FIELD & STAFF
6/6/1999 by R. Scott Gartin
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The Field and Staff unit of the regiment consists of the Field Officers in command and supporting staff. The Field Officers and duties of the same were:
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Colonel, regimental commander.
Lieutenant Colonel, commander of 1st battalion.
Major, commander of 2nd battalion.
Adjutant, record keeper.
Quartermasters, obtain and distribute supplies.
Commissaries, obtain and distribute food and forage.
Surgeons, chief physician.
Assistant Surgeons, assistant physician.
Chaplain, religious leader.
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Non commissioned Staff and duties were:
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Sergeant Majors, assistants to commanders, carrying orders, etc.
Quartermaster Sergeants, assisted Quartermasters, supervise Teamsters, Saddlers and Blacksmiths.
Commissary Sergeants, assisted Commissaries, supervise Teamsters.
Ordinance Sergeants, supplied weapons, powder and ammunition to the regiment.
Regimental Blacksmiths, made horse shoes, shoed horses, repaired wagons and weapons for the regiment.
Regimental Saddlers, made saddles, bridles and harnesses for the horses in the regiment.
Regimental Teamsters, drove wagons for supply, ambulance and prisoner removal.
Hospital Steward, maintains medical records and see to administration of hospitals.
Musician, Bugler.
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Often, the non commissioned Staff worked on detached duty from their company.
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Muster Rolls and Reports
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There are Confederate States Army military records for 43 who served on the Field and Staff of the 11th Texas Cavalry. Twelve of these served only as Field Officers for the regiment. The remaining soldiers either were elected to positions, promoted to positions or detached from their original companies.
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The numbers present and absent upon mustering in, the Muster Rolls and a Morning Report are presented beneath any Record of Events reported by the mustering officer. The numbers given for present and absent were obtained by researching the available records for individual soldiers and ascertaining whether they were present or absent for each of the times listed. They should not be considered as precise, but a best estimate with available records.
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1. October 2, 1861, mustering in to Confederate States service at Camp Reeves, Texas.
Field Officers: Colonel, present.
Lieutenant Colonel, absent.
Major, present.
Adjutant, present.
Acting Quartermaster, present.
Commissary, present.
Regimental Surgeon, present.
Assistant Surgeons, 3 present.
Staff: 1 Sergeant Major, present.
1 Hospital Steward, present.
Total: 11 present, 12 present and absent.
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2. October 2 to December 31, 1861 Muster Roll.
Station of Company: Camp Lubbock, Arkansas
Field Officers: Colonel, present.
Lieutenant Colonel, present.
Major, present.
2 Adjutants, 1 present, the other's appointment deemed illegal and absent.
Acting Quartermaster, present.
Commissary, present.
Regimental Surgeon, absent.
Assistant Surgeons, 3 present.
Staff: 1 Sergeant Major, present.
1 Hospital Steward, present.
1 Musician, present.
Total: 12 present, 14 present and absent.
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3. August 31 to December 31, 1862 Muster Roll.
Station of Company: Camp Shelbyville, Tennessee
Field Officers: Colonel, killed.
Lieutenant Colonel, present.
Major, present.
1 Adjutant, present.
Acting Quartermaster, present.
Assistant Acting Quartermaster, present
Commissary, present.
Assistant Surgeons, 2 present, 1 absent.
Staff: 1 Sergeant Major, present.
1 Quartermaster Sergeant, present.
1 Ordinance Sergeant, present.
1 Commissary Sergeant, present.
1 Hospital Steward, present.
1 Musician, present.
Total: 14 present, 16 present and absent.
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The Field and Staff records contain no Muster Rolls for February or April of 1863. However, after researching the records, the following list of Field and Staff are estimated to have been with the unit on April 30, 1863:
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Field Officers: Lieutenant Colonel, present.
Major, present.
Quartermaster, present.
Acting Quartermaster, present.
Commissary, present.
Assistant Surgeons, 3 present.
Staff: 1 Sergeant Major, present.
2 Quartermaster Sergeant, 1 present, 1 absent.
1 Commissary Sergeant, present.
1 Hospital Steward, present.
1 Musician, present.
2 Blacksmiths, present.
1 Teamster, present.
Total: 15 present, 16 present and absent.
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4. June 30 to December 31, 1863 Muster Roll.
Station of Company: near Panther Spring, Tennessee Record of Events:
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Was in the battle of Chickamauga 18, 19, + 21 Sept. '63. Was in the raid through middle Tenn. under Gen. Joe Wheeler. Engaged in several skirmishes during the raid. Since that time engaged in several fights and skirmishes in E. Tenn.
