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 4
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COMPANY AND REGIMENT UNKNOWN. J. H. DePriest, Captain. Watts, John
COMPANY AND REGIMENT UNKNOWN. W. W. Whitehead, Captain.
Nowlin, D. Sherod Slatter, James Smith. E. A.
COMPANY AND REGIMENT UNKNOWN. Enoch Pitts, Captain, Tyler County.
Felder, James
Mercer, John Twitchell, Asa
Felder, Daniel
Powell, Cato Twitchell, Francis
George, John
CO. - , 23RD TEXAS CAVALRY. GANO'S BRIGADE. Canon, Ed F.
CO. - , JOE TULLOS, CAPT., TRINITY COUNTY.
Conley, W. C. (2) Hulett, Wm. R. Parsons, Lemuel
Clay, Royal (2) Kincaid, J. D. (2) Tullos, Anslem
Hooker, James (2) Merchant, John Tullos. Marion
CO. "D," 25TH TEXAS CAVALRY, KIRBY SMITH GUARD Dozier, - Hammond, John W. Wright, R. R. -
COMPANY AND REGIMENT UNKNOWN.
Fulton, Rufus
No report showing who surrendered.
(1) Killed or died from wound.
(2) Died from sickness.
(4) Discharged or retired.
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OPENING ADDRESS OF HONORABLE JAMES E. HILL INTRODUCING Judge James M. Crosson, at the Confederate Monument Unveiling, Livingston, Texas, October 10. 1901.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Daughters of the Confederacy, and Members of Ike Turner Camp:
We are assembled on ground dear to the hearts of all citizens of Polk County. From this square seven companies, composed of the pride and the chivalry of this county, de- parted for the fields of battle. Here it was that mothers, in parting from their sons, called the blessings of God in their behalf, and bade them obey the call of their country to arms-to go and do their duty.
Gray-headed fathers, bowed with age, told their boys to go and strike the enemy for the protection of their homes, their liberty, their honor, their altars and their fires. Sis- ters wept at parting with their fathers and brothers. but never, no, never, said "stay at home," but "go." Lovers and
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sweethearts parted as in the days of chivalry and knight- hood, lovers knowing that the hands of the fair depended on their bravery on the battlefield. The sweethearts they left behind were as true and brave as the English girl in Crom- well's day, clinging to the knocker in the bell tower, crying. "Curfew will not toll tonight."
Captain Ike Turner took the stars and bars from the hands of a lovely maiden in front of the Andress hotel, sur- rounded by the beauty of this county-the fairest flowers of any land. He waved his cap at the girls assembled, and said: "When I return I will bring each of you a hero." The gallant captain fell on the battlefield of Virginia fight- ing, with his face to the foe. Those of his command who returned were indeed heroes, covered with honor and the love of their native land.
Let history record the bravery of the tenth legion of Cæ- sar, of the chivalry of the invincible rear guard of Napoleon -of the immortal charge of Ney at Friedland, where the hero was promoted and knighted by Napoleon, "The Bravest of the Brave," but they pale when compared to Hood's Texas Brigade. Their charge at the Wilderness, in the presence of Lee and President Davis, when Richmond and the Confederacy were trembling in the balance, rendered that command immortal. There it was that Lee's horse was led to the rear, and the general told by the Texans: "We will attend to the enemy, you command." In that charge the Federals were routed, one of their gunners, leaning over his piece, with the life-blood running from his breast and the death-gurgle in his throat, cried out as Hood's soldiers passed, "They must be devils."
On every general battlefield, except Bull Run, the ground was moistened by the crimson life-blood of Polk County heroes. In no other conflict since civilization began can it be found that the victorious enemy, when the blessings of peace came after such a conflict, has the leading general on the opposing side been immortalized by his enemies as has
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been done by the United States in placing in the Temple of Fame the name of the immortal Robert E. Lee.
At Pleasant Hill the charge equalled any the world ever witnessed. Sweeping over the plain at the setting sun like an avalanche, the Confederates, including three of Polk County's companies, met Banks' minions, and routed them. In the charge a gallant soldier of Polk County was shot through. He lay on the field during the night, no mother or sister to place water to his parched lips, but the kind dews of heaven moistened his brow-his only aid. He lives, and today is commander of Ike Turner camp.
