USA > Texas > Wise County > Pioneer history of Wise County; from red men to railroads-twenty years of intrepid history > Part 9
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
Thus, at the beginning of the settlement of Wise County, Texas, through her legislature, was citing "just causes of alarm," a circumstance so vast and portentuous as to augur much future evil for the striving new community, which, in- opportunely enough, had laid its foundations under that mid-
(112)
113
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT.
century mountain of fire down whose sides was to pour a pro- longed and destructive flame. Events march on until the seething strife in Kansas and John Brown's raid again rend the country and prize apart the ever-widening chasm between the North and South. Southern fear of Congress and the continued aggressions of the abolitionists now grew to a state of panic, during which crucial hour in 1859, South Carolina confirmed the right of secession and invited a conference of the remaining Southern States. In Texas, Gen. Sam. Houston, the pacificator, advised against the state's participating in the conference, but was overruled by the secessionists who at the same time declared for organized resistance, if necessary, against northern aggression.
National feeling was now at the fever point. The disruption of the Democratic party and the election of Lincoln followed in ·1860. The North had gained political ascendency over the nation and the South answered by taking 'steps to secede. Within two months all the states of the South east of the Missis- sippi had cut the tie that bound them to Federal union. Texas, with a delegated convention voicing her desires, followed in 1861, and on February 23, of that year, the people endorsed the decision of the convention at the polls.
In March the votes were counted, and a majority having been found in favor of disunion, the state was declared seceded.
Inasmuch as the Civil War and the Indian depredations had concurrent beginnings in Wise County, it might have been thought consistent to admit both to simultaneous treatment, but such a plan would result in much undesirable confusion of subject and statement, and is therefore not adopted. It is neces- sary, however, to review in connection with the war events that phase of military action, which is strictly a part of the Indian period, but which has connection with the military organiza- tion of the Confederacy by reason of its alignment with the latter, and of the jurisdiction which the Confederate govern- ment held over it. Outside of this particular detail the fol- lowing chapters will ignore the savage incursions which the reader will do well to bear in mind are occurring simultaneously with the progress of the war. 8
CHAPTER I.
LOCAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE ISSUES OF THE WAR.
Considering the scarce population and its freedom and re- moteness from the provocation that brought on the conflict, it is hardly conceivable that any unusual and general degree of martial feeling and spirit was evinced by the people here." No record of any fact or circumstance remains to confirm a contrary opinion. Should the population have been larger, there would without question have been much surging action and manifesta- tion of high loyal spirit. But the sum total of visible action and feeling was diminished in consequence of the paucity of. numbers. There was much individual partiotism displayed, a case in point having been revealed in the first official notice which Wise County took of the War and the issues at stake. This took form in the manner of a mass convention which met at Decatur to deliberate on the question of sending a delegation from the county to the state convention which was to decide the course of the state in the secession movement.
All the prominent men of the county were at Decatur that day to participate in the meeting, and the people were much stirred up over the ends in view. Prominent among the citizens who addressed the meeting were Colonel Bishop and Colonel A. H. Shoemaker, both of whom were what are called "fiery rebels," meaning extroardinarily zealous for the Confederate cause. Each eloquently and persuasively championed the standpoint of the South and urged and implored the convention to send delegates to participate in the state conventions which was known to be committed to the policy of secession. The result was a general concurrence in their views and an ultimate participation in the deliberations of the Convention by Wise County.
Other instances of individual enthusiasm came to notice after the military organization of the state was well under way and volunteers had been called for. The clarion call to arms generated fighting spirit and patriotic ardor in every breast, as will be re-
(114)
115
LOCAL ATTITUDE TOWARD ISSUES OF WAR.
vealed when the rush to join local companies is described. But on the whole Wise County was without those near incitements which aided to precipitate the struggle elsewhere. Her slave population was no appreciable factor and there was no general reliance on that kind of labor in farm work. Consequently the danger that threatened those interests was not so strongly realized nor re- sented here. But she could find common ground with her sister counties of the South in resenting any infringement on that in- violable Southern and Democratic principle-State Rights. Here she clasped hands with them and from the beginning to the end braved the contest. Wise County was impelled to action in the war by the impulses of the heart. The same blood that gave life to the Southern people was the vital element in her own veins. The same traditions and institutions which the people of the South revered were those which she had been taught to love and honor, and the same bewildering swiftness with which the South- ern people arose to defend its institutions found its counterpart in the people of Wise County, who were by birth, blood and habitation, Southern people.
