
Colonel Waul has established a line of couriers between this point and Vaideri, on the Central Railroad, through which channel communication with headquarters may be conveniently held.
I enclose you a rough sketch of the position here. That portion in ink will represent the works that are being constructed. Colonel Waul will send you a more accurate sketch of the river and works as soon as the engineer can prepare it for you.
Will go up the Tallahatchie tomorrow in the direction of the Coldwater, with the view of finding some other suitable points for the erection of works or obstruction of the streams, proceeding up the Coldwater toward the Yazoo Pass. My progress up the latter, however, will depend entirely upon the information I may be enabled to obtain respecting the strength of the enemy.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. W. LORING.
Waul's Texas Legion at Vicksburg
May 19 - July 4,1863
From the National Parks Service at Vicksburg
The Railroad Redoubt was a Confederate fortification built to protect a vital entrance to the city, in this case the Southern Railroad of Mississippi.
On May 22, General Grant ordered a second major assault against the formidable Confederate positions. Union forces began their carefully planned attack with a fierce artillery bombardment, followed by the advance of the infantry.
Unlike other points along the Confederate defense line, the blueclad soldiers found that the redoubt's southeast angle had been partially destroyed by the artillery bombardment. Union soldiers commanded by Sgt. Joseph E. Griffith of the 22nd Iowa were able to exploit this brief breakthrough and quickly entered the redoubt in an attempt to storm the Confederate earthworks. The Confederates counterattacked and called up reinforcements. Waul's Texas Legion arrived to drive out the Federals and "seal the breach."
Although Union forces sustained heavy losses, Griffith managed to withdraw taking a dozen prisoners with him. By evening, the Federals had returned to their lines. There were no further attacks on the railroad redoubt and mining operations commenced. By the time of the surrender on July 4, 1863, approach trenches had reached the redoubt's outer ditch.
http://77illinois.homestead.com/files/valor/v1863b.html
excerpts from 1863 (Part II) THE UNION STRATEGY AT VICKSBURG: AN OVERVIEW© 2002 by Bart Benjamin.....Lawler had formed his command in double line of battle in the ravine 150 yards east of its goal -- the 22nd Iowa on the right, supported by the 21st Iowa, and the 11th Wisconsin on the left, trailed by the 97th Illinois of Landram's brigade. Landram had marshaled his command behind the crest of the ridge in double column of attack -- the 77th Illinois and 48th Ohio on the right, the 19th Kentucky and 130th Illinois on the left. [ ref 64 ]
The Union attack commenced at five minutes before 10 o'clock. Lawler's battle line, with bayonets fixed, swept forward toward the redoubt, where they were met by ragged rifle fire. Lawler's two right-flank regiments -- the 22nd Iowa with the 21st Iowa close behind in support -- reached the ditch in front of the redoubt, where they were checked by fierce fire from the 30th Alabama, 46th Alabama, and portions of General Thomas Waul's Texas Legion. Lawler's men advanced through the abatis in the ravine, up the redoubt's slope and into the ditch immediately in front. About a dozen soldiers entered the redoubt through a breach created by the earlier artillery bombardment and, through furious hand-to-hand combat, drove most of the rebel defenders back across the first traverse. [ ref 65-A ]
Captain C.N. Lee of the 22nd Iowa recalled the fierce fighting:
. . . the Twenty-second Iowa deployed two companies (A and B) as skirmishers and advanced, followed by the other regiments of the brigade, to the front, determined to dislodge the enemy or die in the attempt. Onward they went through the most galling fire of musketry, grape, and canister, until retarded by an almost impassable abatis. This obstacle overcome, they gained the top of the hill, gathered around, driving the enemy from the rifle-pits in front, and planting the Stars and Stripes on the ramparts. About fifty men of the Twenty-second scaled the walls and entered the fort, driving the enemy before them and taking 15 prisoners. There being a series of rifle-pits in the rear, it was impossible to hold it with such an inadequate force under a terribly destructive fire, and they withdrew, with a loss of nearly half their number killed, wounded, or captured. [ ref 65-B ]
The 21st Iowa's Regimental Adjutant George Crooke also recalled the hellish fight:
" It was a tornado of iron on our left, a hurricane of shot on our right. We passed through the mouth of hell. Every third man fell, either killed or wounded." [ ref 66 ]
The flag of the 22nd Iowa was the first one placed on the Railroad Redoubt that morning. Despite their initial success, soldiers of the 21st and 22nd Iowa who had penetrated the parapet could advance no further, due to the storm of bullets originating from the rifle pits behind the redoubt. A few Union soldiers tried to wriggle across the top of the parapet into the second compartment of the fort, but were either killed or forced to retreat. Those soldiers who had not entered the redoubt took cover in the ditch. As the two Iowa regiments gained a toehold within the Railroad Redoubt, Landram's brigades, including the 77th Illinois, prepared to move forward to support their initial attack.
