USA > Texas > Polk County > Historical Polk County, Texas : companies and soldiers organized in and enrolled from said county in Confederate States Army and Navy, 1861-1865 > Part 1
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Gc 973.7406 Un28h 1940102
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01191 0004
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/historicalpolkco00cros
HISTORICAL
POLK COUNTY, TEXAS
Companies and Soldiers Organized in and Enrolled From Said County in Confederate States Army and Navy-1861-1865.
ORGANIZATION IKE TURNER CAMP. U. C. V. UNVEILING, ETC.
..
United Confederate Historical Polk County, Texas
Dallas
1901
66pp
-
1940102
t.
DEDICATION
To the VETERANS of the Civil War, whether from Texas, or the Sister States, the few who now survive, as well as to the memory of our loving Wives, Mothers, Sisters and Sweethearts, who remained true to home and family, and who watched, prayed and cared for our welfare, and with loving and cheerful letters and messages encouraged us, and strengthened our arms in camp, on the march and in battle, during our absence from them, and gladly welcomed us back on our return home, .. and to the Sons and Daughters of CONFEDERATE VETERANS, our children and grandchildren, is this little volume cordially DEDICATED.
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POLK COUNTY
Named for His Excellency James Knox Polk of Tennessee, President of the United States, Was by Act of the First Legislature of the State of Texas, Approved March 30, 1846, Created Out of Liberty County and Embraced that Portion Thereof Known and Designated as the "Northern Division" of Said Liberty County.
It was bounded and described as follows, to-wit: Begin- ning on east side of Trinity River, at the mouth of Menard Creek; Thence east eighteen miles; Thence in a northerly direction to the south line of Houston County, crossing the road leading from Swartwout to Bell's Ferry, two miles west of Peter Cauble's residence, later Peach Tree Village, near the prsent town of Chester, Tyler County ; Thence west- wardly with said south line of Houston County, to Trinity River, and in same direction to eastern line of Montgomery County ; Thence in a southerly direction with said Montgom- ery County line to a point opposite (west of) place of be- ginning; Thence east to the place of beginning, containing and embracing, as aforesaid, the "Northern Division" of Liberty County.
Polk County, being constituted and composed of part of Liberty, one of the original twenty counties or provinces of
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Texas, when one of the States or municipalities of the Re- public of Mexico, is a Grand Daughter, as it were, of said Republic of Mexico.
It was one of the first of a series of twenty-three counties, formulated, constituted and established by the first Legis- lature convened by the State of Texas, after annexation with the United States, and prior to the war with Mexico, re- sulting from such annexation.
It was one of the five sister counties wholly or principally created out of said Liberty County, as originally formulated, designated and located, viz: Chambers, Hardin, Polk, San Jacinto and Tyler, with Galveston covering a smaller portion of it.
ORGANIZATION.
Polk County was temporarily organized by the commis- sioners named in the Act creating it, July 13, 1846, but was duly and formally organized by the County Commissioners' Court, and the newly elected officers, on August 9, A. D. 1846, with G. L. Martin, Chief Justice; Jas. W. Abbey, John F. Carr, David G. Green and James Winn, county commission- ers; John J. Stubblefield, sheriff; Jno. A. Wooten, county clerk; William Whitehead Van Dam, district clerk, and Geo. M. Reese, tax assessor and collector.
The first term of the County Commissioners' Court con- vened on Tuesday, August 9, A. D. 1846, there not being a quorum present on Monday, and the court adjourned over un- til Tuesday morning.
The oaths of office and bonds of the several county and precinct officers were filed and duly approved. The court was then adjourned.
The first justices of the peace for the county, shown to have qualified at said term of said court, were William Ross- well, Malcom T. Nettles, Dr. Edward Baker, Robert Hooker,
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Jesse Hardy and John P. Collins, and the first constables, William Thompson, John C. Dunlap and William T. Lewis.
The minutes of said court fail to disclose the several pre- cincts of said justices of the peace and constables, or the commissioners' precincts.
COUNTY SEAT.
By said Act, creating and establishing Polk County, James W. Abbey, Frederick Rankin, A. S. Ainsworth, Benjamin Harrison, Jno. J. Stubblefield and Arthur P. Garner were appointed a Board of Commissioners to organize said county, and to procure the location of the county seat thereof, and, in accordance with authority and direction thereunder, se- lected two points, Livingston and Swartwout, as candidates therefor. An election was ordered to determine the location of said county seat. In said election the contest was en- larged by the voters of the county adding the name of West- brook Hill. Livingston, having received a majority of the votes cast in said contest, was declared to be the successful candidate, and was by said commissioners proclaimed the duly elected, designated and established county seat of said Polk County. Livingston was by plat of Jno. R. Johnson, county surveyor, shown to be one and one-half miles from the geographical center of the county, while Swartwout and Westbrook Hill each were more than five miles distant from said center.