At Mansfield a gallant soldier of Polk County commanded the Twenty-second regiment in that deadly charge. He fell pierced by three Federal bullets. but he cried out from the ground for his men to "charge." The victory was complete. That gallant officer is now a citizen of our county.
Time will not allow me to trace the chivalry and daring of our sons who followed our seven companies and various other commands. Would that I could do so. But wherever Polk County's soldiers stood they did their duty, though death was the result.
In 1858 one of South Carolina's sons settled in this town. He said, "Your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God." When Sumter fell he marched from this place at the head of a gallant company of our sons and fathers. He went with his company at his country's call to the bare and parched plains of New Mexico. At Val Verde he led the charge-there where our brave McCormick fell by Federal shot; the gallant captain and his company were covered with glory, and he was promoted on the battle- field. It is my pleasant privilege today to introduce to you, to deliver the address on this occasion, that captain, by the title he won on that battlefield-Major James M. Crosson.
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ADDRESS OF JUDGE J. M. CROSSON AT THIE Confederate Monument Unveiling, October 10, 1901.
After a short but very appropriate introduction by Judge J. E. Hill, and as the monument was unveiled by Miss Rowe- na Green, the speaker said:
All hail, monument dedicated to the brave and true!
Your top should be reaching the sky, Proclaiming what you represent; How true inen and patriots can die. Oh, silent and 'lone monument!
You speak of the soldiers in gray, Whose pluck, though their numbers were few,
In triumph so oft won the day, And wrested the palm from the blue.
The fame of their deeds shall abide In the hearts of our people, who dwell In the land at whose mandate they died- The storm-cradled nation that fell.
Oh, voiceless stone, you tell the story of their glory !
Now, Miss Rowena Green, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of a comrade, a hero of Hood's Brigade-A. B.
Green-and the granddaughter of David G. Green, a hero of the Texas revolution, I salute you. As you unveiled this monument our hearts swelled with patriotic emotion. May your pathway through life be strewn with flowers sweet as your own amiable and lovely character.
Comrades, I am grateful for the invitation that brings me here to my old home and comrades, to address you. I love Polk; I love her rivers and her rills, her vales and her hills ; her brave sons and lovely daughters. My comrades, I greet you! I am proud to see so many here, with heads erect as when the bullets of volleyed thunder went wildly screaming o'er the empurpled field in a tempestuous storm of fire.
Fair Daughters of the Confederacy, the uncrowned queens of our hearts, the inspiration of every noble and chivalrous deed-I salute you !
Dear, sweet ladies, our hearts are thine 'Till the springs of life shall fail, 'Till the cords of life shall sever.
Sons of the Confederacy, I greet you! This monument will remind you of your heroic ancestry, and the basic prin- ciples of human liberty.
On an occasion like this we should not forget the heroes of the Texas Revolution. Valentine Burch, James Burch, Claiborne, Holshausen, Barnett Hardin and David G Green should be remembered when deeds of patriotic valor are mentioned-great, grand, good patriotic citizens. When clouds and darkness was over Texas, and our citizens were fleeing, Houston turned, and the two Burches performed va- liant duty on the field of San Jacinto. The other three were hastening to join the army, but were delayed by high waters, and after swimming bayous, reached the army next day. When you decorate the graves of your heroes, put chaplets of flowers on their graves.
Standing by this monument we will discuss the heroism of the Confederate soldiers-"how defeat does not always establish the wrong"-how the organic principles of consti-
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tutional liberty went down in a bloody night-how principle lost, and force won.
This monument will keep alive in our own hearts the ties that can only be expressed by the strong grasp of the hand, the quivering lip, the falling tear, and can only die when our hearts lie mouldering in the grave.
This is a day for memories sad, sweet and hallowed; this day you perpetuate the heroic deeds of your fallen comrades ; this monument will remind your children's children as they pass this way of their heroic virtues.
Oh, heroes of life's valiant age, With patriot visions bright, There's none so brave as he who fails Or dies for freedom's right.
The editor of The Local has well said: "The language on this monument is not only eloquent, but speaks volumes of history; recalls struggles, war, suffering, devotion to prin- ciples that was not born to die."
What exciting memories this monument arouses, carrying us back to the days of '61-'65. In it you pay loving tribute to the boys of Polk, who, with gay and gladsome tread, bid good-bye to home and loved ones, singing, "Cheer, boys, cheer, we'll march away to battle," and going straight to the front, went to their death in a vain but heroic struggle.
