USA > Texas > Johnson County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens of the present time, and full-page portraits of some of the most eminent men of this section > Part 30
USA > Texas > Hill County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens of the present time, and full-page portraits of some of the most eminent men of this section > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
During the summer the Missouri Pacifie Company proposed to build a road from Dal- las to Hillsboro, if the people of this county would raise an amount equal to $1,000 a mile
within the county. At a mass-meeting of the citizens a committee was appointed to raise subscriptions, consisting of E. B. Stroud, P. F. Fox, A. J. Jasper, O. M. Welborn and J. W. Golledge. July 17, that summer, the committee, then consisting of O. M. Wel- born, John D. Warren, C. D. Phillips, S. C. Upshaw and C. M. Dunham, had an inter- view with the Dallas committee, with the result that Hillsboro, Waxahachie, Milford and Lancaster agreed to give the right of way and depot grounds, while Dallas agreed to furnish whatever bonus might be necessary to secure the extension of the road. At the same time J. R. Thompson and E. B. Strond were successful in soliciting subscriptions for the extension.
But, as is always characteristic of pioneer railroad enterprises, the heavy undertaking seemed to drag its slow length along, defer- ring hope until the public heart is made sick. The following paragraph from the Reflector of August 19, 1886, is quite illustrative of the results of interviews with railroad men at such times: "There has not much been done during the past week in the way of pushing Missouri railway matters, from the fact that nothing could be effected until Mr. Dowland had accomplished the duty assigned him, -that of going over the road and report- ing to headquarters the result thereof. He was in the city on Monday last, having come through from Dallas by way of Lancaster, Waxahachie, Italy and Milford. We met him at the office of Colonel John D. Warren, and found him to be a very clever gentleman, but we elieited nothing definite from him in re-
21
AND HILL COUNTIES
gard to the road other than he was pleased and delighted with the route. He however said that his instructions were to do the best he could and report."
" Pleased with the ronte and will endeavor to do something," was generally the result of all interviews with railway officials.
During the next week the above company agreed to reduce the subsidy of 81,000 a mile to -$40,000 on the Ilillsboro and Dallas proposition;" this amounted to a fall of $20- 000 from their original proposition, which was 81,000 a mile and the right of way. Colonel John D. Warren then led a subserip- tion list with 82,000, followed by Adam Files, 81,000, the Millsboro delegation at Dallas, 85,000, ete., other points coming in until the amount reached $37,000, within a few moments. Dallas agreed to raise $30,000, but was slow in that movement, and finally failed altogether. When one or several places do their duty, it seems hard that they should be made to suffer on account of the dere- lietion of other places, especially when a promise is broken in so doing.
Immediately after the above failure, the question of building the " Southwestern ex- sion " was revived.
During the following January, (1887), the " Hillsboro, Dawson, Southeast & Northwest Railroad Company" was chartered, Colonel Warren at the head, and in a few hours $30,000 was pledged. The incorporators were J. D. Warren, A. II. Files, O. M. Wel- born, O. T. Lyon, C. E. Phillips, B. D. Tarl- ton, of Ilillsboro; and W. F. Osborne, G. W. Younger and J. J. Stansell, of Dawson.
Officers , J. D. Warren, president; G. W. Younger, First vice-president; M. D. Knox, second vice-president; W. F. Osborne, sec- retary; and J. R. Thompson, treasurer. Mr. Welborn was appointed to raise Hillsboro's share, $21,000, which he soon accomplished; and Mr. Osborn saw that Dawson raised her share. Authorized capital stock, $700,000.
March 11, it was determined by varions committees at Dallas to complete the south- western extension, and chartered their com- pany as the " Dallas, Granite and Gulf Railway." Their line was to come to Hills- boro and go on further west.
December 9 following, the St. Louis, Ar- kansas & Texas company completed their line to Ilillsboro, and started regular passen- ger trains February 2, 1888.
The railroad from Dallas to Hillsboro was completed early in Jannary, 1891, connecting with the Missonri, Kansas & Texas. The trains commeneed running during the latter part of the month.
May 15, 1891, the St. Louis, Arkanas & Texas railroad passed out of the hands of re- ceivers and the name changed to St. Louis & Southwestern railway, and for short is called the "Cotton Belt." Their new depot in Hillsboro cost abont $8,000. It is a fine building, 80 x 36 feet in dimensions, with two waiting-rooms, each 22 x 24 feet.' It is located in the western part of the city, just sonthwest of the " Katy" ( Missouri, Kansas & Texas) depot.