TRINITY COUNTY.
By act of the Fourth Legislature of the State of Texas, in 1850, Trinity County was created and formed out of the southwest portion of Houston County, and by a subsequent act of said Legislature, and a later term thereof, approved March 11, 1875, that portion of said county, south and east of a line running from the southwest corner thereof, where
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the north line of Polk County struck the Trinity River, on a direct line to the mouth of Bull Creek on Big Piney Creek, and thence on a direct line to the mouth of Alabama Creek on the Neches River, and down and with said river to the north boundary of Tyler County, was detached from said Trinity County, and attached to and now forms part of said Polk County.
SAN JACINTO COUNTY.
By an ordinance of the Constitutional Convention of Texas adopted January 5, 1869, and by an act of the Twelfth Legis- lature of the State of Texas, approved August 13th, A. D. 1870, that portion of the territory of said Polk County, west of the Trinity River, was severed therefrom and formed into and composed the major portion of San Jacinto County, with Cold Springs the county seat thereof.
SECESSION.
There is no record of an original vote on the question of secession, and to elect delegates to the Constitutional Con- vention held at Austin on the 28th day of January, A. D. 1861, to determine whether or not the State of Texas should secede from the United States, but on February 23d, 1861, pursuant to an ordinance of said convention and a proclama- tion of the governor of Texas, an election was held for the ratification or rejection of the action of said convention de- claring in favor of secession, the ballot prescribed being "For Secession," or "Against Secession," in which the vote for was 604 and against 23, total vote 627. The vote of Pre- cinct No. 1, Cold Springs, was "for" 132, with none against; No. 3, Moscow, for 140 and 20 against; No. 4, Livingston,
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123 for and 2 against. All other voting places in the county were solid for, except Big Springs, 14 for and 1 against.
The first vote cast after said election for the ratification of said ordinance of secession was that for county clerk to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Levi S. McMicken, and resulted as follows, viz :
For Robert H. Cubley, 137; James N. Oliphant, 116; James E. Hill, 115, and Samuel H. McGee, 106; total, 474, being 130 less than the former total vote.
The first vote for governor, subsequent to that on seces- sion, was for Frank R. Lubbock, 112; Thomas Jefferson Chambers, 323, and Edward Clark, 19, total, 454, making 150 votes less than that cast on said question of secession, show- ing that the country was more interested in the military situation, the preparation for war, than in the civil govern- ment, companies of soldiers being organized, officered and equipped for service and officers and men training and being drilled in the various military arts and the maneuvers of the battlefield.
COMPANIES ORGANIZED.
Of Polk County, as originally organized and hereinbefore described, there were enlisted, organized and regularly mus- tered into the Confederate States army six infantry and one cavalry company in the order hereinafter named.
FIRST.
The company organized early in April, 1861, and pursu- ant to orders theretofore promulgated, assembled at Liv- ingston on the morning of April 28, 1861, D. D. Moore, captain ; K. B. DeWalt, H. B. Lowe and Jno. I. Shotwell, lieutenants, and left on same day, after a joyous, and yet sad, farewell to their many relatives, wives, mothers and sweethearts, as well as numerous friends, en route to New Orleans, via Liberty and Galveston, to be mustered into
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active and actual service as Texas volunteer infantry. It was detained at New Orleans several weeks before an officer was designated and authorized by the War Department to muster it into such service. This was the first company or- ganized, and the first to leave the State for the field of bat- tle, and should have been mustered in and enrolled as Com- pany "A," First Texas Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, but Captain Hugh McLeod, who left Marshall several weeks lat- er, was first to meet the enrolling officer on his arrival at New Orleans, and had his company mustered into service and designated as Company "A." Notwithstanding this er- ror no objection was offered and no effort made to procure proper correction, and this company was designated and known as Company "B" of said regiment, and did its service as the second company therein when it was in fact the first, and should have been so enrolled and designated when mus- tered into service by said enrolling officer. It was mus- tered into service May 16, 1861, for one year, but at the ex- piration of that term was re-organized and enrolled for three years, or during the war, with R. J. Harding, captain ; Jno. I. Shotwell, William F. Walker and Champ L. Bradford, lieutenants, as named.