[ ref67 ]
Lieutenant Colonel Lysander Webb of the 77th Illinois described what would arguably become their regiment's finest hour of the Civil War:At ten o'clock, our whole line was ordered to charge the rebel works with bayonets fixed. Our Regiment was drawn up in line of battle just behind the brow of the hill over which our charge was to be made. On the next hill frowned the rebel fort, up into the face of which it was our duty to go. Between us was a deep ravine filled with fallen timber and thick undergrowth of brush, brambles and cane.
Ten o'clock, the hour we had so anxiously waited for, finally came. 'Forward the Seventy-seventh,' was the word. The men sprang to their arms and moved up and over the brow of the hill. Ten or fifteen feet over the brow, the storm opened upon us terribly from the right, left and front, making sad havoc in our ranks. Down into the abatis of fallen timber and brush we went, and commenced the struggle of the ascent, our comrades falling thickly on all sides of us. Still up the hill we pressed, through the brambles and brush, over the dead and dying -- up, up we struggled, over logs, into ditches, clinging here to a bush to keep from falling backwards, and there to a thorny bramble - oh! that was a half hour which may God grant we shall not be called upon to experience its like again.
Confederate generals, well aware of the importance of the redoubt, ordered in reinforcements to retake their position at all cost. As an extra incentive, General S.D. Lee offered the enemy colors to the command that captured any of the three Union colors that were now raised on the Railroad Redoubt parapet.
[ ref 77 ] At 5:30 p.m., the rebels surged forward. The colors of the 22nd Iowa and 48th Ohio were successfully removed amidst the flood of rebel soldiers, but the regimental colors of the 77th Illinois were captured and subsequently delivered to the victorious Texans of Waul's Legion.
[ ref 78 ] Lieutenant Colonel Lysander Webb of the 77th Illinois described the sad ending to a long day of hard fighting:Nearly half our men were either killed or wounded, and all of us nearly exhausted by the day's fight, when, at about six o'clock, the enemy rallied in force, made a rush with fixed bayonets, and for a few seconds we thought all was lost. Our men fell back in confusion, but only some twelve feet. I think the prompt action of the officers of the regiment saved it from rout and slaughter. We rallied the men, checked the advance of the rebels and held our own. They captured our regimental banner in the sortie, which had floated all day over their fort and had been shot to shreds. [ ref 79 ]
Reports of Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Lee, C. S. Army, Commanding Second Brigade.
MAY 19-JULY 4, 1863.--The Siege of Vicksburg, Miss.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXIV/2 [S# 37]
HEADQUARTERS LEE'S BRIGADE,
May 22, 1863.General STEVENSON.
GENERAL: I send you the flag taken by Texans,(Waul's legion) under the lead of our gallant Lieutenant-Colonel [E. W.] Pettus, Twentieth Alabama Regiment.
It was as gallant an act as 1 have ever seen during the war. I have pledged myself to give it to its captors. I beg that you and General Pemberton will bear me out. I send this by the gallant Lieutenant Martin, who has been wounded.Your obedient servant,
STEPHEN D. LEE,
Brigadier- Genera1.[Indorsement. ]
Respectfully forwarded, with the request that you will permit the colors to be retained by the captors.
C. L. STEVENSON,
Major-General, Commanding.
GENERAL ORDERS, } HDQRS. FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT,No.32 } DEPT. MISSISSIPPI AND E. LOUISIANA,
Panola, May 30, 1863.
I. The troops of this command will be reorganized as follows:
First Brigade. Col. ROBERT MCCULLOCH.
1st Mississippi Partisans.
2d Missouri Cavalry.
Waul's Texas Legion Cavalry Battalion.
