6/6/1999                      by R. Scott Gartin

PAGE III

Majors

 

John W. Myrant (or Mayrant) had been 1st Lieutenant of Reeve's Company (later "C") in the Texas State organization.  The Lieutenant was elected as Major on August 5, 1861. 

 

John was the first Major in the Confederate States service. He was dropped at the reorganization in May of 1862.

 

H. F. Bone Was Chaplain on the first Confederate muster roll.  He was elected as Major on May 8, 1862, but was rejected by the Examining Board.  He resigned as Chaplain with the following letter.

 

Camp Priceville, Miss.

June 14, 1862

S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector

 General

The undersigned respectfully tenders his resignation as Chaplain of the 11th Texas Cavalry and requests that it be laid before the war department.

(signed)  H. F. Bone

 

Approved

J. M. Bounds, Capt.

Comdg. 11th Texas Cavalry 

 

The letter, excepting the approval, is in Chaplain Bone's handwriting.  The Resignation was approved by Brigadier General W. L. Cable (Brigade Commander), Brigadier General T. J. Churchill (2nd Division Commander) and Major General J. P. McCown (Commander of the Army of the West).  The resignation accepted July 7, 1862.

 

John B. Puryear served as Major for a short period of time in December of 1863 and early 1864.  He was formerly the Captain of Company "B".  See the Chapter on that company for more information regarding his service with that unit.  A Field & Staff Roster card for January, 1864 states:  "The appointment of O. M. Messick being illegal, J.B. Puryear, the next senior Captain was appointed and ordered to duty by Colonel Thomas Harrison, Commanding Brigade December 21, 1863.  Has not received appointment from the President."  The final muster roll remarks say Puryear was absent and sick in the country.  No further records are on file.

 

 

 Adjutants

 

Courtes B. Sutton, a 1st Lieutenant from Company "E", was appointed by Lieutenant Colonel J. J. Diamond on December 10, 1861.  He was dropped and discharged on June 20, 1862 due to not being re-elected at the reorganization.  He received back pay and travel allowance for return to Texas in Knoxville, Tennessee on September 2, 1862.

 

Joel A. Crain was appointed Sergeant Major from Company "E" on October 2, 1861.  Colonel John C. Burks officially appointed him to Adjutant and 1st Lieutenant with the following letter:

 

Camp Ingraham, Army of the West, June 5, 1862

Genl,

I have this day appointed Joel A. Crain Adjutant of the 11th Regiment of Texas Cavalry, and respectfully request that you confirm the same.  He is selected on account of his fitness and qualifications to discharge in a proper and suitable manner the duties of said office.

An early answer is earnestly ____.

I am respectfully your Obt. Svt.

To  S. Cooper    John C. Burks

Adj. & Inspector Gen'l   Col. Comdg 11th Texas Cavalry

Richmond, Va. 

 

Later that year, Crain gave his resignation with the following letter.

 

Head Quarters  11th Texas Cavalry

Camp near Loundon, Tennessee

November 8, 1862

Hon. Samuel Cooper

Adjt. and Inspector Gen'l, C.S.A.

Richmond, Va.

I, Joel A. Crain, 1st Lt. and Adjt. 11 Texas Cavalry do hereby tender my unconditional resignation as an officer of said Regiment in consequence of these facts.  1st my Jr. Brother and myself own some thousand or twelve hundred head of cattle - a herd of horses, a small farm, some eight negroes and in accordance to the Conscript Law about being enforced in Texas, my Jr. Brother has sometime since volunteered in the service west of the Miss. River, and my wife, my children, my personal property very much need my personal attention for a few months after which I expect to attach myself to the service of my country again. 

 

Hoping Genl the above resignation will meet your approval, I am most Respectfully

J. A. Crain

!st Lieut. + Adjt.

11 Texas Cavalry

R. W. Hooks

Capt. Commanding

11 Texas Cavalry

Approved and Respectfully forwarded

 

John C. Burks

Col., Commanding 1st Brigade, Army of E. Tenn.

Recommended acceptance and special consideration

 

M. D. Ector

Brigadier General, Commanding 3rd Division, Army of E. Tenn.

Forwarded

 

E. Kirby Smith

Lieut. General, Commanding Army of E. Tenn.