Though over a third of a century has passed, recollec- tions of them as they marched away to battle come crowd- ing upon us as we gaze on this monument, set here by loving hands and tender hearts as a testimonial to their virtues.
Aye, when this monument shall have crumbled into dust, Confederate principles will live a model for generations yet unborn. "Avalanches of defeat never kill a principle."
Your camp is well named. Among the iron men of Polk who, with dazzling grandeur, trod the crimson paths of war, there is no brighter star in this galaxy of glory than Captain Ike Turner, who sleeps, and glory is his sentinel.
Polk furnished more soldiers than she had voters, and as
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large, if not a larger, number in proportion to her white population than any other county in the State.
In 1861 she sent four companies, three of which were in Hood's historic brigade, and in Green's splendid brigade. Company B, First Texas, was the first to respond to the call to arms-in June, '61-D. D. Moore, captain, and R. B. De- Walt, lieutenant, inspired with patriotic zeal, organized it.
Company H, Fifth Texas, left for the front the latter part of August, 1861. John S. Cleveland, captain, always bore himself with magnificent devotion and courage.
Company K, Fifth Texas, started to the front September 3, 1861, I. N. M. Turner, captain, a superb soldier, to whom I have heretofore alluded.
Company F, Fourth T. M. I., went to the front September 9, 1861, J. M. Crosson, captain.
Three companies were organized in 1862.
Company E, Twentieth Texas, went to the front March 2, 1862, J. H. McCardell, captain, a noble soldier, a learned, intellectual, polished gentleman, loved by all. It is good for us to have known so good and pure a man.
Company K, Fourteenth Texas, organized June, 1862, S. Lyles, captain.
Company F, Twenty-second Texas, I. A. Scruggs, captain. The last two belonged to Walker's division.
Of the living we say nothing; they must speak for them- selves.
They were earnest, brave men, full of dash and steadiness. From Glorietta to Appomatox they fell on "the red sands of the battlefield with bloody corpses strewn."
Comrades, with us there is snow in the hair. The frosts are whitening the locks the bullets once kissed. We have passed the summit of the mountain, and are fast hurrying into the shadows of the valley. We are dropping from the ranks one by one, and soon will be floating out into the sea of eternity ; and in our hearts the fires of passion have long since ceased to burn.
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Whilst a universal charity has thrown the white blanket of forgiveness over the individual misguided men in blue, we cannot condone their cruel crime in waging a war against us, contrary to the teachings of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and the organic principles of American freedom.
After the war, reconstruction. Of this Governor Ross said: "Those whose hatred remained implacable were those who held high carnival in the rear, and snored louder in their beds at home than they shouted on the battlefield, and after danger had passed emerged from their hiding places and gave us the horrid nightmare of reconstruction." They were politicians who never heard the wild rebel yell, and placed over us negroes, carpetbaggers (ghouls full of spleen and arrogance) and scalawags; hellish cormorants, who are named in the order of their respectability, and who have sunk so low in the depths of infamy that the eye of fancy scarce can reach them.
There are two individuals I hate-the devil and the poli- tician. Two classes I love-the old Confederates and the women. God bless them!
But peace came when General Grant said, "Let us have peace," and standing by Governor Coke, tore the hands of the traitor, E. J. Davis, from the throat of Texas, and stood by Governor Coke. For this act, honor to General Grant. Then white-winged peace o'ershadowed our land, and we buried our passions in pathos as we had buried our heroes in love.
This dedication of this monument is not a revival of the war spirit; and whilst we respect the genuine individual sol- diers in blue, who answered to the call of his home State (not the traitors from the South nor foreigners and hire- lings, who sold their blood for money), we cannot, we dare not, we will not, esteem them as we do our gallant comrades "who, when the shot hailed in deadly drafts of fiery spray," stood beside us, amid the gleaming of sword blades, the roaring of cannon, and fought for a cause just and right.
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"It is Christ-like to forgive wrong, but not Christ-like to honor wrong."
The Yanks invaded us, fought for a policy contrary to the Constitution ; they were traitors to the Constitution. We fought for a principle-the right to govern ourselves.
They call us rebels, and the G. A. R. and a cloud of pen- sioners so nominate us now.
The men of '76 were rebels and their fame is as enduring as the stars. It is, has been and always will be a glorious title.
