The High Command - 1

THE HIGH COMMAND

7/20/1999 by R. Scott Gartin


This Chapter tells about Commanders that the 11th Texas Cavalry Regiment served under. It is ordered from highest (Commanders-in-Chiefs) to lowest (Brigadier Generals). The names of the Commanders are listed on the left and brief descriptions of their duties while in command of these soldiers on the right. The Commanders are written chronologically under each section, that is, from first to last.


Note: I have attempted to place photos of as many of these officers as I could find. If you have, or know where I can locate photos of those which are missing, I would appreciate any information you have. Please e-mail me.
wil_gibson@11texascav.org



Highest Commanders


Jefferson Davis Commander-in-Chief of Confederate States troops and President of the Confederate States of America, February, 1861 to April 24, 1865. Mexican War veteran, former U. S. Congressman, U.S. Secretary of War and U. S. Senator (Boatner, 1987). Fled Richmond, Virginia with his cabinet upon its fall and held the last session with them in Charolette, North Carolina. After leaving there he was captured in Irwinsville, Georgia on May 10, 1865. Lieutenant Henry H. Allison stated (Yeary, 1912) that some of the 11th Texas Cavalry joined General Wheeler to act as a bodyguard and escort for President Jeff Davis, but were cut off by Stoneman's Raiders (U. S. Cavalry).



Edward Clark Commander-in-Chief of Texas State Troops and Militia. Governor of Texas from March 16 to November 7, 1861 (Wright & Simpson, 1965). Became Governor of Texas after Sam Houston was forced out by Secessionists. Instigated and approved the organization of Colonel W. C. Young's regiment. Governor Clark was instrumental in getting Young's regiment accepted into Confederate States service. (Biography HERE)


Army/Department Commanders



Earl Van Dorn Commanded his so-named Army of the West in Missouri and Arkansas from January through April of 1862. He was in command of the army in preparation for, during and on the retreat from the battle at Elkhorn. After transferring east of the Mississippi, the Army of the West became a corps of the Army of Tennessee he was transferred to the Army of Mississippi corps of the army, headquartered in Vicksburg.



Pierre G. T. Beauregard Commanded the combined corps of the Army of the West and the Army of Mississippi, which made up the Army of Tennessee, from April to June of 1862. The command had come to him after the death of General Albert S. Johnston during the battle of Shiloh (April 6, 1862). Beauregard's command of the army was on the second day of Shiloh, the retreat from Shiloh, during the Siege of and retreat from Corinth, Mississippi. He master minded the retreat from Corinth in which the army was nearly surrounded by vastly superior forces under General Halleck. After the retreat south, Beauregard turned over his command temporarily, he thought, to General Braxton Bragg in June and went on sick leave. Jefferson Davis then relieved him of command for leaving his post and gave the command to General Bragg that month (Warner, 1959).



Braxton Bragg The Army of Tennessee based in Tupelo, Mississippi after retreat from Corinth. He moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee on July 23, 1862. McCown's division joined up with General E. Kirby Smith's Army of Kentucky in Chattanooga from which the armies lauched separated advances into Kentucky. Before the battle of Murfreesboro McCown's Division was transferred to Hardee's Corps in the Army of Tennessee with General Bragg Commanding. Bragg commanded the Army of Tennessee until after his defeat near Chattanooga in February of 1864.




E. Kirby Smith Commanded the Army of Kentucky at the battle of Richmond and Perryville, Kentucky, on the Kentucky Campaign and the retreat to Tennessee. He was promoted to Lieutenant General from October 9, 1862 (right after the battle of Perryville). In November, after bringing his army to back to Tennessee, he was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department which he commanded until the end of the war (Warner, 1959). At this time, the 11th Texas was transferred back to the Army of Tennessee under General Bragg.



Joseph E. Johnston Took over command of the Army of Tennessee after Bragg was relieved. He skillfully dropped back towards Atlanta before the Federal army's overwhelming strength. Jefferson Davis relieved him on July 17, 1864 and gave command of the Army to Samuel B. Hood.





Samuel B. Hood Commanded the Army of Tennessee from July 17, 1864 to February 23, 1865. Finished out the Atlanta Campaign with severe Confederate losses and led a counter offensive to Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee. The Cavalry Corps were sent to attack Federal supply lines in middle Tennessee during the late summer and fall of 1864. They joined up with the Army of Tennessee on its retreat after bloody defeats at Franklin and Nashville. Under the direction of Nathan B. Forrest, they did excellent work in saving the army from disaster on its retreat from Nashville.