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G. R. Reeves
Col. Comdg.
11 Tx. Cav.
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Field Officers: Colonel, present.
Lieutenant Colonel, present.
Majors, 1 present, another with illegal appointment and absent.
Adjutant, absent.
Acting Quartermaster, present.
Assistant Acting Quartermaster, present.
Commissaries, 2 present.
Acting Staff Surgeon, present.
Assistant Surgeon, absent.
Staff: 1 Sergeant Major, present.
1 Quartermaster Sergeant, present.
2 Commissary Sergeants, 1 present and 1 absent.
1 Hospital Steward, present.
1 Musician, present.
3 Blacksmiths, present.
4 Saddlers, present.
5 Teamsters, present.
Total: 25 present, 29 present and absent.
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5. November 1, 1863 to March 1, 1864 Muster Roll.
Station of Company: near Newport, E. Tennessee
Record of Events: "The field, staff + band of this reg't has been engaged in several fights and skirmishes since last muster, has traveled nearly all over E. Tenn. from the vicinity of Knoxville, Tenn. to Bulls Gap, thence to Newport E. Tenn." [C. T. Downing, Capt. Co. "H" Comdg.]
Field Officers: Colonel, present.
Lieutenant Colonel, present.
2 Majors, both absent, one with illegal appointment.
Adjutant, absent.
Acting Quartermaster, present.
Commissary, present.
Acting Staff Surgeon, present.
Assistant Surgeon, absent.
Staff: 1 Quartermaster Sergeant, present.
1 Ordinance Sergeant, present.
2 Commissary Sergeants, 1 present and 1 absent.
1 Hospital Steward, present.
1 Musician, present.
3 Blacksmiths, present.
4 Saddlers, present.
4 Teamsters, present.
Total: 21 present, 26 present and absent.
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6. November 6, 1864 Morning Report.
Station of Company: Near Blue Mountain, Alabama
Reports: "Col. G. R. Reeves promoted from Sr. Capt. by Genl. Wharton in Aug. 63 - subject to approval of Prest. not yet given."
"Lt. Col. R. W. Hooks also promoted by Genl. Wharton, subject to ratification, Oct. 27, 1863."
"Major O. M. Messick appointed probably by Genl. Cabell."
[Report shows Lt. Col. Hooks in Command.]
Troops: 7 present, 8 present and absent.
Field Officers: Colonel, present, in arrest
Lieutenant Colonel, present
Major, absent on Detached Duty
Regimental Surgeon, present
Staff: 4 Sergeant Majors, present
7 Horses for Duty.
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 Colonels
William Cocke Young was born in Davidson County, Tennessee on May 12, 1812 (Wright & Simpson, 1965). He came to Texas in 1837 and settled in Red River County were he became the first County Sheriff. In 1844 he became a District Attorney, appointed by Sam Houston. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican War he and James Bourland raised a company of troops which they marched to San Antonio. In 1851 Young moved to Shawneetown, Grayson County where he practiced law for six years and served a term as United States Marshal. fought Indians and was veteran of the Mexican War.
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At the beginning of the war he lived in and was the richest man in Cooke County, Texas (McCaslin, 1991). He opposed secession from the Union, but when his state had seceded, he raised troops for the purpose of protecting people's homes.
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Young was Colonel (sometimes called General) of the 1st Texas Regiment, Texas State Troops from April 26, 1861 to October 2, 1861. He led the Texas State Troops through successful takeovers of Federal Forts Washita, Arbuckle and Cobb in Indian Territory in May of 1861. These were the first offensive operations by Texans outside their state in the War Between the States.
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While on a trip to the Confederate Capital in Richmond, Virginia Young wrote a letter to the Governor of Texas as:
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To Gov. Edward Clark Richmond Sept. 26, 1861
Austin, Texas
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The Sec’y of War has authorized me to receive and muster into service of the Confederate States the four Regiments called out by your Special Order number eighteen, including my own who will join Ben McCulloch as soon as possible. I will send you a copy of acceptance of War Department by mail. Write to Sherman (Texas) immediately.
W. C. Young
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Official Copy
L. R. Evans
Priv. Sec’y
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His regiment was mustered into Confederate States service on October 2, 1861 as the 11th (Young's) Texas Cavalry Regiment. Most of the mustering in took place at Camp Reeves, located near the town of Sherman, in Grayson County, Texas.