[W. R.] Mitchell's Mississippi Partisans.
Second Brigade. Col. W. P. SLEMONS.
2d Arkansas Cavalry.
1st [7th] Tennessee Cavalry.
Faulkner's (Kentucky) battalion.
[J. W.] Smith's Mississippi Partisans.
Third Brigade. Brig. Gen. J. Z. GEORGE.
2d Mississippi Partisans.
Mississippi Battalion Partisan Rangers (Dunn's).
Mississippi Battalion Partisan Rangers (McGuirk's).
II. The Second Brigade will encamp south of the river, opposite to Belmont; the First Brigade at the railroad bridge over Tallahatchee, and the Third Brigade 1 1/2 miles west of this place.
III. Each brigade will guard the crossings in its front, and will extend its pickets so as to form a complete line, guarding every crossing along the whole front.
By order of Brigadier-General Chalmers:
W. A. GOODMAN,
Assistant Adjutant- General
HDQRS. SECOND BRIGADE, STEVENSON'S DIVISION,
Demopolis, Ala., July 25, 1863.Maj. J. J. REEVE,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Stevenson's Division.SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken in our operations during the siege of Vicksburg by the troops under my command, consisting of the Twentieth Alabama Regiment, Col. L W. Garrott; Twenty-third Alabama, Col. F. K. Beck; Thirtieth Alabama, Col. C. M. Shelley; Thirty-first Alabama Regiment, Lieut. Col. T. M. Arrington; Forty-sixth Alabama Regiment, Capt. George E. Brewer; Waul's Texas Legion, Col. T. N. Waul; Waddell's battery, Capt. J. F. Waddell; Drew's battery, Lieut. W. J. Duncan; the Hudson Battery, Lieutenant [Milton H.] Trantham; Captain Haynes' company (E), First Louisiana Artillery, and a section of the Vaiden Artillery, Lieutenant [Elbert M.] Collins:
On the morning of May 17, our works at Big Black Bridge having been carried by the enemy, our army was ordered to retire to our intrenchments around Vicksburg. My brigade was ordered to cover the retreat across the river after the works were carried, and was accordingly posted along the banks for that purpose, where it remained until relieved by Baldwin's brigade, Smith's division, which brought up the rear.
By an error in the transmission of an order, the Twenty-third Alabama Regiment, Col. F. K. Beck, remained at the bridge after Baldwin's brigade had been withdrawn, and gallantly engaged the enemy during the entire day, leaving the position about midnight and joining the brigade at Vicksburg.
The city of Vicksburg was invested on May 18, the enemy having regularly surrounded it and commenced their parallel approaches. The position occupied by my brigade was immediately to the right of the railroad, with its left resting on that road. All the knolls in front of my line were at once seized by the enemy and batteries erected thereon for their artillery, their sharpshooters in the mean time keeping up a continuous and annoying fire.
On May 19, 20, and 21, the enemy's forces were massed, under cover of their artillery and sharpshooters' fire, in the ravine a few hundred yards in front of our lines.
At about 10 a.m. on the 22d, a gallant assault was made upon our works from the right of my position to the extreme left of our line on the river. The assault upon my front was a determined one, but was handsomely repulsed, with a considerable loss to the enemy. They succeeded, however, in carrying an angle of the work immediately to the right of the railroad, and in planting two colors upon the parapet, which remained there for several hours. The angle was finally assaulted and carried by a gallant band of Waul's Texas Legion, under the command of the intrepid Lieut. Col. E. W. Pettus, Twentieth Alabama Regiment. This brave officer, assisted by Major [O.] Steele and Captain [L. D.] Bradley, of the Legion, and the heroic Texans, captured the colors of the enemy and about 50 prisoners, including a lieutenant-colonel. A more daring feat has not been performed during the war, and too much praise cannot be awarded to every one engaged in it.
All the troops under my command behaved well during the assault, and inflicted severe loss upon the enemy. Waul's Texas Legion particularly distinguished itself, under its brave colonel, by its coolness and gallantry, as did also a portion of Colonel [T. P.] Dockery's Arkansas regiment. The Twentieth, Twenty-third, and Thirty-first Alabama Regiments attracted my attention by their good conduct during the day. The above-mentioned commands are those which particularly came under my personal observation during the assault.