.
CHAPTER II.
MILITARY ORGANIZATION.
Following the secession of Texas the Federal troops were with- drawn from the frontier posts, leaving the settlements exposed to Indian attacks and putting an urgent need upon the state to supply the frontier with a larger protective force. Simultaneous- ly the state was called upon to raise a quantum of troops for service in the Confederate Army, said troops being surrendered to the Confederacy as fast as they recruited and organized. Thus on the frontier the state was confronted with a dual state of military necessity, that of defense against invasions by Federal troops and the protection of the frontier from Indian depreda- tion. Both these needs were encompassed by one general mili- tary organization, perfected under the regulations of the Con- federate Army but officered and manned by state volunteers. The state reserved the privilege of retaining a sufficient number of troops on the frontier to guarantee effectual protection to the people there. Colonel Henry E. Mccullough was the first Con- federate officer to occupy with the Confederate guards the posts recently abandoned by the Northern troops. The State had authorized the raising of ten cavalry companies which were dis- tributed under Colonel McCullough at posts twenty-five miles apart along the frontier from Red River to the Rio Grande, with a daily routine of scouting from one to the other required.
This regiment was primarily recruited for protection against the Indians, but being under Confederate jurisdiction was re- quired to perform any service for that authority demanded, with the exception of vacating the frontier.
Indian attacks at this time were growing numerous and in addi- tion to the above provisions, the governor authorized the raising of home militia companies, or minute men, as a home protective guard, which were also placed under Confederate regulations. These small detachments performed meritorious service in spread- ing alarm, giving chase after Indians and recapturing stolen (116)
117
MILITARY ORGANIZATION.
stock. They were in an instant state of readiness to go where needed, and it is due to their heroic energies that Wise County did not become a slaughtering pen during the long period of Indian warfare. Most all able bodied citizens belonged to these companies, the latter being distributed about the various parts of the county. There was no attempt to keep in assembled order and only an Indian alarm or raid would bring the individual members to the point of concentration.
On moonlight nights, the accustomed time of savage incur- sions, the minute companies would patrol the county, going to and fro between beats which system kept the county thoroughly guarded. When the Confederate establishment took command a different mode of procedure was adopted. An arsenal and milí- tary headquarters were established at Decatur and placed in command of an Adjutant in the Confederate service. Each of the militia companies was required to furnish a detail of ten men to serve ten days at the post at Decatur, and the several com- panies, by alternating every ten days managed to keep a force of about 100 men camped about the county seat throughout the war. Some organizers and Captains of local militia were Ben Crews, Deep Creek; Tom Allen, Black Creek; Dick Rieger; George Stevens: J. B. Earhart ; Ira Long and Jim Hanks.
CONFEDERATE STATE MILITARY ORGANIZATION.
In December, 1861, the Texas Legislature passed a general act, looking to organizing the state forces on a war footing. Thirty- three brigade distriets were provided for with a Brigadier-Gen- eral in command in each. Wise County fell in district number one, with Cooke, Denton, Jack, Montague and thirteen other western counties included. Brigadier-General Wm. J. Hudson, with headquarters at Gainesville, was placed in command of this district, his staff officers being a Brigade Major, an Adjutant and an Inspector General.
The troops in each distriet were divided into companies, battalions, regiments and brigades. The recruiting of compa- nies in the several counties was placed in charge of the Justices of the Peace, who acted as enrolling officers. All citizens eligible
118
PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
to military service were required to accept service either in one of the two defensive forces, the Confederate Army or the home militia.
Organization of companies and election of officers followed. The company captains were required to assemble their companies every two weeks for drill in tacties, pending the time of their being ordered into activeservice. The captains were also autho- rized to compel the enrollment of all persons in their beats sub- jeet to military duty. This general plan of organization was followed whenever feasible, but variations therefrom are noted. There was much undisciplined material at hand and in most cases the organizing officers proceeded as best they could. Thus we see in Wise County that Captain John W. Hale, a private citizen, and an ex-sheriff, was put in charge of the preliminary organizing measures. As chief enrolling officer he ranked as adjutant and established headquarters at Decatur.