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Young commanded the regiment in the engagement at Chustenahlah, Cherokee Nation against anti-Confederate Creek and Seminole Indians. He made the following report to Colonel James M. McIntosh (OR Series I, Vol. VIII, pgs. 262-267):
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SIR: I have the honor to report the action of my regiment in the engagement of the 26th of December. I took up my position on the left, according to your interactions, at the commencement of the action. I remained there until the woods were on fire, and being satisfied that the enemy did not intend to attack on our left, I moved my regiment in the direction of the mountains, on the right. On moving up the first mountain I passed Major Chilton, of Colonel Greer's regiment [3rd Texas Cavalry], who was wounded in the head, and learning from him the direction the enemy had taken, I moved my regiment in an oblique direction through the mountains, where, after going some 2 miles, we came up with the enemy, strongly posted among the rocks and timbers. We immediately charged them, carrying everything before us. After this, the enemy being completely routed, ran in different directions. My regiment then pursued in detachments of companies, keeping up a running fight until 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The regiment was then rallied, and we proceeded to gather up the killed and wounded, which we succeeded in doing, and reached camp a little after dark.
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My regiment killed 211. viz.: By the staff, 3: a detachment of 36 men from the companies of Twitty [Co. "B"], Reeves [Co. "C"] and Young [Co. "A"], commanded by J. D. Young, killed 34; Captain Harman's company ["D"] killed 16; Captain Burks' company killed 30; Captain Nicholson's company ["F"] killed 16; Captain Bound's ["G"] company killed 26; Captain Featherston's ["H"] company killed 10, Captain Hill's company ["I"] killed 26; Captain Wallis' company, 50. Total killed, 211.
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Our loss on the field was 1 Private, William Franklin, Captain Harmon's company; mortally wounded, Sergt. W. H. H. Addinton, of Captain Young's detachment, and W. S. Proctor, of Captain Wallis' company; and J. N. Robinson, of Captain Wallis' company, severly wounded, left arm broken; slightly wounded, Capt. J. D. Young, in the thigh, and Benjamin Clark, private, of Captain Featherston's company, wounded in the leg. Total killed and wounded, 6. In Captain Nicholson's company 3 horses shot, and in Captain Harman's company 3 horses shot. Captain Featherston's company lost __; Captain Hill's 1 killed. In Captain Wallis' company 1 horse killed and 1 horse disabled. In Captain Burks company 1 horse shot.
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We took a great many women, children, and negroes prisoners; also a number of horses and cattle, which were turned over, by your order, to Captain Gipson, of the Arkansas regiment.
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In conclusion, I am proud to say that both officers and men of my regiment behaved throughout the engagement as became soldiers and Texans.
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Respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. C. Young
Colonel, Commanding Texas Regiment
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Young received official appointment to the rank of Colonel on March 18, 1862, retroactive to October 2, 1861. However, he wrote a letter of resignation on March 4, 1862, two days before the battle of Elk Horn (Pea Ridge, Arkansas). The records contain his letter of resignation in nearly illegible form. Below is an attempt at deciphering it.
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Van Buren, Ark. March 4th 1862
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Gen’l
I hereby tender you my resignation as Col. Comdg. 11th Regmt. Texas Cavalry in the Confederate Army. Which I hope you will receive and accept for the reasons here to be stated:
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I. I am sick and have been quite ill since the trip to the Creek Nation in December last. For the last 8 or 12 days I have been quite sick so much so I could do nothing. I obtained leave of absence for 10 days... I do not wish to hold the office of Col. whilst I am unable to discharge the duty...
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II. My family are in an exposed condition living on the south banks of Red River, Creek Country to the north...
III. There are in my vicinity some bad men who have threatened others, as well as myself, to destroy our property, excite our negroes, take them off or kidnap them and do us other harm. Whilst I can do no good in the service, I would prefer to go home and Recruit that I may hereafter be of some service to my family. I have serious apprehensions that I might stay here for 4 months and be no better. The climate and water here has reduced me below Par(?).
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I hope that the above Reasons might be considered sufficient and that you might at your earliest convenience...acknowledge the...of my Resignation in approval.
Respectfully your
obt. Srvt. +
Wm C. Young
Col. 11th Rgmt.
Texas Cavalry
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Generals Earl Van Dorn and G. T. Beauregard accepted his resignation on April 16, 1862. Young had not supported succession and had only raised the troops for the purpose of protection of Texas. He became dissatisfied when the Regiment was transferred out of Texas (McCaslin, 1991). Others (Wright & Simpson, 1965) said he resigned due to ill health.
