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Benjamin L. Bowen's :
The Exploits of Waul's Texas Legion Table of Contents.
Bowen family web
From the Museum of Southern History
William Bowen of Waul's Texas Legion.In the Spring of 1862 William M. Bowen of Caldwell County Texas, the son of Green Bowen and Mary Elizabeth Fabor enlisted in Wauls Texas Legion in the Willis Battalion company "F" Cavalry, Confederate States Army. William, born in 1844 in Illinois would have been Eighteen years old.
On an application for a Confederate pension filed for in late 1904 and approved in early1905 in Caldwell County,at the Prarie Lea Post Office he stated that he served until the end of the war.
In sworn statements before judge George Kyser of Caldwell County, Both J.J. Coulter and George Washington New (G.W. New) attested to knowing and serving with William in the war. J.J. Coulter stated that he was aquainted with William since the spring of 1862 and that he was frequently with William in the company througout the summer of 1862.
G.W. New stated that he ( G.W.) was a member of the same legion and Battalion in Company "C" and he personally knew that William joined in the spring of 1862 and served to the close of the war. Mr. New also stated that he had known William "since he was a school boy".Indications are that William migrated to Texas from Illinois between 1850 and 1854 all three gentlemen appear on the list of Confederate Soldiers of Caldwell County maintained by the Caldwell County Genealogical and Historical Society.hsoc@bcsnet.net The cavalry and artillery components were seperated from the infantry in Oct. 1862 they served in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. The Infantry which William was not a part of went on to fight in Vicksburg and in a twist of fate not uncommon in the war between the states the infantry would be captured defending Vicksburg. Williams cousin's Green, John and Andrew were attached to the 48th Illinois Infantry which was part of the force that captured the city.
The Confederate Army was organized as follows: http://www.cba.uh.edu/~parks/tex/texreb1.html
* Companies -- (about 100 soldiers) were raised locally and contained about 100 soldiers. They were commanded by a captain, up to four lieutenants, sergeants, and corporals. The company remained relatively intact during the war.
The ten companies which composed a regiment were distinguished by assigned a single letter designation A thru K. Many often also had names based on the location where the unit was formed, a local hero, or commanding officer (e.g., The San Jacinto Guards were formed in Houston and named for the nearby site of the Battle of San Jacinto -- the final battle for Texas Independence. The company was assigned to the Second Texas Infantry Regiment and designated as Company A).
* Regiments -- (about 1,000 soldiers) Ten companies were formed into a regiment commanded by a colonel. Additional line and staff officers and non-commisioned officers were assigned to the regimental staff (Lt. Colonel, Major, Sgt. Major, surgeons, chaplains, mucisians, etc.) The ten companies of the regiment were assigned a letter designation A thru K. (e.g., The San Jacinto Guards was assigned as Company A of the 2nd Texas Regiment)
* Brigades -- (2-5,000 soldiers) Several regiments formed a brigade commanded by a brigadier general. These large units were typically named for their commanding general and were organized for a campaign or as part of a standing army.
* Divisions and Corps -- Divisions were composed of several brigades and corps formed by several divisions.
* Armies -- Armies were composed of several divisions or corps.
* Departments and Districts -- The Confederate States Army was divided into geographic military districts whose boundaries changed and were reorganized as the war progress. Normally each military district of the CSA maintained a standing army.
Other unit designations were:
* Battalions -- A unit composed of two to six companies (200-600 soldiers). Battalions are smaller than regiments. Many volunteer forces remained battalions throughout the war and did reach regimental strength.
* Batteries -- a small artillery unit composed of from one to four guns. Normally the size of a company (about 100)
* Legions -- a unit composed of infantry, artillery and cavalry. Normally the unit was the size of a regiment (about 1,000 soldiers)
Wauls Texas Legion
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. 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. There, owing to the difficulty associated with commanding mixed arms, it was stripped of its cavalry and artillery components. In October 1862 the infantry companies were transferred to Mississippi and reorganized into two battalions of six companies each. Attached to Gen. John C. Pemberton's Army of Vicksburg, the legion played a stalwart role in that city's defense. With the exception of a single company, then on detached duty, it was captured with the fall of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. Paroled by mid-July, the members of the legion reorganized in Houston and were assigned to duty protecting the Texas coast in the region of Galveston. With Waul's promotion to brigadier general, Timmons was promoted to colonel and assumed command of the legion, serving in that capacity until the end of the war.
CONFEDERATE TEXAS TROOPS
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.
[ excerpts from ]
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]" 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."...
" 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. "...
This 1850s' settlers cabin is
located at Pioneertown,Caldwell County Texas.
Related on site articles :
Benjamin L. Bowen's :
The Exploits of Waul's Texas Legion Table of Contents.Green, John and Andrew (William's cousins) served in the 48th Illinois Infantry
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Marcus J. Wright, comp., and Harold B. Simpson, ed., Texas in the War, 1861-1865 (Hillsboro, Texas: Hill Junior College Press, 1965).Thomas W. Cutrer , William Bowens' confederate pension application, Sworn statements by J.J. Coulter and G.W. New, list of confederate soldiers of Caldwell County,statement from the War Dept. Washington D.C. Military secretary's office statement dated march 15, 1905. Ben Bowen
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/WW/qkw2.html
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