From May 22, the enemy seemed to have abandoned the idea of carrying our works by assault, and from that time commenced pushing their works gradually, but industriously, toward ours, up to July 4, when the city was surrendered, at which time their trenches at several points on my line were within 30 feet of our works. As each of their ditches was completed, it was filled with sharpshooters, who kept up a continuous fire upon our lines. The enemy had also from fifteen to thirty pieces of artillery in front of my line, which kept up a heavy fire during both night and day. The fire from their small-arms commenced generally about half an hour before daylight, and continued until about dark in the evening. There was no relief whatever to our men, who were confined for forty-seven days in their narrow trenches without any opportunity of moving about, as there was during the day a perfect rain of Minie balls, which prevented any one from showing the least portion of his body, while at night, in consequence of the proximity of the enemy, it was impossible for the men to leave their positions for any length of time. After about the tenth day of the siege the men lived on about one-half rations, and on even less than that toward its close.
During the whole time the troops under my command exhibited cheerfulness and good spirit, feeling confident that they would finally be released. Physically they were much weakened by their arduous duties and poor rations, and at the time of the surrender I did not consider more than one-half of my men able to undergo the fatigues of the field.
The officers who particularly attracted my attention were: Colonel [Isham W.] Garrott, Twentieth Alabama, the pure patriot and gallant soldier, who was killed on June 17 while in the fearless discharge of his duties. Respected and loved by all who knew him, a more attentive and vigilant officer was not in our service. Col. T. N. Waul, commanding Texas Legion, by his dashing gallantry and coolness, inspired every one around him with confidence, and handled his Legion with skill. Colonels Beck and Shelley were particularly brave and vigilant. Colonel [E. W.] Pettus, Twentieth Alabama, won the admiration of every one by his daring on May 22, and by his uniform good conduct during the remainder of the siege. Lieutenant-Colonels [J. B.] Smith, Thirtieth Alabama; Arrington, Thirty-first Alabama; [B.] Timmons and ------, of Waul's Legion; Major [George W.] Mathieson, Thirty-first Alabama; Captains [John C.] Francis, Thirtieth Alabama, and Brewer, Forty-sixth Alabama, and Captains Waddell and [L. B.] Haynes, and Lieutenants Duncan and Collins, commanding batteries and sections of artillery, were gallant and vigilant.
Maj. John J. Reeve, assistant adjutant-general of the division, was with me on the lines upon several occasions, and particularly attracted my attention by his daring and coolness during the assault on the 22d.
Captain [J. J.] Conway, the engineer in charge of the works on my line, was active and energetic in the discharge of his duties, and was unceasing in his efforts during night and day to check the approach of the enemy.
Of my personal staff I would mention the uniform cool and gallant conduct of Capt. William Elliott, assistant adjutant-general, who was always at the post of danger, inspiring confidence by his example. Capt. W. H. Johnson and Lieut. H. N. Martin, acting aides-de-camp, and Capt. J. R. Curell and Lieutenant [S. M.] Underhill, volunteer aides, behaved with gallantry during the siege.
I would also mention Mr. West, who was serving on my staff; my orderly (L. B. Murphy, Forty-sixth Alabama Regiment), and my couriers (Hill and J. M. Simpson), who were always gallant and at their posts.
A correct list of the casualties in the different regiments and companies cannot yet be furnished, as the reports have not been received from their commands.Very respectfully,
STEPHEN D. LEE,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.ADDENDA.
VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863.
I do not think it is time to surrender this garrison and post yet. Nor do I think it practicable to cut our way out. When it is time to surrender, the terms proposed by Grant are as good as we can expect.
I still have hopes of Johnston relieving the garrison.STEPHEN D. LEE,
Brigadier-General
Reports of Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevenson, C. S. Army, Commanding Division.
MAY 19-JULY 4, 1863.--The Siege of Vicksburg, Miss.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXIV/2 [S# 37]
HEADQUARTERS STEVENSON'S DIVISION,
Demopolis,Ala.,July 29,1863.Maj. R. W. MEMMINGER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my division from its advance from Vicksburg to the capitulation of the city. It has been delayed to this time by the constant occupation of myself and my subordinate commanders during the siege of Vicksburg and by the march which followed its capitulation.