But long before the " Cotton Belt" line was built, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas rushed their line from north to south through
272
HISTORY OF JOHNSON
the county, through Hillsboro and on to Waco, opening for passenger business ou Sunday, April 26, 1881, with four daily trains and a through sleeper to Chicago.
Altogether, the citizens of Ilill county raised about $200,000 for railroads, including right of way and depot grounds. For the Cotton Belt they raised $15,000, the right of way and depot grounds, and other bonus, the total equaling about $60,000. For the Dal- las branch, the right of way from Milford and and depot grounds. For the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas, the right of way and depot grounds. The Texas Central, running through Whitney and Aquilla, obtained some local aid; but the branch running through IIub- bard, none from the citizens of this county; nor did the Santa Fe, running through the northwestern corner of the county.
January 20, 1887, a ripple of excitement was raised in Hillsboro by a few minutes' visit from the noted Jay Gould, who stepped olf the train here, asked many questions re- garding railroad matters and some political points, but answered but very few questions.
The foregoing is necessarily a brief sketch of a long career, and although fragmentary, it at least serves its main purpose, namely, to give eredit to the principal capitalists who did their duty in bringing railroads into the county.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school in Hill county was taught near Peoria, about 1854, by Judge II. W. Young, now of Hillsboro. During the second session of his school he had about 100 stu-
dents, many of them coming from a distance. But it is interesting to contrast the school facilities of those primitive times with those of the present. In this respect how the times have changed, both in the demands of the age and in the methods of supplying them!
In the first record of an order for a school fund in this county we find the following minute of a proceeding of the connty court held in December, 1856: " Ordered that the treasurer of the State of Texas be authorized to pay the treasurer of Hill county or his order, the sum of $29.92, amount due Hill county under the twelfth and thirteenth see- tions of the act of January 31, 1854." This appears like a small beginning for so great an institution as the publie school system of a county; but there are three very important elements to consider in such connection, viz .: the sparsity of the population, the little ap- preciation of a scholastie education always held by pioneers in any section of the country, and the great struggle they always have to undergo for a bare living, under precarious circumstances which entail much anxiety over the question whether they can eke ont a living at all.
Of course it would be altogether too tedi- ons to mention all the details of educational progress from year to year from the first to date, and we therefore pass to the year 1883, and glance at the statistics of that year:
No. of free school communities organized, white 77
=
44 " colored 5
No. of scholastic population . white 3,820
colored 231
No. of free schools maintained white 75
" colored. 4
258
AND HILL COUNTIES.
Average school term. days 90
Number of students taught in the different branches:
Orthography .3,075 English Grammar .925
Reading 3,000
Composition 125
Penmanship 1,150
History 425
Arithmetic .2,450
Algebra 100
Geography 1,325
Number of teachers who have received certificates of competency :
Ist grade, white male. . 20 2d grade, white female. 10 2d grade, white male . . 45 Ist grade, colored male. 1 3d grade, white male .. 5 2d grade, colored male. 1 Average salary per month, white male. $40.00
white female 35.00
44 colored male 45.00
Total amount of school fund expended $20,643.00
Now look on this picture: According to the last report (1889'-90), there were in the county, outside of Hillsboro, Hubbard and Whitney, -- which control their own schools independently of the county-ninety-six school districts; 100 white schools were taught and eight colored; eight schools were graded; one is a high school; number of seats (or " sit- tings") for children-white, 5,855; colored, 160; average school term in months -- white, 5; colored, 3.9; number of pupils of scholas- tic age, white, 4,822; colored, 169; number under scholastic age (under eight years of age) actually enrolled, white, 541; colored, 11; number over scholastic age (sixteen years), white, 698; colored, 1; average daily attend- ance-white, 2,850; colored, 115; number of pupils of school age who could not read when they entered school-white, 969; colored, 46; number who could not read when they left school -- white, 202; colored, 5; number who could not write when they entered -- white, 1,545; colored, 81; when they left- white, 447; colored, 30; number who did not under-
stand the four fundamental rules of arith- metic when they entered school-white, 3,292; colored, 120; number who did not when they left -white, 1,947; colored, 86. Number of pupils instructed in geometry, 32; natural philosophy, 88; physiology, 45; civil government, 22; Latin, 6; bookkeep- ing, 8.