Following Captain Hale came General Win. Quaile, the first regu- lar military officer to be sent here to assume command of the post and of the military detachment belonging to it. General Quaile's successors in line were the noted Indian fighter, Buck Berry; General Throckmorton, afterwards elected governor, and at the close of the war, Colonel George B. Pickett, of Wise County, was in command. General Throckmorton ranked higher in the Confederate service than his assignment at Decatur would indi- cate; Colonel Pickett had also gained high honors and both offi- cials had been retained here for various important purposes, one of which was to gain recruits for the general service.
Decatur was a genuine military post throughout the war, with much activity in process over the district under its jurisdiction.
The Howell and Allen Store was converted into an arsenal and headquarters where stores and ammunition were kept and where a military clerk was ensconsed. General Throckmorton had offices in this building during the year of his assignment at Deca- tur.
The Confederate scheme of organization called for a war tax assessor and collector and Charles D. Cates, a clerk in Bishop's store at Decatur, was appointed to this trying position. The district over which he had jurisdiction comprised ten counties,
119
CONFEDERATE STATE MILITARY ORGANIZATION.
and besides the physical dangers which were encountered, there was another arising from exposure to Indian attacks, and still another from the hatred and animosity of the Union sympathizers who were forced to contribute tax money to the Confederate government. The duties of the office necessitated long, perilous rides into western counties, the most distant one being Wil- barger, and other long trips a-horse-back to the capital at Austin where large sums of money were deposited.
. Incidental to the duties of watchmen of the frontier the home companies were required to perform local Confederate service whenever necessary. For instance it fell to their lot to act as mounted police with obligation to arrest suspicious characters, and those who had deserted the fighting ranks and returned home, as well as to apprehend those who were fleeing from con- scription service.
CHAPTER III.
RAISING COMPANIES FOR CONFEDERATE SERVICE.
With the call for volunteers the enthusiasm and excitement grow intense, with genuine patriotism and loyalty becoming manifest. Also there was much bluster and swashbuckling on the part of a portion of the younger male generation who looked on the chastisement of the North as hardly more than a break- fast spell. Others of maturer thought deprecated the great crisis and were beset at heart with gloomy forebodings. Colonel Bishop and Captain Shoemaker, the advising factors of the com- munity, in this detail, continued to contribute their stimulating and inspiring suggestions which, when combined with other in- fluences, induced a scramble for enrollment when the opportunity for that act presented itself.
Captain A. H. Shoemaker led off by raising a company of 104 robust young men, all eager to get into service. Following the election of officers in which Captain Shoemaker was appointed to his place and J. D. White, then a prominent young school teacher, was made First Lieutenant, a big barbecue was held at Isbell Springs, near the present Greathouse farm. The company, as the honored guests, attended dressed in such military costumes as could be speedily devised, and bearing such arms as could be raked and scraped in the community. Undoubtedly the members were the fighting heroes of the hour, but on that day they needed reinforcements and furloughs to withstand the bom- bardment of patriotic oratory which was directed at them from the stump.
The program for the day included the inevitable reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel Bishop, a thing which the latter did wherever and whenever he found two or three gathered together. Other events were the parading and drilling of the company and the presentation of a new Confederate flag. It was an auspicious day when the people had'come together to make public profession of their loyalty to the cause.
(120)
121
RAISING COMPANIES FOR CONFEDERATE SERVICE.
Because the recruiting of Captain Shoemaker's company had anticipated the general organization of the state's forces, there was no place to which the company could be assigned, and the company drifted into gradual disbandment, but not until Captain Shoemaker had sought to get into service.
The second company was raised by Colonel George B. Pickett, in the summer of 1861, and was successful in being received into the general ranks which, by this time had been organized.
In his most amusing and instructive book, "Chapters from the Unwritten History of the War," Colonel R. M. Collins describes the history of this company from its beginning. The quoted sections of the following statements are from Colonel Collins: "Colonel Pickett came to raise the company and all commenced rushing to and fro getting things in shape to enlist, to go to the wars and get honor, glory and some immortality. The day was set Saturday for the enrolling of names and organization of the com- pany, and in they came on their little finger-tailed, frosty necked, calico, Spanish ponies, all clamoring to get into the Cavalry service."
A company of 100 men was made up, George B. Pickett was elected captain, Tom Robertson, W. A. King and F. J. Barrett, 1st, 2nd and 3rd lieutenants. Of the non-commissioned officers Colonel Collins only remembers "a big red-headed fellow named G. W. Rodgers, a school teacher, who was made orderly sergeant."