Forwarded it

 

The Division Commander thought well enough of Lieutenant Crain to write the following letter with his resignation.

 

HQrs. 3rd Div.

November 15, 1862

Lt. Genl E. Kirby Smith,

Cmdg

Enclosed you will find the resignation of Ajt. Crain of the 11th Texas Cavalry, also application for leave of absence until it is acted on, accompanied with Surgeon's Certificate of disability.

Under the circumstances it is my duty to inform you that charges are pending against the applicant for Drunkenness - Adj. Crain has been in service a long time, has participated in many battles and I have never heard of his being intoxicated only on about 2 occasions.

If you could considerately (? not sure of word)) do so, I am convinced you would give general satisfaction  to the entire command to consider his application favorable as possible.  Lt. Crain has a very ____ family - his father in Law has recently been killed in N.W. Texas for the active part he has taken in purging the county of ____enemies who had organized into Bands against us, as we were informed by letter - and no family in Texas can do more for our Cause than his - Adj. Crain is now very low indeed - the Surgeon says that he will not in all probability recover.  I have thought it no amiss to say this much on his behalf.

Yours very Respectfully,

M. D. Ector

Brig. Genl Condg

3rd Div. A of E. Tenn.

 

J. J. Davis is shown as appointed Adjutant August 31, 1862 from ranks of Company "E".  Davis evidently did not assume the office, full time, until January of 1863, when he received corn for 2 horses and signed the requisition as Adjutant.  He received forage for a horse in November of 1862, signing as Adjutant.  However, he was present in ranks of Company "E" for the 1862 muster roll.  In February of 1863 he received forage, signing as Adjutant.  The casualty list for the battle of Murfreesboro, dated April 20, 1863 at Shelbyville, Tennessee lists him as having been wounded.  There are no 1863 or 1864 muster roll listings in his files.  On January 8, 1864 he was paid $290 for service as Private in Company "E". 

 

Irving Root  If you try to follow the records for Root, from the rank of Private in Company "C", the records of Irving (Irwin) (I.) Root, you will find that they are very confusing. It appears that he served dual rolls as Jr. 2nd Lieutenant and possibly 2nd Lieutenant of Company “C” as well as Adjutant on the Field and Staff.  He was promoted to Adjutant by Lieutenant Colonel J. M Bounds on June 1, 1863.  Bound's letter, written from Regimental Headquarters near Liberty, Tennessee, reads:

 

There being no Adjutant in this Regiment, Lt. Irving Root, Co. C is respectfully recommended for that position and will immediately enter upon the duties of that office.

by order of,

J. M. Bounds

Lt. Col. Commanding Regt.

 

A Roster, dated January 1864 shows I. (or J.) Root was appointed Adjutant on November 20, 1862.  A Register of Adjutant Root states that he was appointed May 15, 1863 and that he resigned on November 28, 1862(3?).  On November 27, 1863, Irving Root received pay from Captain J. M. Elliot for the rank of 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant ($110/mo.) for the period from June 1 to July 31, 1863.  The final muster roll indicates that he was absent, sick at Rome, Georgia from September 23, 1863 through February 29, 1864.  Adjutant Irving Root received forage for 4 horses on March 26, 1864.

 

 

 Quarter Masters

 

Thomas W. Randolph was Acting Quarter Master (A.Q.M.) upon mustering in to Confederate States service.  He is seen in many soldiers record as the one who paid them after they were discharged.  After failing to give Bond on August 4, 1863, he was the released from duty as Quartermaster on September 1, 1863 and dropped.

 

David D. Porter was Assistant A.Q.M. (A.A.Q.M.) from October 15, 1862, at ranks of 1st Lieutenant and Captain.  He was on Detached Duty from Company "E".  He obtained clothing, forage and supplies for the Regiment until captured at Chattahoochie, Georgia on July 6, 1864.  Sometime in 1863 he became known as the A.Q.M. for the regiment. 

 

After his capture, he was sent to Officer's Prison at Johnson's Isle, Ohio.  Released upon giving Oath on June 15, 1865 at which time he gave his residence as Clarksville, (Red River County) Texas and age as 31 years.