* * * * * * * * * *
At about 10 a.m. [May 17], I received orders to take command of the army, and conduct its retreat to the fortifications around Vicksburg. The brigade of Brigadier-General Baldwin, of Smith's division, was assigned to the duty of bringing up the rear. Just before getting into the works, I was joined by the brigade of Colonel Reynolds, to whom, as I before stated, had been intrusted the charge of the trains of the whole army. He had crossed the Big Black after much difficulty and delay, occasioned by the absence of any facilities for so doing, at Bridgeport.
By a mistake in the transmission of the order, the regiment of Colonel Beck (Lee's brigade) remained at the river, resisted the attempts of the enemy to cross until 11 o'clock that night, and only withdrew upon the receipt of a peremptory order.
The retreat was conducted in a leisurely and orderly manner, and the troops entered the line of fortifications at about 3 p.m.* * * * * * * * * *
On the morning of May 18, the positions to be held by each of the different divisions were assigned by the lieutenant-general himself. The portion of the line of defense which was assigned to my division included the river front and the works south of the city from the river to the railroad, a line of about 5 miles in length. Barton occupied the river front and the fortifications on the right; Reynolds, those on the right center to the Hall's Ferry road; Cumming, the left center, and Lee, re-enforced by Waul's Texas Legion, the extreme left. Several sections and companies of artillery not properly belonging to my division were posted on my line. Captain [J. W.] Johnston, Botetourt Artillery Company, was assigned to duty as inspector-general of light artillery on my staff, and the artillery on the right of the Hall's Ferry road placed under the command of Capt. J. B. Grayson, First Louisiana Heavy Artillery, and that on the left under that of Capt. J. F. Waddell, of my division.
On the evening of the 18th, the enemy made his appearance in front of our lines, and immediately began to push forward his sharpshooters. The number of guns, superiority of range and metal, and exhaustless supply of ammunition, enabled them in a very short time to plant many batteries in such commanding positions as to damage our works materially, and inflict a very considerable loss among the men.
On the morning of May 22, many indications showed that they contemplated an assault upon the line of General [S. D.] Lee. A tremendous artillery fire was opened and kept up for about two hours, while the fire of their large force of sharpshooters was heavy and incessant.
At about 1 p.m. a heavy force moved out to the assault, making a gallant charge. They were allowed to approach unmolested to within good musket range, when every available gun was opened upon them with grape and canister, and the men, rising in the trenches, poured into their ranks volley after volley with so deadly an effect that, leaving the ground literally covered in some places with their dead and wounded, they precipitately retreated. An angle of one of our redoubts hail been breached by their artillery before the assault and rendered untenable. Toward this point, at the time of the repulse of the main body, a party of about 60 of the enemy, under the command of a lieu-tenant-colonel, made a rush, and succeeded in effecting a lodgment in the ditch at the foot of the redoubt and planting two flags on the edge of the parapet. The work was constructed in such a manner that this ditch was commanded by no part of the line, and the only means by which they could be dislodged was to retake the angle by a desperate charge, and either kill or compel the surrender of the whole party by the use of hand-grenades. A call for volunteers for this purpose was made and promptly responded to by Lieut. Col. E. W. Pettus, Twentieth Alabama Regiment, and about 40 men of Waul's Texas Legion. A more gallant feat than this charge has not illustrated our arms during the war.
The preparations were quietly and quickly made, but the enemy seemed at once to divine our intention, and opened upon the angle a terrible fire of shot, shell, and musketry. Undaunted, this little band, its chivalrous commander at its head, rushed upon the work, and in less time than it requires to describe it, it and the flags were in our possession.
Preparations were then quickly made for the use of hand-grenades, when the enemy in the ditch, being informed of our purpose, immediately surrendered.
From this time forward, although on several occasions their demonstrations seemed to indicate other intentions, the enemy relinquished all idea of assaulting us, and confined himself to the more cautious policy of a system of gradual approaches and mining.
The weakness of our garrison prevented anything like a system of sallies, but from time to time, as opportunities offered, and the enemy effected lodgments too close to our works, they were made with spirit and success. Among them, I may particularize a night sally made under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel [C. S.] Guyton, of the Fifty-seventh Georgia Regiment, with a portion of that regiment and of the Forty-third Tennessee, the former of Cumming's, the latter of Reynolds' brigade. The enemy had intrenched themselves at three different points on and to the left of the Hall's Ferry road. The command sallied out, charged their works with admirable gallantry, and took them, with considerable loss to the enemy, who were in greatly superior force.