William J. Hardee Commanded the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida which the 11th Texas was attached to at the end of 1864 and in early 1865. There the Regiment was involved in attempting to hamper Sherman's March to the Sea. Hardee's Army went to join forces with Joseph E. Johnston in North Carolina in late January of 1865.






Robert E. Lee Commander of all Confederate Armies, February to April 9, 1865.






Joseph E. Johnston He was reassigned command of what was left of the Army of Tennessee on February 23, 1865. He led the army through the Carolina's Campaign against Sherman. On April 18, 1865 he signed an armistice with Sherman and surrendered on the army on April 26, 1865.





Samuel Cooper Adjutant and Inspector General of Confederate Army, 1861 to 1865. He signed several official orders pertaining to the 11th Texas Cavalry.




Corp Commanders

Earl Van Dorn Commanded the Army of the West as a Corps of the Army of Tennesse after the 11th Texas Cavalry was transferred across the Mississippi River during April and May of 1862. General John P. McCown briefly relieved Van Dorn while he led the department.

John Porter McCown Commanded the Army of the West corps in June of 1862, while retaining command of the Second Division, which the 11th Texas Cavalry was Brigaded in.

William J. Hardee Commanded Hardee's Corps during the Battle and operations around Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Joseph Wheeler Commanded Wheeler's Cavalry Corps, which the 11th Texas Cavalry was attached for the remainder of the war.

William T. Martin Took over command of Wheeler Cavalry Corps during the Knoxville Campaign of November, 1863 through February of 1864. Wheeler had been called back to Chattanooga to assist General Bragg at the time.






James Longstreet Commanded Wheeler's and Martin's Cavalry Corps during the Knoxville Campaign. As such, they were part of the Longstreet's I Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia.





Nathan B. Forrest Commanded the Cavalry Corps during the retreat from Nashville to Alabama after the defeat on December 16, 1864.


Division Commanders




Ben McCulloch Henry's brother, commanded the Division including Arkansas, Indian, Louisiana and Texas troops in Arkansas and the Indian Nations during the fall and winter of 1861-62. Ben McCullogh was one of the most popular figures in Texas having followed his neighbor, Davy Crockett there. He was an Indian fighter, Texas Ranger, Mexican War veteran, California gold rush miner, Texas marshal and commissioner to the Mormons in Illinois. He was appointed Brigadier General, C.S.A. on May 11, 1861 in Texas. He was killed by Federal sharpshooters at the Battle of Elkorn Tavern on March 7, 1862. His death and that of his Cavalry Brigade Commander, James McIntosh led to much confusion amongst his troops and their eventual defeat in that battle.


Elkanah B. Greer Following the death of Ben McCulloch and capture of Louis Hebert, Brigade Commander, both at the battle of Elkhorn, Greer, being senior officer, became Division Commander in Van Dorn's Army of the West. He led the Division on the retreat from Elkhorn and across the Mississippi River to Corinth, Mississippi.

John P. McCown Formerly an artillery commander, he was appointed Major General on March 10, 1862. During the siege of Corinth (April and May of 1862) he commanded the Second Division in the Army of the West corps of the Army of Tennessee. The 11th Texas Cavalry was in the First Brigade of this Division. Later he took the 11th Texas Cavalry with him to Chattanooga and transferred to the Army of Kentucky where he commanded the Third Division. His division returned to the Army of Tennessee for the battle in front of Murfreesboro and on the retreat from Murfreesboro to Shelbyville, Tennessee.


Thomas J. Churchill Raised the 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles in 1861 and delivered notable service in the battle at Wilson's Creek, Missouri with this regiment (Warner, 1959). Subsequently promoted to Brigadier General and commanded the Third Brigade in the Second Division of the Army of the West. Was in command of the Second Division in June of 1862 while John P. McCown was commanding the Army of the West corps. See Field & Staff Chapter, Chaplin H. F. Bone.




Joseph Wheeler "Fightin' Joe" Wheeler was appointed Major General of Cavalry on January 20, 1863, at the age of 27. On January 24, 1863 the 11th Texas Cavalry was remounted and transferred to his command. On July 18, 1863 he was given command of all the Cavalry of the Army of Tennessee.


John A. Wharton Promoted to Cavalry Division command prior to the Battle of Chickamauga (September 1863). He was promoted to the rank of Major General on November 10, 1863 and went to the Trans-Mississippi Department.




Frank C. Armstrong Cavalry Division commander from John Wharton's departure until April 30, 1864. This includes the Knoxville campain.


William Y. C. Humes Cavalry Division commander from April 30, 1864 until the end of the war. This includes the Atlanta campain, Hood's Tennessee campaign and harassing General Sherman in Georgia and the Carolinas.







Copyright 1999 by R. Scott Gartin
Printed by permission