 

William B. Johnson was A.A.Q.M. from August 25, 1863 through January 30, 1864.  He was a 1st Lieutenant on Detached Service from Company "G".  He provided Quartermaster stores to Captain J. M. Jamison at camp near Ringgold, Georgia on October 23, 1863.  Johnson was dropped as 1st Lieutenant on January 30, 1864 by S.O. # 24/5 from the Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, Confederate States of America.  Returned to Company "G".

 

 

Quarter Master Sergeants

 

Jerry S. Thomas  Appointed November 10, 1862 from ranks of Company "E".  Absent, sick on February 1863 muster roll.  Returned to Company "E" as 2nd Sergeant on September 1, 1863.

 

B. M. Wellborn  Moved to position in the absence of Jerry S. Thomas.  Returned to ranks of Company "E" by April of 1863.

 

James Armine  Appointed on September 1, 1863.  He had enlisted in Company "A" on October 20, 1861 by Colonel Young and previously worked as Wagon Master. 

 

 

 Commissary of Subsistence

 

James C. Duty was a Farmer from Red River County, Texas prior to the war.  He was born in Arkansas and was 31 years of age in 1861.

 

Was originally a 1st Lieutenant serving with the Regimental Commissary.  Received food stores at Clarksville, Arkansas on March 27, 1862.  Received Requisition for horse forage in Kentucky on October 31, 1862.  Later, as a Captain, he was Acting Commissary of Subsistence (A.C.S.). 

 

By Special Order 179/12 from the Adjutant & Inspector General’s Office his name was dropped on August 2, 1862.  Dropped in November of 1862.

 

Granville Porter was appointed and Bonded, Captain, A.C.S., on August 31, 1862.  His appointment became effective in November of 1862.  Granville Porter had been 1st Lieutenant of Company "K".  Received $36.19 for driving cattle on January 26, 1863 at Shelbyville, Tennessee.  He received forage and requisitions from the Quarter Master in February and March of 1863.  Last records on file for him are dated January, 1864. 

 

Thomas S. Barnett was detached from Company "A" as Regimental Commissary, 1st Lieutenant,  from August 1, 1863 through the final muster roll.  He was dropped January 3, 1865 "for having let his men straggle +c". 

 

 Commissary Sergeants

 

J. D. Kennedy was a Commissary Sergeant, detailed from private rank in Company "E" in 1862.  Kennedy was also carried on the Company muster rolls for 1862 through April 30, 1863.  He became sick and was sent to hospital on September 22, 1863.  Remarks on last muster roll state "In Gen. Hospital."  No further records.

 

K. W. Ball was Acting Commissary Sergeant, detailed in late 1863 from ranks of Company "K".  He was present, as such, for the final muster roll.  No further records.

 

 

Surgeons

 

William E. Saunders was Acting Staff Surgeon (A.S.S.).  Was on detail at Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation attending on sick and wounded in December of 1861.  No further records.

 

John W. Rainey Was Acting Assistant Surgeon (A.A.S.) upon mustering in to Confederate States service.  Appointed Surgeon at reorganization.  Was rejected by the Medical Board, so was assigned to duty as Assistant Surgeon.  He was absent, sick in November and December of 1862, but present for duty on the remaining muster rolls.  Usually signed disability certificates and receipts as either Surgeon or Assistant Surgeon.  He signed papers as Surgeon and A.S.S. from July 1863.

 

 

 Assistant Surgeons

 

Gerard A. Foote was a 1st Lieutenant, Acting Assistant Surgeon and Assistant Surgeon.  Leave was granted for him on March 20, 1862 in the Trans-Mississippi Department by Special Order Number 29-1 from General Van Dorn.  He later resigned, apparently not returning to the command.   (See Memorial here.)

 

V. G. Woodhouse was present on muster rolls until on the one ending on December 31, 1863 the remarks read “Absent since 1 Nov. ‘63 on two days leave of absence.”  He received forage for his horse in November of 1863 while a patient at the hospital in Rome, Georgia.  His name was dropped from rolls on August 25, 1864 by Special Order # 210/4 Adjutant & Inspector General’s Office, C. S.

 

(Dr.) D. B. Burks served in 1862 and early 1863.  Signed many of the Disability Certificates when soldiers were discharged for disability in that time frame.  He was rejected by the Board of Medical Examiners on July 7, 1863, as he "entirely failed pass".  He had originally enlisted as a Private in Company "E".