On the lines occupied by General Barton and Colonel Reynolds, the configuration of the ground favoring it, the enemy were prevented from making any close lodgments by a judicious system of picketing and a series of attacks; and although they sometimes succeeded by force of numbers in gaining favorable positions, they were invariably dispossessed by the daring sallies of the garrison. A reconnaissance made of the Warrenton road, under Colonel Curtiss, Forty-first Georgia, re-suited in the capture of 107 of the enemy's pickets. The reconnaissance was conducted in a manner which reflects credit on that able officer.
I cannot find words sufficiently strong to express the pride and gratification afforded me by the dauntless spirit with which officers and men encountered all the dangers, and by the unmurmuring endurance with which they bore up for forty-seven sleepless nights and days, under all the hardships incident to their position. Confined, without a moment's relief from the very day of their entrance into the fortifications to that of the capitulation of the city, to the narrow trenches; exposed without shelter to the broiling sun and drenching rain; subsisting on rations barely sufficient for the support of life; engaged from the earliest dawn till dark, and often during the night, in one ceaseless conflict with the enemy, they neither faltered nor complained, but, ever looking forward with confidence to relief, bore up bravely under every privation--saw their ranks decimated by disease and the missiles of the enemy--with the fortitude that adorns the soldier and the spirit that becomes the patriot who battles in a holy cause.
It was thus that the true soldier and gifted patriot, Colonel [Isham W.] Garrott, of the Twentieth Alabama, died, as did the brave Captain [F. O.] Claiborne, of the artillery, and many others whose names I cannot mention without extending this report to too great a length. The regiment of Colonel Garrott was fortunate in having for his successor Lieutenant-Colonel [E. W.] Pettus, an officer who deserves and is competent to fill a higher position.
On July 1, I received the accompanying confidential communication, marked A, from the lieutenant-general commanding. I immediately addressed a circular to my brigade commanders requiring their opinions on the points suggested in the note of the commanding general. Having received their opinions in writing (copies of which are appended, marked B, C, D, E), I submitted the following reply to the lieutenant-general:HEADQUARTERS STEVENSON'S DIVISION,
Vicksburg, July 2, 1863.GENERAL: Your confidential note of yesterday, requesting me to inform you as to the condition of my troops and their ability to make the marches and undergo the fatigues necessary to accomplish a successful evacuation of this city, was duly received, and I have the honor to state, in reply thereto, that my men are very cheerful, but from long confinement in the trenches and short rations are necessarily much enfeebled, and a considerable number would be unable to make the march and undergo the fatigues which would probably be necessary in a successful evacuation of this city. If pressed by the enemy, and it should be necessary to place the Big Black in our rear in one march, the chances are that a considerable number of those now in the trenches could not succeed. I believe, however, that most of them, rather than be captured, would exert themselves to the utmost to accomplish it.
I respectfully transmit herewith the opinions of my brigade commanders on these points.I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. L. STEVENSON,
Major-General.A council was then called on the 3d instant by the lieutenant-general, in which he stated that, from information received from General Johnston, all hope of raising the siege of Vicksburg must be abandoned, and that it was only possible to save the garrison. The opinions of those present were then asked as to the best manner of accomplishing it, and it was their unanimous opinion that, rather than surrender, the garrison would attempt to cut its way out under all circumstances, but that if an honorable capitulation could be effected it would be the best and wisest course, considering the condition of the men, as stated at that time by their commanders, and it was suggested that a communication should be addressed to Major-General Grant, commanding United States forces, asking him to appoint commissioners to meet a like number of ours to agree upon terms. It was consented to by the lieutenant-general reluctantly, I think, and a communication was addressed to General Grant, which resulted in the capitulation. The correspondence between the two commanders has already been made public. A strong argument with me in favor of the capitulation was that we would march the army out intact; that they would be exchanged in a very short time, and again be armed and equipped for service.
In conclusion, I desire to return my thanks to the officers and men of my command.