"After the organization and lots of Dexter's best had been put under their jackets, the rest of the day was put in in Cavalry movements round and round the public square."
"While the company was made up of a very nice lot of young men, boys, and middle aged men, it did not strike us as having the appearance of N. Bonaparte's 'Old Guard.' "
"After the organization of our company, until the order to march was received, all hands were busy getting things in shape to take the field, and the people either from pure patriotism or from fear of the consequences of resistance, opened their doors to the boys. Merchants piled out their clothing, hats, boots and shoes, and men owning herds of horses were willing to give them up, so that it was only a few days until the boys were mounted. The martial spirit seemed to have drowned out all other spirits,
122
PIONEER HISTORY OF, WISE COUNTY.
except Dexter's best. Music was in the air, every young lady in town and country was warbling 'Bonnie Blue Flag,' 'Dixie' and the 'Secession Wagon' as sweetly as mocking birds."
"As to arms to fight with, the variety in kind, caliber and quality is beyond our power of description. Some had single barrelled shot guns, some had squirrel-rifles and some had old buck and ball muskets. In one thing only were all armed alike, and that was with big knives. These were made for us by the blacksmiths out of old seythe-blades, ploughshares, eross-cut saws, or anything else that could be had. The blade was from two to three feet in length and ground as sharp as could be. The scabbards for the great knives were, as a rule, made of rawhide with the hairy side out, and were worn on the belt like a sword, and doubtless many trees over in Arkansas, know to this day the marks of these knives, for we used to mount our ponies and gallop through the thickets, cutting the tops from young pine trees, practising so that we could lift the heads off the Yankees, artisti- cally, as soon as we could catch up with them."
The names of some of the company follow, others cannot be recalled : Chris Gose, P. P. R. Collum, G. B. Pickett, R. M. Col- lins, W. A. King, Wm. Bryant, Allen Bryant, Add, Dais and Bob Anderson, Wmn. Cook, Tom Mount, Frank Cook, Wmn. Burress, Tom Prunty, Tom Moffat, Perry and George Mills, Tom Taylor, Tom Cartwright, S. M. Gose, John Waggoner, H. H. Wilton, J. P. Fullingim, George Ross, Lem Cartwright, W. H. H. Bradford, George Cartwright, Frank Miller, Newt Millholland, Wm. Derrick, Jim Hardin, Dick Edmunson, Sol Reed, Scot Reed, Green Penington, Marvin Isbell, Dutch Waggoner, Bob Gaston, Dan Cryar, Tom Barnett, Henry McKinney, Tom Roberson, F. J. Barrett, Wm. and High Anderson, John Thomas, Milton Shoe- maker, G. W. Rodgers, I. W. King, Tom Davenport, Tom Lipsey, Jack Hart, Eph Lux, John Wasson, Dr. Thomas Stuart, Joe Crin- er, Riley Howard, Dick Payne, Fred Mount, Tom Grider, Lec Crutchfield, Henry Mershon, Bill Priddy, Dude, George and H. H. Gaines.
Captain Ed Blythe raised the third company in 1862. The historical details of this company are unobtainable, but it is known that it contained the requisite number of men, and that
123
RAISING COMPANIES FOR CONFEDERATE SERVICE.
Thomas Halsell was a Lieutenant; also that the company re- mained in the thick of the fight throughout the war, doing valiant service in Louisiana, where, at Pleasant Grove and Mansfield, it assisted in keeping General Bragg's army from invading Texas.
The county was rapidly sending men to the front. Besides the regular companies which were being raised and sent away there were individuals and small squads leaving to join companies under recruit in contiguous counties. The whole of Wise Coun- ty's male population was rapidly getting into service, either ab- sorbed by the home militia or the ranks of the Confederacy. The heart rending anguish and hardships of Wise County mothers and sisters of that period can never be measured or appreciated at their true status.