 

J. E. Reeves was an A.A.S., with no enlistment or muster roll records.  The files contain receipts which he signed as A.A.S. for the regiment from September, 1862 to January, 1863.

 

 

 Hospital Steward

 

Phineas B. Caldwell Hospital Steward (Private), transferred from Company "A" on October 2, 1861.  Received extra pay for duty as Hospital Steward at Fairfield, Tennessee on March 4, 1863.  On July 9, 1863 he received $45.25 extra pay for six months of duty.  Caldwell received $7.75 extra pay for the month of July on July 31, 1863 near Rome, Georgia.  He is shown present through the last muster roll.  File contain correspondence confirming Caldwell's Confederate military records to the Texas Commissioner of Pensions from Adjutant General H. T. McCain, dated January 29, 1915.Captions

 

 

Sergeant Majors

 

B. H. Chandler  Appointed January 1, 1862.  Originally enlisted as a Private in Company "E".  Was wounded in the Battle of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862.  No further records.

 

Charles Augusta Hooks Orderly Sergeant, appointed April 17, 1863.  Brother of Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Hooks. Was originally a Private in Company “K”.  Second to last muster roll remarks read: “Absent with leave on November 10, 1863 for use and risk of horse 184 days.”  Remarks on the last muster roll state: “Dropped from the non-commissioned Staff roll in consequence of being absent by order of G. R. Reeves Col. Cmdg. Regt.”  He returned to ranks in Company "K".

 

 

 Ordinance Sergeants

 

Newton Rose  Received extra pay for services as Ordinance Sergeant for the period of April 11 to September 4, 1862 by Major W. B. Ector (Brigade Quarter Master).  The extra pay invoice was approved by J. C. Burks who signed as Commander of Brigade on November 13, 1862.  Rose was a Private in Company "C".

 

W. Underwood  Was appointed as Ordinance Sergeant on September 5, 1862 until April 3, 1863 from the ranks of Company "F".  On April 3, 1863, Underwood was the elected and promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant with his original Company.

 

O. E. Poole  Was Ordinance Sergeant, promoted and transferred from ranks of Company "K" on August 10, 1862.  This date conflicts with company records, which state his appointment was effective February 1, 1864.  No further records.

 

 

Musicians

 

Thomas Perry  Regimental (Chief) Bugler. 

   Originally enlisted in Company "A", but was appointed on October 5, 1861.  Received extra pay for being the Chief Bugler on May 6, 1862.  No further records.

 

Albert D. Arnold  Regiment (Chief) Bugler, starting in 1862.  He originally enlisted as a Private in Company "E".  Arnold was captured near Liberty, Tennessee on June 4, 1863 and was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio.  Transferred to Fort Delaware, Delaware on July 14, 1863 and exchanged some time after August 10, 1863.  He returned to the regiment and served until deserting on March 1, 1865.  He took an oath of allegiance on April 18, 1865.  Residence given on oath is Madison County, Alabama.

 

 

 Regimental Blacksmiths

 

William H. Ramsour Regimental Blacksmith (private) from January 1863 through the final muster roll.  Last name also listed as Rumsours, Romsowers and Rumus.  On Detached Service from Company "G". 

 

James B. Dalby  Acting Regimental Blacksmith (private), starting April 15, 1863 through the December 31, 1863 muster.  Shown as Regimental Smith on the final muster roll.  On Detached Duty from Company "K". 

 

W. J. Tennison  Regimental Blacksmith (private), detailed from Company "B", starting May 1, 1863 and continuing through final muster roll.

 

 

 Regimental Saddlers

 

J. T. Hooker  Regimental Saddler (private), detached from Company "H", starting on July 16, 1863 and continuing through at least the time of the last muster roll.  Paid $58.00 on June 17, 1863.  No further records. 

 

W. H. Hooker  Regimental Saddler (private), detached from Company "H" on July 16, 1863 near Rome, Georgia and remained on duty as such at least through the last muster roll.  No further records.

 

Thomas Kitchling(s) Regimental Saddler (private), on detached duty from Company "H" on September 16, 1863.  Present, as such, through final muster roll.  No further records.