Number of schools visited during the year by the superintendent-white, 90; colored, 6,-one visit to each school. There were ten teachers' institutes held during the year, with an average attendance of twenty teachers.
Number of male teachers holding first- grade certificates, 31, all white; second-grade, 35 white and 4 colored; third-grade, three white; female, first-grade. eleven, white; second grade, 22 white and 2 colored; third- grade, four white and one colored. Nom- ber of teachers holding diplomas from colleges, 8; and 2 held diplomas or certifi- cates from Texas normal schools.
During the school year closing August 81, 1891, there were 4 new schoolhouses built, at a total cost of $1,970; 65 school- houses are frame, 1 brick and 1 stone; 67 are for the education of white children and 2 for colored; 60 schoolhouses are reported as in good condition, 5 fair and 2 bad. Total value of public schoolhouses and grounds in the county, white, $31,470; col- ored, $100; value of school furniture and apparatus, 84,166 white, and . $20 colored. In this regard there has been great improve- inent.
Total amount paid teachers from the pub- lic-school fund, $27,313.50 for white, and
254
HISTORY OF JOHNSON
$1,009 tor colored; from private tuition, 82.105.45 for white, and none for colored. Average salary per month, male teachers, white, 851.49, and colored, 841.50; for fe- male teachers, white, 837.50 and colored, $35. The average rate of tuition per month of pupils of scholastic age, as per actual attendance, 81.90 for white, and $2.25 for colored; aver- age rate of tuition per month as per actual en- rollment of pupils of seholastie age in school, $1.11 for white, and $1.53 for eolored. Amount apportioned per capita, 30 cents.
In 1891, sixteen districts supplement the publie fund by extra local taxation, thus making the terms longer and providing bet- ter sehoolhouses. White and colored chil- dren receive the benefits of the publie-school fund alike, although they are taught in sep- arate schools. White teachers are employed for the white children and colored for the colored children. The term in the country districts is from three to nine months, and in districts where the tax payers vote a supplementary tax, the schools are open from seven to ten months in each year.
Hill county did her whole patriotie duty during the last war, as will be seen from the facts enumerated in this chapter. Most of the time during that unfortunate struggle a number of men were absent from this county and in the army equal to the whole number of men sufficiently able- bodied to be subject to military duty.
alry, and D, of the Nineteenth, were made np entirely from Hill county, and these served in General Parsons' famous brigade, an ac- count of which is given on page 117, with additional reminiseences by M. L. Hickey, of Peoria, on these pages. General W. II. Parsons was a lawyer and merchant of Fort Graham before the war, having been one of the first settlers at that point; but he had also lived in Cleburne, Waco, ete. In his brigade were also companies from Ellis and Johnson counties. Some of the citizens of All the school lands are sold. Ilill county were members of the Eighth and Eleventh Texas regiments of cavalry, who acquitted themselves on the battle-field with a higher degree of bravery and cool judgment than was ever known in the history of America. The last tight occurred March 18-20, 1865, under command of Brigadier-General Cum- mings, at Bentonville, North Carolina. These two regiments, with 100 guns eael, charged upon and whipped the Seventeenth Army Corps of General W. T. Sherman's army and drove them back over two miles. This uoted corps had flanked the left of the Confederate force and got in its rear under cover of dark- MILITARY. ness. Cummings' brigade, led by Colonel Robert Henderson, charged upon them at 8 o'clock A. M., and fought them until 4 r. M. The Eighth and Eleventh Texas Cavalry were led by General Harder. The fighting had been vigorous on Sunday, the 18th, and Mon- day up to late in the afternoon, and Tuesday morning it seemed to be more vigorous than ever. It seemed that the days of the Con- federacy wore about to be numbered; but for Companies A, of the Twelfth Texas Cav- 'all that, of all the daring acts of war it is
AND HILL COUNTIES.
thought that none excelled the bravery and coolness of the Texans on this occasion. With the familiar " rebel yell," with bayonets fixed, and with firm determination depicted in cael soldier's countenance, the charge was made; infantry and artillery seemed to strive to see which should gain the most honors on the field of battle.