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Back in Texas, Colonels W. C. Young and James Bourland wrote a letter to Colonel John S. Ford, Superintendent of Conscripts, requesting the service of a Battalion to be used as Scouts north of Red River. The letter reads:
Sept. 3, 1862
Col.,
This will be handed you by our friend James S. Perry Esq. of this County who visits Austin with you and his Excellency Frank Lubbock (Governor).
You will find Perry to be a gentleman and true man entitled to the hand and attention of all good and true men. He will explain to you his business with the Executive, and will ask and demand of you aid and assistance, for be you assured that we are in a hard place. We are defenseless and surrounded by enemies, without arms or munitions of War and in the want of help.
There is a battalion of men who are subject to conscription, who have joined companies, many before enrollment, a few after enrollment. This battalion is under the command of J. L. Randolph. Capt. Jas. D. Young, my son, has a company in this battalion. The command is all with few exceptions good, true and reliable men and we would be glad indeed if they could be released so they could be mustered in to the Service of the Confederate States to serve as Scouts north of the Red River for which Col. Cooper Comdg. Indian Department desires to use them. These troops were originally raised by order of Gen’l. A. Pike as Partisan Rangers. Now we ask that you can release the men in this command subject to Conscription in order that they may be employed as Scouts north of Red River. It will give to us greater security and stop a communication that we are satisfied is daily going on between this and Kansas.
W. C. Young
Jas. Bourland
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To Col. John S. Ford
Superintendent of Conscripts
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As a result of the visit by James S. Perry and the above letter, Colonel Ford wrote the following letter:
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Head Quarters Conscript Service
Austin, Sept. 12, 1862
Captain,
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I have the honor to enclose for the information of the Gen’l Comdg. copies of extracts from letters received today from Gen’s Hudson and Col. W. C. Young and Col. James Bourland. All these gentlemen are well known in this state, and they would make no communication unless based on reliable and authentic information.
The two latter have seen much service and would not call for assistance without good cause.
I would respectfully suggest the propriety of sending a force to that section of country to give security and confidence to the people.
I have the honor to be
Your Obd’t Serv’t
John S. Ford
Col. & Superintendent, Conscripts
Capt. C. M. Mason
A. A. Adj. Gen’l C.S.A.
San Antonio,
Texas
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Colonel Young was later killed by outlaws in Texas. His sons soon caught the bushwhackers and hung them (McCaslin, 1991). Wright and Simpson (1965) say that William C. Young was searching for a friend who had been killed by outlaws in Cooke County and was killed himself on October 16, 1862. His son, James D. Young, followed the trail of the assassins and found one of the culprits in the Confederate Army. Young forced the murderer, at pistol point, back to the scene of the slaying and then had his father's slaves hang the man.
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A county in north central Texas was named in honor of Colonel Young. More Young information here.
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James J. Diamond was born in DeKalb County, Georgia in about 1828. He moved to Texas in 1860 and was a cotton farmer near Gainseville in Cooke County (Wright & Simpson, 1965). He became a leading spokesman for Southern rights in Cooke and Grayson counties immediately before the war. He was a delegate from Texas to the 1860 Democratic national convention in Charleston, South Carolina and bolted the convention after Douglas was nominated for President.
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Upon the election of Lincoln, in November of 1860, Diamond helped call a public meeting composed of citizens from Cooke and Grayson counties and was named chairman. The committee offered resolutions calling upon Governor Sam Houston "to ascertain the will of the people ... by convention or otherwise" on the question of Texas remaining in the Union. He was a delegate to the Texas Secession Convention of January 28 to February 4, 1861 and voted with the majority, in favor of secession.
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Diamond was a Captain in Young's Texas State Troops organization (of what was later Company "A") until elected Lieutenant Colonel on August 5, 1861 (An Illus. Hist. of Grayson Co., ???). He was a commissioned officer in the Confederate States Army as of, or before, October 2, 1861. On that date, Diamond was in Lamar County, Texas enlisting more troops for Company "A" (See Chapter on Company "A"). The records also indicate that many soldiers in the regiment who enlisted in Confederate States service after October 2, 1861 had J. J. Diamond as the Enlistment Officer.