 

 

 Regimental Teamsters

 

B. T. Jackson  Regimental Teamster (private) from March 12th through April 30th of 1863.  Detailed from Company "G".  He received extra pay of $0.25/day for the work.  He was detailed to make saddles at Rome, Georgia during the time of the last two muster rolls.

 

A. Jackson Mathews Regimental Teamster (private) from July 7, 1863 to February 29, 1864.  On detached duty from Company "B".

 

W. W. Tillman  Last name also listed as Tillmon.  Present on Extra Duty as Regimental Teamster on final muster roll.  On detached duty from Company "F".

 

William Traylor  Regimental Teamster (private) from October 15, 1863 through final muster roll.  On detached duty from Company "A".

 

Frank Estell  Regimental Teamster (private) on last two muster rolls.  Formerly from Company "A".

 

W. H. Welch  Detailed as Regimental Teamster (private) on muster roll ending December 31, 1863.  On detail as Brigade teamster on final muster roll.  Detailed from Company "B".

 

G. W. Harris  Served as Regimental Teamster (private) from September 1863 into January of 1864.  Returned to regular duty  with Company "A" by the February 29, 1864 muster roll.

 

 References

 

Barrier, Eppie E.,"George R. Reeves genealogy and life history", Furnished by Eugene D. Hauptmann, Denison, Texas.

 

Boatner, III, Mark M., The Civil War Dictionary, Vintage Books, New York, October, 1987.

 

Bryan, Henry, adjutant, Staff Report letter, dated December 7, 1864, owned by Dwight Betts, Dallas, Texas.

 

Carroon, Robert G., Confederate Veteran, pp. 20-31, May-June 1994.

 

Castel, Albert, Decision in the West, The Atlanta Campaign of 1864, University Press of Kansas, 1992.

 

Clark, Pat B., The History of Clarksville and Old Red River County, Mathis, VanNort & Co., 1937.

 

Crews, Edward R., Arms of the Confederate Cavalry, Black Powder Annual - 1996, Dixie Gun Works, Union City, Tennessee, 1995.

 

Davis, Arbuta, "Some History of Col. George Reeves", Memior of a Granddaughter of Col. Reeves, Sherman, Texas, 1977.

 

Dyer, Fredrick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Volume II, Thomas Yoseloff, New York, 1959.

 

Dyer, John, Fightin' Joe Wheeler,???

 

Fuller, Claud E. & Steuart, Richard D., Firearms of the Confederacy, Quarterman Publications, Inc., Lawence, Massachusetts, 1944.

 

Hale, Douglas, Rehearsal for Civil War: The Texas Cavalry in the Indian Territory, 1861, The Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol. LXVIII, No. 3, Fall, 1990.

 

Hooks, John F., Texarkana, Texas, supplied information regarding Hooks', 1995.

 

Hooks, R. W., Lt. Col., "Morning Report, Eleventh Regt. of Texas Cavalry, Harrison's Brigade", Nov. 6, 1864, Special Collections Dept., William Perkin's Library, Duke University, North Carolina.

 

McCaslin, Richard B., Conditional Confederates: The Eleventh Texas Cavalry West of the Mississippi River, Military History of the Southwest, Vol. 21, No. 1, Spring 1991, pp. 87-99, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, 1991.

 

Oates, Stephen B., Confederate Cavalry West of the River, University of Texas Press, Austin, 1961.

Peters, Steve, The Murder of Col. Joseph M. Bounds, Eleventh Texas Cavalry, Youngs Regiment, C.S.A., Texana, Vol. 12, No. 1, 1974.

 

Roberts, O. M., Texas and Florida, Confederate Military History, Vol XI, Edited by Gen. Clement A. Evans, The Blue & Gray Press, New Jersey

 

Smith, David Paul, Frontier Defense in the Civil War, Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas, 1992.

 

Speer, William S. & Brown, Hon. John Henry, The Encyclopedia of the New West - biographical sketches of their representative men and women, United States Biographical Publishing Co., Marshall, Texas, 1881.

 

Webb, Walter Prescott, Carroll, H. Bailey, The Handbook of Texas, Vol. 2, Texas Historical Association, Austin, 1952.

 

Wright, Genl. Marcus J. and Simpson, Harold B., Texas In The War 1861-1865, The Hill Junior College Press, Hillsboro, Texas, 1965.

 

Copyright 1999 by R. Scott Gartin

Printed by permission