Aye, when beneath some grassy mound I lie sleeping, life's fitful fever o'er, I want no prouder epitaph than, "Here lies a ragged rebel."
The grand old patriots of Mecklenburg, N. C.,-"the hor- net's nest of rebels"-in May, '75, followed by the Declara- tion of Independence, July 4, '76, announced the basic prin- ciple of our liberties, "that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed," "Liberty is not the gift of government; it is the gift of God."
Immortal Jeff Davis, from your home in glory, look over the battlements of heaven, and tell these old warriors, who loved you while living, and revere you now dead, were they traitors ?
Hark! Methinks I hear him reply: "Prior to the war, from Maine to the Gulf the contention of all profound con- stitutional lawyers was that the only inalienable allegiance was that due the State."
RIGHT OF SECESSION.
The United States government was the creature of the States, with limited powers, delegated by the sovereign States.
1. New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts inserted the right in their acceptance of the. Constitution.
2. Massachusetts declared that. "to consolidate the States
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into one sovereignty would be to transform the republican system into a monarchy."
3. When the convention was discussing the Constitution, the term "nation" appeared in one of its clauses; a delegate from Connecticut moved to strike it out, and it was carried almost unanimously. On this Miss Adelia A. Dunovant, the talented historian of the U. D. C. of Texas, wrote truly; "The elimination of that word, 'nation,' from the Constitu- tion proclaimed that this government is a federative system of free, sovereign and independent States. On this founda- tion our government rested."
4. In 1811 and 1844 New England claimed the right.
5. Josiah Quincy of Massachusetts, in 1811 in Congress, said: "If Louisiana is admitted the bonds of the Union are dissolved; the States are free from it; it is the right of each to dissolve it."
6. John Quincy Adams and other Northern congress- men, in 1845, in a joint letter to their constituents, wrote : "The annexation of Texas would justify a dissolution of the Union."
7. In the great debate between Webster and Calhoun, in February, 1833, Calhoun, with unanswerable logic, estab- lished the truth that the States were sovereign; Webster, neither then nor at any other time, answered him, but did modify his opinion. Afterwards, in 1839, in an argument bfore the Supreme Court; and in his famous Baring Bros. letter, and in a speech in June, 1851, at Capon Springs, Va., fully admitted that the States were sovereign; that the Con- stitution was a compact, and if broken by one party, the other would no longer be bound to observe the compact.
8. The elder President Harrison compared it to a part- nership.
9. Roosevelt, father of the President, says the resolu- tions passed by the Hartford convention in 1814 were so framed as to justify secession.
10. General Sickles, late candidate for commander-in- chief of the G. A. R., in 1860 in Congress, said: "In our
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federal system the recognized right of secession is a conser- vative safeguard. It is the highest constitutional and moral safeguard against injustice."
11. Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, speaking of Web- ster, said: "When the Constitution was adopted by the votes of the States, and accepted by their votes in popular con- vention, it is safe to say that there was not a man in the country, from Washington and Hamilton on one side and Clinton and Mason on the other, who regarded the new system as anything but an experiment, entered into by the States, and from which each and every State had the right to peaceably withdraw."
So stood every president from Jefferson to Lincoln.
But why continue further?
Lincoln, himself, in Congress, in 1848, said; "Any people, anywhere, had the right to shake off the existing govern- ment and form a new one." "This," said he, "is a most valuable and sacred right."
Passion, revenge, hatred, cupidity, ignorance and fanati- cism have created a great misunderstanding of secession.
It was the cause of constitutional liberty vs. consolidation, imperialism.
It meant simply an orderly, peaceable withdrawal from the Union, and justified on the basis that the States were sovereign, and that the Northern States had violated the compact.
The continued violation of the federal compact was the cause of secession-not slavery. It was the pretext under which those who wished an empire, sought to destroy State rights, and was used to excite in the North the "unco guid and rigidly righteous."
Here let us pay a just tribute to the old ante-bellum negro (not the new issue) for their services to our families while we were at the front.
Lincoln, prior to his election, declared that the States could not remain in the Union as they had originally agreed and stipulated. Chase, of his cabinet, said: "The Northern
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States would not comply with their constitutional obliga- tions," and they did not.
We desired peace; Lincoln inaugurated war, abrogated the Declaration of Independence and inaugurated a consoli- dated government, which Massachusetts in her patriotic days said would be to transform the republican system into a monarchy. Our government is now a centralized despot- ism, ruled by a plutocracy of wealth.