After the fight, when the commands marched back to Johnston's headquarters in an open field, the remark made to the boys by the general will never be forgotten: " The pages of history will never be able to tell of the military feat which you have achieved for yourselves on this occasion." General Ilar- der said to the Georgia boys, " I feel proud uf the boys of the Tennessee army,-proud of the bravery and honor which they have exhibited in this battle."
ROLL OF COMPANY A, TWELFTH TEXAS CAV-
ALRY OR DRAGOONS FOR FOUR YEARS.
(KINDLY FURNISHED BY M. L. HICKEY, OF PEORIA.)
(A number of the names are probably mis- spelled.)
J. P. Wier, first Captain, killed at Yellow Bayon, May 18, 1864.
G. W. Ingram, First Lientenant, promoted to Captain, 1864.
1I. B. Smith, First Lieutenant.
J. M. Jackson, Second Lieutenant.
R. W. Calhoun, Third Lieutenant.
W. Carmichael, ex-Lieutenant, discharged 1862.
G. W. Taylor, ex-Lientenant, discharged 1862.
J. M. MeDeason, bugler.
R. A. Gee, First Sergeant.
J. G. Reatherford, Second Sergeant.
R. J. MeKinney, Third Sergeant.
W. Crow, Fourth Sergeant. J. P. Offield, First Corporal.
F. G. Ileatlı, Second Corporal.
W. L. Booth, Third Corporal.
N. M. Carver, Fourth Corporal.
PRIVATES AND EX-OFFICERS.
D. Arehey, transferred 1862.
W. M. Arehey, transferred 1862.
W. Adkins, died at Houston, Texas, 1861. W. R. Arnold, transferred 1861.
C. T. Booth.
R. R. Booth.
J. C. Bowles, killed at Fayettville, Arkan- sas, April 18, 1863.
Tom Bowles.
J. G. Bowles.
W. M. Bennett, died at Little Rock, Arkan- sas, April, 1862.
J. W. Bradley, discharged.
W. M. Bankhead, discharged 1862.
II. Brown, discharged 1862.
J. F. Bond, transferred 1862.
J. O. Burden, transferrred 1862.
J. W. Burden, transferred 1862.
J. C. Calvert. Eli Case.
J. A. Calahan.
J. W. Cook, ex- Lientenant, transferred 1862.
W. Cox.
W. B. Claton, transferred 1862.
J. D. L. Crowley, transferred 1861.
256
HISTORY OF JOHNSON
L. B. Datele transferred 1503.
W. L. Daniele, transferred 1503.
N. B. Daniels, transferred 1863.
G. W. Files, discharged 1861. T. J. Files, Sr. T. J. Files, Jr.
R. W. Troman, killed at Yellow Bayou, Louisiana, May 18, 1864.
J. J. Frost, transferred 1864.
A. J. Fancher.
R. Frasier, died at Arcadia, Louisiana, 1863.
D. C. Feasell, transferred 1862.
James Frasier, transferred 1861.
J. J. Gathings.
W. C. Gathings.
P. W. Gathings.
J. O. Gee, died at Des Are, Arkansas, 1862.
J. G. Galahair, died 1861.
J. D. Gipson, transferred 1862.
W. M. Green, transferred 1862.
G. W. Green, transferred 1862. W. Grisem, discharged 1862.
M. L. Hickey. M. L. lliggins.
R. Higgins, died 1862.
W. S. Ileath.
G. W. Heath- Thomas Heath. J. J. Iloleomb.
R. A. Ilarris.
B. F. Hoges.
J. W. Hoges. F. Ilagert.
M. Harrison, transferred 1862.
S. Ilillyer, transferred 1862.
J. B. Hughes, discharged 1862.
Jesse Hughes. died 1562.
J. W. Hamilton, deserted 1561. J. B. Ingramn. J. M. Ince. John Ince. C. Ince. F. M. Inee. Joel Jackson.
A. J. Johnson.
John Jackson, discharged January, 1863.
K. G. Knight, transferred 1862.
(. Knight, transferred 1864.
N. Kemp, discharged 1862.
A. II. Lamb.
T. B. Lane.
W. C. Lovelace, transferred 1861.
A. L. Leath.
E. C. Mayfield, discharged 1862.
II. Mayfield. T. More.
Thomas More.
Jolin MeAnier.