The organizations named above had all been recruited from those of eligible age and condition, from the vicinity of the county seat, but in all probability there had come numerous members from the several sections of the county. One whole company was raised in the vicinity of Prairie Point. This, the fourth, of the full regular detachments, which Wise County had contributed to the Confederate cause, was organized through the efforts of ex-sheriff Ben Earp. Captain Charles C. Thompson soon after- wards was elected to command this company, and from him the following partial list of names of the old muster-roll is obtained :
John McClure, quarter-master, John Morris, Logue Teague, John Teague, Ben Burdick, Bill Tully, George Ball, Henry Pat- ton, Bill Crews, C. C. Thompson, Sam Woody, Mat Walker, Bill Mann, Jake Mann, - Broadstreet, Jim Brooks, 3rd Lieutenant, Brice Mann, John Peak, Sam Oats, Nick Haney, Frank Case, Steve Sweeney, Earney Curtner, John Gibbs, Harvey Young- blood, Jim Youngblood, Joe Barnes, Jim Sprowles, Kale Hal- comb, T. D. Stephens, S. M. Stephens, George Guinn, Tom Ver- non, Talse Burress, Mansfield Burress,. Curran Stephens, Cap Stephens, John Montgomery, Ben Jones, "Bloody" Loftus, Bill Weathers, Jim Pointer, Bill Blanton, Jim Blanton, Bill Plumley, Press Plumley, Dennis Plumley, John Berry, John Mathews, Tan Miller, George Miller, Abe Thomas, Dink Walker, Bill Shaw, Jim Earp, John Shaw, Tom Smith, Fine Earnest, John Earn- est, Ed Simpson, C. C. Leonard, Elias Pitt and Duck Clampitt.
124
PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
At the first election officers were named as follows: Ben Earp, Captain ; Jim Earp, 1st Lieutenant ; C. C. Thompson, 2nd Lieuten- ant : C.C. Leonard, Orderly Sergeant; Bob Walker, 2nd Sergeant.
The company repaired to Clarksville, where Captain Earp resigned and returned home, being succeeded by Captain Thomp- son. At Clarksville the company was designated as Company E, and combined with the 23rd Texas Cavalry, which soon marched to Houston. In the fall of 1862, the entire command was ordered into the campaign in Louisiana, where at that time, the Federal forees were attempting to invade Texas. General Bragg was successfully repulsed in many hot encounters, no small part of the defense being done by Company E of the 23rd Texas. Cap- tain Thompson, a brave and doughty Confederate officer, was wounded in the first encounter, but was soon restored to fighting trim. The first fatality occurred in the death of Sam Oats, this, in one of the river battles, while the poorly equipped rebel forces were fighting the Yankee gun boats with their "fists" .*
Although this brave band of Wise County soldiers found plenty of hard fighting in Arkansas and Louisiana, the men were at all times anxious to get across the Mississippi, where the campaign was being fought out on still larger lines. But in the region to which they were confined they acquitted themselves nobly. Many were killed and wounded, many died from sickness and inattention, and not the greater portion returned home at Lee's surrender.
Returning for a short resume of Colonel Pickett's company we find them on March 1, 1862, with orders to report at Dallas, then after some weeks at MeKinney where the 15th Texas cavalry was organized, finally at Clarksville and into Camp MeKnight. In the re-organization at Clarksville, Captain Pickett was elected Major of the 15th Texas Regiment and Flavious J. Barrett was promoted to the captaincy of the Wise County Company.
Clarksville at that time was the mobilizing point of the north Texas troops and here an army of 6,000 men had been collected. On April 10, orders were received to proceed, via Arkansas, to Corinth, Miss. After a trying journey the large detachment
* The quotation is from Captain Thompson.
125
RAISING COMPANIES FOR CONFEDERATE SERVICE.
reached Little Rock and went into camps, where soon an epi- demie of measles broke out, with a supply, according to Colonel Collins, "sufficient to go round." A second reorganization occurred here and Major Pickett was advanced to Lieutenant Colonel; W. C. Burress and R. M. Collins were made lieutenants of the Wise County contingent. Fighting occurred towards Batesville in June. A sharp affray took place at Arkansas Post on January 11, 1863, and 3000 Confederate troops were forced to surrender to the Federal Army, among them being the Wise County company. Confinement followed later in the Federal de- tention post at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, and later at Camp Douglas, Chicago, where two of the company, Allen Bryant and H. H. Wilton died from exposures. The fragments of the little band of patriots were exchanged and sent to the far south-east where they soon joined the Tennessee army and engaged in a number of historic battles. Colonel R. M. Collins, Perry Collum, Jess Fullinghim and Chris Gose are remembered to have campaigned in the south-east. In one of the Cumberland Ridge battles, J. P. Fullinghim had the misfortune to loose an eye, a deplorable consequence of the aimless flight of a spent minnie ball.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.