Since the wild waves of adversity have swept over our land, the imperial, commercial greed, mercenary instinct has brushed aside the sentiment of liberty, and charges that liberty, equality and fraternity are but iridescent dreams.
From that evil day the fundamental idea on which hu- man liberty is based-"that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed"-has never been tolerated by our own or any other government.
WHO BEGAN THE WAR?
The firing upon Fort Sumter was not the commencement of the war. Gregg, the English historian, says: "Lincoln covertly began the war by a signal of treachery. The ag- gressor in war is not the first that uses force, but the first who renders force necessary."
Governor Seward, the brains of Lincoln's party, in a writ- ten opinion to Lincoln, at his request, wrote :
"1. The dispatch of an expedition to reinforce Sumter would provoke an attack, and so involve war.
"2. The preparation for such an expedition would trans- pire and precipitate a war.
"3. I do not think it wise to provoke a civil war (not re- bellion), beginning at Charleston. I advise against it."
But seven Northern governors caused Lincoln to break faith as to Sumter by sending a hostile fleet, the relief squadron, with eleven ships, carrying 285 guns and 2400 sea- men with orders to reinforce Sumter peaceably if permitted, and forcibly if they must, thus by a single act violating
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his word, and treacherously inaugurated war. They were just entering the outer harbor when Sumter was fired upon.
The imperialists are so rampant now that our government stands supinely by and sees struggling republics crushed, and sympathizes with and aids the oppressor.
How different from the times when on Webster's reso- lution of sympathy with Greece, Clay said, "Are we so hum- ble, so low, so debased, that we dare not express our sym- pathy with suffering Greece; that we dare not articulate our detestation of the brutal excesses of which she has been the bleeding victim, lest we might offend one or more of their imperial and royal majesties?"
On the same line, ex-President Harrison said: "I am an American, but my sympathies are with the Boer Republic. I cannot help it. If we have lost the capacity to weep when a republic dies, it is a grievous loss."
By congressional legislation, our president now holds in his hands the destinies of ten million people whom he taxes without representation, and governs without their consent.
The Supreme Court, in its palmy days, said: "Congress cannot delegate legislative powers to the president, and that this is a principle vital to the integrity of the republic."
Our present Supreme Court, against the express declara- tion of the Constitution, by a majority of one, said: "Con- gress can do anything not expressly prohibited by the Con- stitution."
Jefferson well said: "The great object of my fear for the republic is the Federal judiciary."
This consolidation-centralizing all power in Congress and the president, disregarding the Constitution. Imperial- ism is the cause of our defeat.
"Facile descensus Averni," the downward road to consoli- dation and imperialism, has been easy since Lincoln inaugu- ated war. Our highest aim should be to redeem our country.
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Comrades, to do this we must return to the principles upon which the Federal Union and the Confederacy were based.
Comrades, the G. A. R. and the cloud of pensioners de- mand that we teach our children that we were traitors. As Senator Bailey says : "I would rather be branded a trai- tor forever than dishonor a Confederate grave." General Gordon has well said, "I can no more do so than I can write dishonor on my mother's grave."
President Davis said: "I would have our children's chil- dren to know, not only that our cause was just, but to have them know that the men who sustained it were worthy of the cause for which they fought."
When the hell-hounds of hate were howling around Fort- ress Monroe, clamoring for the blood of Mr. Davis, and Gen- eral Miles, without orders, was placing shackles on him and insulting his wife, the opinion of Chief Justice Chase and all great Constitutional lawyers was that Mr. Davis was no traitor. He was released, not as an act of mercy, but because he could not be convicted.
Comrades, the stars and bars that so proudly floated over scenes of courage, with no stain upon it but the stain of its heroes' blood, went down in the night, leaving the memory of its stainless purity.
Thirty-six years have passed since war's stern alarm star- tled the ear. Over one-third of a century have flowers bloomed and moss grown green over the graves of the world's bravest soldiers.
Who can portray the patriotism and valor of the Confed- erate soldiers, the bravest men that ever trod the fields of fame, the best soldiers that ever marshaled in any country or for any cause, the glory of whose achievements is above and beyond eulogium, and will halo all the cycles of time? They followed the stars and bars wherever they floated, from Sumter to Appomatox, unappalled by anybody, and gave their lives for their country on over 2200 battlefields.
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