J. C. McMillan.
L. F. Mitchell, deserted 1863. T. MeBride.
J. S. Mckinney.
J. W. Morrison, ex-Orderly, or First Ser- geant.
J. E. Morrison.
W. M. Martin, ex-Orderly Sergeant.
P. II. Martin, transferred 1861.
W. L. Martin, died 1864.
S. J. Neal.
T. J. Oliphant, deserted 1863.
E. A. Pace.
II. A. Pace. G. G. Pace.
957
AND HILL COUNTIES.
A. Park.
R. Penington, transferred 1862.
W. C. Powell, died 1861.
A. Roberts.
J. J. Russell.
D. F. Russell, killed by lightning Febru- ary 23, 1863.
II. M. Russell.
T. J. Rich.
II. M. Rodman, wounded and discharged 1863.
R. P. Roby, discharged 1862.
G. A. Roberts, transferred 1862. M. B. Roberts, transferred 1861.
J. M. Rose, discharged 1863. J. W. Wright, transferred 1861. Thomas Reece. Hugh Reece.
J. M. Sawyears.
R. II. Sawyears.
J. C. Sawyears. P. A. Smith, Sr.
P. A. Smith, Jr.
N. Steel, killed by accidental shot 1864.
J. G. Steel, transferred 1864. D. C. Steel, discharged 1862. T. Stockton, transferred 1862. B. E. Trafton. R. A. Tanner. G. W. Tanner. W. Thomas.
L. L. Terry, died 1861.
C. W. Taylor, died 1861. M. Trafton, discharged 1862. Sam Taylor, discharged 1862. J. Trim, discharged 1862. J. M. Tarver, discharged 1863.
J. E. Twilegar, deserted 1863.
G. W. Taylor, ex-Lieutenant, discharged 1862.
A. Thomas, transferred 1862.
T. Varnon.
W. M. Varnon.
J. J. Witty. J. C. Wadle.
/ Thomas Wood.
G. T. Webster.
L. C. White, deserted January, 1863.
F. M. White, deserted September, 1863.
F. M. Williams, died 1861.
Wm. Woods, died 1862.
J. E. Wilkison, transferred 1862.
IT. Wetherly, died 1863. Wm. Wilder, died 1861.
J. W. Young, died 1861.
J. G. Young, transferred 1862.
T. J. Ilight, transferred 1862. Sam Billingsly, transferred 1862.
John Severe, transferred 1862.
J. W. Weaver, discharged 1862. John Taylor, died 1862. Dixon Veal, transferred 1862.
COMPANY D, NINETEENTHI TEXAS CAVALRY.
Following is the original muster roll, kindly furnished us by D. C. Wornell: F. M. Snyder, John P. Cox, ' Gip Smith, James Anderson,
W. A. Treadwell, J. J. Greenwade, John Ferry, 11. C. Fancher,
Carroll Veale, T. S. Horton,
Dickson Veale, W. R. Ables,
Columbus Veale, R. T. Frazier,
258
HISTORY OF JOHNSON
Jackson Veale,
W. R. Arnold,
John B. Graham, James Seruggs,
P. Greenwade, Van Walling,
J. M. Gritlin, J. B. Williams,
John Wood,
Win. Armstrong,
C. N. Harris,
W. A. Graham,
W. C. Watson, G. W. Aycock,
C. Il. Wait,
J. W. Byers,
T. J. Walling,
D. C. Wornell,
Jo Wheat,
J. W. MeCullough,
A. S. Wilson,
J. M. Moss,
T. K. Yates,
James Mayose (Mex.),
Elias B. Nance,
King W. Falson,
E. Procell (Mex.),
W. P. Cunningham,
B. F. Pruitt,
J. T. Lanhan,
G. R. Williams,
De Lorus Dudley,
Il. W. Harris,
Win. Sherman,
J. Il. Ilick.
E. J. Calloway,
R. V. Hicks,
J. B. Doak,
A. G. Ilickey,
L. D. Bond, Il. P. Ilarris,
James Belowe, C. Ince,
L. M. Bateman,
J. J. Jenkins,
B. B. Barnett,
B. F. Killian,
W. J. Billington,
Wm. Kirkpatrick,
Andrew Caton,
W. P. Kirkpatrick,
II. M. Lary,
James Lawless.