SECOND.
The company organized at Cold Springs, John S. Cleve- land, captain; William H. Robinson and D. W. McDonald, lieutenants, in the order named. It left Cold Springs about the first of September and marched directly to West Liberty, now Dayton, where it was mustered into service as Company "H," Fifth Texas Regiment, on or about the 6th day of Sep- tember, A. D. 1861, and went thence by rail to Beaumont and by steamer to Niblett's Bluff, a few miles above Orange, and on foot through the lowlands of Calcasieu Parish and the Mermentau country of New Iberia, and thence by boat to Morgan City and by rail to New Orleans, where it was furnished with supplies and transportation to Richmond, Virginia, at which point it bivouacked and awaited other
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companies composing or to compose the Fifth Texas Regi- ment of volunteer infantry.
The company did valiant service through all the Virginia campaigns, and surrendered with the regiment and brigade at Appomatox Courthouse.
Captain Cleveland organized a company at Cold Springs and went with it to New Orleans, about the time Captain Moore carried his company there, but having to wait quite a while for an enrolling officer, the men became dissatisfied and disbanded, some returning home to await active de- mand for their services, while others joined Company "B," or other commands and went on to the seat of war.
THIRD.
The company organized by I. N. M. Turner, captain, at Livingston, as Flying Artillery, in May or early in June, 1861, procured two 6-pounder cannon, furnished, according to the most reliable information obtainable, by Col. J. A. S. Turner, father of the captain, had same properly mounted and drilled several weeks in line with that service. Not be- ing able to get into active service as artillery, the proposi- tion to abandon artillery service and accept a call to Vir- ginia in one of two regiments of volunteer infantry, sub- mitted to the company by Captain Turner, was by unanimous vote adopted. It was then determined to tender the serv- ices of the company as infantry and repair at once to Rich- mond, Va., in response to said call for additional volunteer infantry from Texas.
The company assembled at Livingston on the morning of the third day of September, A. D. 1861, when it was pre- sented with a handsome flag in an appropriate address de- livered by John L. Henry, Esq., which was briefly responded to by Captain Turner in behalf of the company, who prom- ised to bring back heroes as husbands and sweethearts for the noble women being left to cheer, and yet to grieve over their departure for the battlefield. The first soldier dinner was eaten a little more than four miles from Livingston,
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near the residence of two members of the company, John and Ephraim Julian, and a royal entertainment the first night out was extended by Captain John F. Carr to the en- tire company, and the several friends who accompanied it that far, his son, A. B. Carr, being also a member of the company. At Camp Woods, three miles from Liberty, a halt of several days was made, and on the morning of the ninth day of September moved into the city of Liberty, where the company was duly and formally mustered into service as Company "K," Fifth Texas Regiment Volunteer Infantry, and left by the Texas & New Orleans Railroad for Beaumont and thence by steamboat for Neblett's Bluff, about four miles above Orange, where it disembarked and marched thence on direct line to New Iberia, on Bayou Teche, by way of Lake Charles, much of this route being very disagreeable because of heavy continuous rains only a short time prior to said trip, and the water being at times about waist deep. From New Iberia the trip was made to Morgan City by steamboat, and thence by rail to final destination via New Orleans, Jackson and Bristol, Tennessee, and Lynchburg Virginia, making its first encampment near Richmond, Va., known as Camp Bragg. The trip from Neblett's Bluff was made with Company "I" of said Fifth Texas Regiment, it being in camp at that point when this company arrived there. Said com- pany was commanded by Captain John B. Robinson, later colonel of the Fifth Texas Regiment, and brigadier general of Hood's Texas Brigade. Said company being from Bren- ham and Independence in Washington County.
FOURTH.
The company organized by Captain, later Major, James M. Crosson, some time in June, 1861, with David R. McCor- mick, Byron L. Taylor and William T. Carrington, lieuten- ants, this being the first and only company to this date or- ganized as cavalry. It held itself in readiness for active serv- ice, drilling a number of times during its wait. Having received a call as such, the company assembled at Winn
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bridge, midway between Livingston and Moscow, on Sep- tember 9, 1861, had a barbecue dinner, and after a final farewell to kindred and friends, left for San Antonio, en route to active field duty, and were mustered into service at Salado Bayou, near San Antonio, Texas, as Company "F," Fourth Texas Cavalry, James Riley, colonel, part of Sibley, later Green's Brigade, and were sent thence to New Mexico, taking active part in the notable Val Verde battle, in which five members of the company were killed.