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On December 16, 1861, when then Lieutenant Colonel, James J. Diamond, received the following arms:
2 Hall's carbines
1 Green's carbine
1 Savage pistol
6 double barrelled shotguns
12 holsters
300 cartridge boxes
146 belts
4 holster pistols
54 cap boxes
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Based on the nominal size of a regiment at 1000 men, one can see that this would not come near to equiping them. It may therefore be assumed that many of the soldiers were partially equipped with arms by the State of Texas or they brought their own arms. On December 17, 1861, at Fayetteville, Arkansas Lieutenant Colonel Diamond (3rd Texas Cavalry) received:
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1000 (1 box) Minnie Rifle cartridges
2 kegs of Powder
11,000 (11 boxes) BB cartridges
12 ammunition boxes
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The receipt of a large proportion of BB cartridges indicates extensive use of shotguns by the Regiment. Typically, the preference of shotguns was strongest among Confederate horsemen in the western theater (Crews, 1995).
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Diamond remained Lieutenant Colonel in Confederate service until Young's resignation was accepted on April 16, 1862 when he became Colonel. Being the Lieutenant Colonel, James Diamond became the Colonel after Young's resignation in March of 1862. He led the Regiment During the battle of Elk horn and in the trek to Cornish, Mississippi. Diamond ran for Colonel at the time of the Reorganization on May 8, 1862, but failed to be elected. The records have a letter from him to General Earl Van Dorn requesting discharge reading:
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Camp Churchill Clark, Miss.
May 26, 1862
Gen'l Van Dorn
Sir
Supposing that this evidence is before you, that I have not been re-elected Col. of the 11th Texas Cavalry under the Conscript Law + that Col. Burks now has command of the Regiment elected and fully installed - I ask you for the necessary discharge and notes to the Provo-Martial to allow me to go home +c +c -
I would have called in person but am greatly indisposed. I have the honor to be yours + c
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[signed] Jas. J. Diamond
Late Col. 11th Tex. Cavalry
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He evidently was discharged and returned to Texas. Records indicate that J. J. Diamond returned to Cooke County, Texas and acted as an enlistment officer after his resignation. See Private B.S. Phillips, Company "B" and others.
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Diamond was one of the organizers of the "citizens' court" formed in Gainesville, Texas in October of 1862. As such, this court brought to trial and hanged 39 persons accused of a part in the "Peace Party Conspiracy". This event is called the Great Hanging at Gainesville. More on this subject here.
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He later became active in Texas frontier defense as a Captain in the Bourland's "Border" Regiment (Smith, 1992). Diamond died in Houston, during the yellow fever epidemic of 1867. More Diamond information here. And family information here.
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John C. Burks was born in Georgia and 27 years old in 1860. John was, before the war, an Attorney and father of a young family in Clarksville, Red River County, Texas. He was the first Captain of Company "E". In the book: Texas and Florida, Confederate Military History, Vol XI, Roberts states that the Eleventh Texas Cavalry, under John C. Burks and Joseph M. Bounds were at the battle of Shiloh.
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Burks was elected Colonel at the reorganization of the regiment in Cornish, Mississippi on May 8, 1862. He led the regiment, dismounted (as infantry), during the Siege of Cornish, the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky, the Kentucky Campaign and at the battle in front of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Brigadier General, Matthew D. Ector, wrote of Colonel Burks' performance on December 31, 1862 at the Battle of Murfreesboro (OR, Vol XVI, Part II, pg 926-930, & Roberts):
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Col. Burks was gallantly leading his regiment which had followed him before through fire and smoke, when he received a fatal wound. He felt that it was mortal. He pressed his hand to it to conceal it and when within 20 yards of their battery I heard him distinctly say "Charge them, my boys, charge them!" He kept it up until from faintness he could go no further. A better friend, a warmer heart, a more gallant leader than he has never drew the breath of life. He was idolized by his regiment, and highly esteemed by all who knew him well. He perished in the prime of his life, in the "thunders of a great battle". He went down with his armor on in defense of his country. The 15th, 10th and 11th Texas Regiments acted most gallantly.
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The Corps Commander, Lieutenant General William J. Hardee said (Roberts): The enemy were broken and driven through a cedar brake after a rapid and successful charge with Ector in the center in which General August Willich [Federal] and many prisoners were taken. Colonel J. C. Burks, of the 11th Texas, though mortally wounded, still led and cheered on his regiment until he fell exhausted at its head.
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It is believed by some that Colonel Burks' dying wish was that the regiment be remounted and act again as regular cavalry.
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After the war a United Confederate Veterans Camp in northeast Texas was named after Colonel Burks. More Burks information here.
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Copyright 1999 by R. Scott Gartin
Printed by permission
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