J. Murphy,
B. F. Clampitt,
J. S. Middleton,
B. Delaney,
F. McFadden,
J. II. Dillard,
John l'. Dallas,
Green Davis,
W. C. Moseley,
Thomas Draper,
N. K. Elliott,
R. A. Furgerson,
M. R. Reynolds,
J. C. Frazier,
J. F. Allen,
P. E. Varnell,
Ben Ward,
Win. Anderson,
A. Y. Kirkendall.
This company was made up in Hillsboro, in the spring of 1861, by electing John B. Williams captain, who was afterward pro- moted major, and Lieutenant J. B. Doak promoted to his place as captain of Company D), with T. J. Walling first lientenant, J. J. Greenwade second lieutenant, C. 11. Waits third lientenant, and John P. Cox orderly sergeant.
These officers carried their company through the war and returned home in 1865, with only a remnant, the majority having lost their lives in the service of their country, -some at Negro llill, Langeal, Pleasant HIill, etc. In fact, all along the line some . members of this noble company fell in the service. Major John B. Williams died after he returned home, leaving a widow and sev- eral children, who resido at Cleburne. Mrs. Williams was afterward elected an honorary member of Parsons' Brigade Association, and she seldom failed to meet the remnant of the old company at its annual reunions, sometimes being almost the only represent- ative of that company present at the reunion of the brigade.
Company D had a noble set of office?s, whom the soldiers were proud to follow wherever they went. Captain Doak is in Mexico, Lieutenant Greenwade in Kentucky, Lientenant Walling in Bosque county, Texas, Waits in eastern Texas when last heard from,
W. II. Campbell, W. Y. Crofford, John Sorell,
J. W. Morris, N. S. Middleton,
W. II. Parton, II. Reed,
E. Roberts,
A. Ribley,
J. T. Suttles,
E. Il. Ables,
259
AND HILL COUNTIES.
and Sergeant Cox is the present popular sheriff of Hill county.
PARSONS' BRIGADE.
Following are a few brief reminiscences concerning this noted brigade, kindly fur- nished by Mr. M. L. Hickey, of Peoria, Hill county, which will be of interest to the eiti- zens here:
l'arsons' brigade consisted of the Twelfth Texas Dragoons, which was at first "Parsons' regiment," and the Ninteenth Texas Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Carter, and also Mor- gan's battalion and Captain Pratt's battery or artillery. Parsons' old regiment first went into eamp four miles northwest of Waco, where they drilled under that colonel during the last of May and the first of June, 1861. They were then mounted and drilled a short time on Red Oak creek, in Ellis county, at Camp MeCullongh. Next they were in the State service, numbering as the Fourth Texas. Then they were ordered to Simm's bayou, near Galveston. On their way there they camped a short time in Lime- stone county, for recruits, and that point was hence called Camp Moss, Thence they marched to Hempstead, where they were mustered into the Confederate servico for three years or during the war.
It then became necessary to change the number of the regiment to the Twelfth Texas Dragoons, W. II. Parsons, Colonel, by which the men were drilled both in infantry and eavalry tacties. This ground was named Camp Parsons. Remaining here until early in the spring of 1862, and thero being very little or no prospect of an attack on Galves-
ton; and, both the colonel and the men being anxious to meet the enemy (or " Yankees" as the Confederates called them), Parsons suc- eeeded in obtaining orders to move North, and the line of march was begun immedi- ately.
The regiment eamped at Camp Beauregard, on Chambers ercek in Ellis county, in March, with ten as good companies as ever stood on Texas soil, and with but few men who had beard on their faces. Company A at this time was commanded by Captain J. P'. Weir, of Hill county; Company B, of Freestone county, by Captain A. M. Mato; Company C, of Johnson county, by Captain W. J. Neal; Company D, by Captain Highsmith, of Bas- trop county; E, of Ellis county, by Captain John Brown; F, by W. J. Veal, of Ellis county; Company G, of Kaufman county, by Captain Keiser; II, also of Ellis county, by Captain Guy Stolks; I, of Williamson county, by Captain Morrow; and K, by Captain James Brown, of Limestone county. These companies averaged about 120 men cach, making 1,200 men in the regiment.
They were well mounted and armed with " home-made" rifles and double-barreled shot-guns, and four had six-shooters. At this place the regiment was partially reor- ganized. Lieutenant-Colonel Mullens re- signed on account of failing health, and - Burleson was elected in his place, filling that office to the close of the war, with signal gallantry and with honor to the regiment. Although he led his men to the battle-field on several occasions, he singularly escaped injury; but after the war strong drink proved
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