It was later returned to Texas and participated in the capture of the Harriet Lane, in the battle of Galveston, in which the Federal fleet was seriously damaged, Galveston recovered and the Texas coast saved from capture from that direction. The command was sent thence to Louisiana, where it participated in the Mansfield and Pleasant Hill battles with distinction, as well as numerous other engage- ments of that campaign.
FIFTH.
The company organized by Rev. J. A. Scruggs assembled at Livingston, Texas, March 10, 1862, and elected officers : J. A. Scruggs, captain; Alex Jones, first lieutenant, and Jim Garner, second lieutenant. After dinner at Andress Hotel, they marched for Houston and there joined Major R. B. Hubbard's Battalion, and camped with other com- panies four miles west of Houston for about two months, when this company and others of the battalion marched to camp four miles north of Tyler, Texas, where the company was reorganized, electing John Guynes, captain, George S. Shotwell, first lieutenant; John R. Oates, second lieutenant, and Henry W. Vinson, third lieutenant. The battalion and other troops formed the Twenty-second Texas Infantry Regiment with R. B. Hubbard, colonel; J. J. Cannon, major, and J. A. Scruggs, chaplain. The said company was known as Company "F," Twenty-second Regiment, Texas Volunteer Infantry, Waul's Brigade. The command marched in Oc- tober, 1862, for Little Rock, Ark., and participated in the
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campaigns of Arkansas and Louisiana, doing valiant serv- ice in all the battles, skirmishes and marches in which the noted "Walker's Foot Cavalry" took conspicuous part in these States. In October, 1864, George S. Shotwell was pro- moted to captain, John R. Oates to first lieutenant, Henry W. Vinson to second lieutenant, and W. B. Shotwell was elected to third lieutenant. The command, including this com- pany, in 1865, marched to camp near Hempstead, Texas, where it was disbanded at the close of the war, Colonel Hub- bard in command. This company participated in the battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Jenkins Ferry, three of the most hotly contested engagements of the Civil war, with dis- tinguished honor, sustaining heavy loss in killed and wounded.
SIXTH.
The company organized by Dr. Jas. H. McCardell at Liv- ingston, Texas, March, 1862, John L. Henry, Newel T. White and Dillard R. Burroughs, lieutenants, mustered into service as Company "E," Twentieth Texas Infantry, El- more's Regiment, Harrison's Brigade, stationed at Galves- ton, Texas, during the years 1862 and 1863, and on patrol duty in Louisiana later. This company was in the noted battle of Galveston January 1st, A. D. 1863, in which the Harriet Lane was captured, the city retaken, the Federal fleet of several gunboats and large arms driven to sea, and the Texas coast preserved and protected from capture by the enemy. Lieutenant White resigned while the company was in Camp Groce near Hempstead, when Lieutenant Bur- roughs was promoted, and John H. Adams elected third lieu- tenant. It continued in active service until the final sur- render in 1865.
SEVENTH.
The company organized by L. B. Wood, captain, William M. Harrison, John F. Sharpe and Frank Jones, lieutenants, being mustered into service as Company."M," Twenty- eighth Texas Cavalry, at Marshall, Texas, in June, 1862, and
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was later dismounted and transferred to the Fourteenth Texas Infantry, as Company "K," with Sam J. Lyle captain. It was also in the noted Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas cam- paigns, doing valiant service when and where called for, and was honorably discharged at the final surrender of the Confederate armies in 1865.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Quite a number of men, citizens of Polk County, were en- listed in companies not originating or organized in the coun- ty, and some companies of State reserves or State militia, were so poorly accounted for, or their records lost, that it has been very difficult to procure satisfactory data as to whom, with what commands and what services were ren- dered, or where rendered, but all the names procurable, with commands and services rendered, have been listed and are appended as follows :
DANIEL D. MOORE
Immigrated to Texas about 1852, settling in Williams- Tullos neighborhood, Polk County, where he taught school some months. Elected district clerk, moved to Livingston ; engaged in mercantile business with the firm of J. & J. Wrigley; October 22, 1853, was married to Miss Harriett Elizabeth Hill, sister of Comrade J. Ę. Hill; served several years as clerk and justice of the peace.