I have to thank my brigade commanders, Brigadier-Generals Barton, Cumming, Lee, and Colonel Reynolds, as also Colonel [T. N.] Waul, of the Texas Legion, to whose efficient co-operation I am greatly indebted for the successful defense of my line at Vicksburg, for the untiring energy which they displayed in the management of their brigades, and for examples of devotion, intrepidity, and coolness under every danger, by which they inspired their men.
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY IN NORTH Mississippi,
Oxford, October 22, 1863.
General S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.:
GENERAL: After many disappointments and much labor I have succeeded in collecting and organizing the scattered and independent cavalry in North Mississippi into some military order, and have divided my command into three brigades, as follows:
Slemons' brigade, Col. W. F. Slemons commanding:
2d Arkansas Cavalry, Captain Cochran commanding, effective strength 120
7th Tennessee Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Duckworth commanding, effective strength 210
3d Mississippi State Cavalry, Col. John McGuirk commanding, effective strength 450
19th Battalion Cavalry, Col. J. Z. George commanding, effective strength 350
Duff's (Mississippi) Battalion Cavalry, Lieut. Col. W. L. Duff commanding, effective strength 200
Total 1,330
McCulloch's brigade, Col. Robert McCulloch commanding:
2d Missouri Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel McCulloch commanding, effective strength 250
1st Mississippi Partisans, Lieutenant-Colonel Hovis commanding, effective strength 310
Cavalry Battalion, Waul's (Texas) Legion, Lieutenant-Colonel Willis commanding, effective strength 450
12th Mississippi Cavalry, Col. W. M. Inge commanding, effective strength 250
18th Mississippi Battalion Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers commanding, effective strength 225
Total 1,485
Bibliography
THE UNION STRATEGY AT VICKSBURG: AN OVERVIEW© 2002 by Bart Benjamin
National Parks Service @ Vicksburg
62. Bentley, p. 150.
63. Grabau, p. 376.
64. Bearss, The Campaign for Vicksburg, p. 824.
65-A. Bearss, The Campaign for Vicksburg (Volume III), pp. 824-825; Grabau, p. 377.
65-B. War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. U.S. Government, 1900, Vol XXIV, Part 2, p. 244.
66. Korn, p. 130.
67. Bearss, The Campaign for Vicksburg, pp. 824-825; Grabau, p. 380.
77. Bearss, The Campaign for Vicksburg, p. 849.
78. Ibid., p. 850.
79. Bentley, p. 153.see also
Related Bowen family web articles :
Camp Waul | Fort Waul | T. N. Waul | War Dept.records | Confederate Soldiers of Caldwell County,Texas
[ Monuments to Wauls Legion at Vicksburg ]
[ From the pension file of Allen James Walker (7th US Colored Heavy Artillery) :
Mr. Walker's account mentions John C. & George M. Peevey of Waul's Legion/Willis's Battalion.
This information was contributed by Andrew Ward.Green, John and Andrew (William's cousins) served in the 48th Illinois Infantry
www.army.mil/cmh-pg/mohciv2.htm
: Reference information :
U.S. Civil War Regimental Histories in the Library of Congress.
Confederate Troops: Texas Infantry, Waul's Texas Legion
Author: Hasskarl, Robert A.
Title: Waul's Texas Legion, 1862-1865 / by Robert A. Hasskarl and Leif R. Hasskarl.
Published: Ada, OK (Rt. 4, Box 574, Ada 74820) : R.A. Hasskarl, c1985.
Description: viii, 209 p., [1] leaf of plates : ill. ; 29 cm.
LC Call No.: E580.5.W38H37 1985
URL www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/uscivilwar/E5805W38.HTMDewey No.: 973.7/464 19
Notes: Bibliography: p. 191-194.
Includes index.
Subjects: Confederate States of America. Army. Waul's Texas
Legion -- History.
Confederate States of America. Army. Waul's Texas
Legion -- Registers.
Texas -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 --
Regimental histories.
Texas -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 --
Registers.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
-- Regimental histories.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
-- Registers.
Texas -- Genealogy.
Registers of births, etc. -- Texas.
Soldiers -- Texas -- Genealogy.
Other authors: Hasskarl, Leif R.
Control No.: 510125
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Benjamin L. Bowen's :
The Exploits of Waul's Texas Legion Table of Contents.
The Bowen family web
The Rootsweb edition 2000-2003This page http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~bowen/waulschronology.html was added 8- 2002
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