After secession, 1861, raised and organized a company of volunteer infantry, of which he was elected captain, with K. B. DeWalt, H. B. Lowe and John I. Shotwell, lieu- tenants. Left April 28, 1861, for New Orleans, La., having assembled the company in Livingston on that day that all who wished to enlist could do so. Arrived at New Orleans about May 1, and after delay of about two weeks for en-
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rolling officer was mustered into service and designated as Company "B," First Texas Regiment, a company from Jef- ferson County having been previously mustered in as Com- pany "A." Went to Richmond, Va., where the company awaited others for organization of First Regiment of Texas Volunteer Infantry.
Capt. Moore remained with the company but a few months when, on account of continued ill health, he resigned and returned to his home in Livingston, where he continuously resided until his death from consumption in 1868, leaving his wife and one son, Tom Moore, surviving him.
KERR B. DeWALT,
Born in Newberry District, South Carolina, September 22, 1819. Married Miss Mary M. Hair, August 25, 1840. Moved to Fort Bend County, Texas, in 1846, and to Polk County in 1847, settling on Menard Creek, six miles east of Livingston, where he engaged in farming and where he died April 25, 1891. Enlisted in April, 1861, in company or- ganized by D. D. Moore, captain ; was elected first lieutenant and on resignation of Captain Moore was promoted to cap- tain of company. At expiration of term of service-one year-returned home, where he was given rank of major and placed in command of battalion of State troops on Gulf coast to close of the Civil war.
REV. S. B. B. DUNNAM,
Father of Sidney H., Montalvin A. and C. R. (Ickey) Dunnam, members of Company B, First Texas Regiment ; being too old for regular service, united with said company as an Independent. Was loved by his comrades, highly re- spected by all who knew him and was comforting to his companions in camp, on the march and in afflictions. He
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remained with the company until Sidney H. was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department, when he returned home. Had two sons, Sidney and A. J., killed at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, La., in April, 1864. He died at the resi- dence of Mrs. James E. Hill, with whom he had lived several years prior thereto. Was buried by Trinity Lodge, No. 14, A. F. & A. M., of which he had been an active member a number of years.
RICHARD JAMES HARDING,
Son of Wm. O. and Elizabeth James Harding, born in Amherst County, Va., April 24, 1841; immigrated with his parents to Polk County, Texas, in 1851, and settled near Moscow; attended the common schools of the county, the Gillette High School of Cold Springs, and later the Vir- ginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va. Was member of company of one hundred men sent from said institute to Charleston, Va. (later W. Va.), and assisted in executing "John Brown" on charge of treason and inciting insurrec- tion. Returned home and enlisted in company organized by D. D. Moore, captain, at Livingston, April 28, 1861, and went with it to Richmond, Va .; was elected orderly sergeant, and on resignation of Captain Moore was elected first lieu- tenant, vice K. B. DeWalt, promoted to captain.
In reorganization of company at expiration of one year, was elected captain. Was promoted to lieutenant colonel and commanded the First Texas Regiment at Chickamauga, Ga., September 19, 1863; took prominent part in battle of the Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864, being one of several who caught the bridle, turned his horse, and insisted that General Lee go to the rear, while Hood's Brigade would go to the front under Brigadier General Gregg; was seriously wounded at Cold Harbor No. 2 June 3, 1864, and so disabled as to be retired from active service December 1, 1864 ; moved to Hines County, Miss .. in 1870, where he married and en-
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gaged in farming until 1890, when he was elected sheriff and tax collector. Served six years and retired to private life, but at end of four years was again elected to said office and served four years. Has been active in political issues of county and State, making a good, reliable and trustworthy citizen, as well as a brave soldier and gallant officer in the army. Has been successful in business, accumulating suffi- cient property to live comfortably, and has contributed lib- erally towards the expense of publishing the historical data of Ike Turner Camp, and assisted materially in getting up a correct roster of his company and associates.
JOHN I. SHOTWELL,
Son of Rev. Wm. H. and Nancy Thomason Shotwell, born in St. Clair County, Ala., in 1839; immigrated to Texas with his parents in 1853; attended the common schools of Polk County and the Gillette High School at Cold Springs; enrolled in company organized by D. D. Moore, was elected third lieutenant. In reorganization of company at expira- tion of one year was elected first lieutenant complimentary to his gallant conduct at Eltham's Landing; promoted to captain September, 1863, vice R. J. Harding, promoted to lieutenant colonel; served as aid de camp to General Gregg until he was killed at Fort Harrison near Richmond, and was later appointed major with authority to organize a battalion of regulars; was captured in North Carolina and shot by his guard while attempting to escape. His remains were disinterred, brought home and buried in Livingston cemetery. A prominent staff officer said Captain Shotwell was the bravest of the brave.
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