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Chapter II: Preparing an Invasion (Part 5)
Although Kirby Smith and Price were planning a sensational and demanding campaign that could have a decisive impact on the war, the head of the Trans-Mississippi Department, in particular, was not ready to put everything on one card. Specifically, this meant that enough forces had to remain in the different military districts to maintain their defensive capabilities.
The largest district in terms of area was the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona under the command of Major-General John Bankhead Magruder, who was born at Port Royal, Virginia, May 1, 1807, and was graduated from West Point in the class of 1830. He was three times brevetted for gallant and meritorious conduct in Mexico as an artillery officer. At the time of his resignation from the old army, April 20, 1861, he was exercising command at his brevet rank of lieutenant colonel, rather than his regular rank of captain. Appointed brigadier-general in the provisional Confederate army on June 17, 1861, and major-general on October 7, he distinguished himself in the early part of the Peninsula campaign, completely deceiving General McClellan as to the size of his forces at Yorktown. He was less successful during the Seven Days battles, where it was alleged he failed to take advantage of several golden opportunities. He was later assigned to command the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Here he was signally successful for a time in the recapture of Galveston and the dispersal of the Federal blockading fleet. Spread over the geographical area, there were a total of 9,800 men. The camp at San Bernad had 1,700 men in the 2nd, 35th and 36th Texas Cavalry Regiments. There were 1,800 men in Cedar Lake with the 2nd Texas Infantry Regiment, Brown's Regiment and Hughes'. Jones' and Moseley's Texas Batteries. The 400 men from Waul's Texas Legion were near Perry's Landing. In Velasco were the 3rd and 13th Texas Infantry Regiments and Wilke's Texas Battery, 1,000 men. Galveston's 2,100-men garrison included parts of the 8th and 20th Texas Infantry Regiments, the 1st Texas Heavy Artillery and Dege's and Greer's Texas Batteries as well as several Engineer troops. At Victoria were the 33rd Texas Cavalry Regiment, a battalion of Texas cadets and Dashiell's Texas Battery, 500 men. At Sabine Pass, 1,200 men were spread across the remainder of the 8th Texas Infantry Regiment, the 21st Texas Infantry Battalion, Spaight's Texas Infantry Battalion, Daly's Texas Cavalry Battalion and Nichol's Texas Battery. The 200 men from Baird's Texas Cavalry Regiment and Christmas' Texas Battery were stationed in San Antonio. At Bonham were the 1st Texas State Troops Battalion, the 2nd Texas State Troops Cavalry Regiment and Hopkins' and Hart's companies, 500 men. Camp Whartin ultimately included 400 men in the 2nd Texas State Troops Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Texas State Troops Infantry Battalion.
Contrary to Richard Taylor's predictions of doom, Kirby Smith had not left the District of Western Louisiana vulnerable, either. A total of three cavalry brigades and two infantry brigades continued to form the Army of Western Louisiana, 4,700 men strong, which, like the district, was to be led by Harry Hays in the future. Harry Thompson Hays was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, April 14, 1820. He was brought up by an uncle in Wilkinson County, Misssissippi, because of the early death of both of his parents. He was graduated from St. Mary's College in Baltimore and studied law in that city. He began the practise of his profession in New Orleans, where he soon became prominent as an advocate and politician. After distinguished service in the Mexican War, he was active in the Whig party during the 1850s and was a Presidential Elector on the Scott ticket in 1852. Entering the Confederate army as colonel of the 7th Louisiana Infantry, he fought at First Manassas and in Jackson's Valley campaign of 1862. He was severely wounded at Port Republic. Returning to duty, he was commissioned brigadier-general on July 25, 1862. Hays rendered outstanding service at Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg before his transfer to the Trans-Mississippi, where he was assigned to duty as a major-general by Kirby Smith. His troops were distributed as follows. Colonel A. J. Dukas' brigade fielded 2,100 men in the 3rd, 4th, 11th and 12th Louisiana State Guard. Brigadier-General Henry W. Allen contributed 400 men with his 1st and 2nd Louisisana State Militia Battalions. Brigadier-General Xavier B. Debray led 700 riders in the 23rd, 26th and 32nd Texas Cavalry Regiments. Brigadier-General Hamilton P. Bee's brigade consisted of 900 men in the 1st, 35th and Terrell's Texas Cavalry Regiments, while Colonel William G. Vincent commanded 600 men in the 2nd and 4th Louisiana Cavalry Regiments.
Under Major-General Samuel Bell Maxey's command, there were nearly 3,000 men in the Indian Territory. He was born at Tompkinsville, Kentucky, March 30, 1825, graduated from West Point in the class of 1846, and was brevetted for gallantry in the war with Mexico. In 1849 he resigned his commission to study law. In 1857 he and his father, who was also an attorney, moved to Texas, where they practised in partnership until the outbreak of the war. Resigning a seat in the Texas senate, the younger Maxey organized the 9th Texas Infantry, and with the rank of colonel joined the forces of General Albert Sidney Johnston in Kentucky. He was promoted brigadier-general to rank from March 4, 1862. He served in East Tennessee, at Port Hudson, and in the Vicksburg campaign, under General Joseph E. Johnston. In December 1863, Maxey was placed in command of the Indian Territory, and for his effective reorganization of the troops there, with which he participated in the Camden Expedition, he was assigned to duty as a major-general by General Kirby Smith on April 18, 1864. Colonel (and by May 10 Brigadier-General) Stand Watie commanded 1,100 men in the 1st and 2nd Cherokee Regiments, the Cherokee Battalion, the 1st and 2nd Creek Regiments, the Creek Squadron, the Osage Battalion and the Seminole Battalion. Colonel Tandy Walker led 700 men in the 1st Chickasaw Battalion, the 1st Choctaw Battalion, the 1st Chickasaw/Choctaw Regiment, 2nd Choctaw Regiment and the Caddo Reserve Squadron. Brigadier-General Richard M. Gano's brigade included 1,800 men in the 29th, 30th, and 31st Texas Cavalry Regiments as well as Howell's Texas Battery of six guns.
Chapter II: Preparing an Invasion (Part 5)
Although Kirby Smith and Price were planning a sensational and demanding campaign that could have a decisive impact on the war, the head of the Trans-Mississippi Department, in particular, was not ready to put everything on one card. Specifically, this meant that enough forces had to remain in the different military districts to maintain their defensive capabilities.
The largest district in terms of area was the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona under the command of Major-General John Bankhead Magruder, who was born at Port Royal, Virginia, May 1, 1807, and was graduated from West Point in the class of 1830. He was three times brevetted for gallant and meritorious conduct in Mexico as an artillery officer. At the time of his resignation from the old army, April 20, 1861, he was exercising command at his brevet rank of lieutenant colonel, rather than his regular rank of captain. Appointed brigadier-general in the provisional Confederate army on June 17, 1861, and major-general on October 7, he distinguished himself in the early part of the Peninsula campaign, completely deceiving General McClellan as to the size of his forces at Yorktown. He was less successful during the Seven Days battles, where it was alleged he failed to take advantage of several golden opportunities. He was later assigned to command the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Here he was signally successful for a time in the recapture of Galveston and the dispersal of the Federal blockading fleet. Spread over the geographical area, there were a total of 9,800 men. The camp at San Bernad had 1,700 men in the 2nd, 35th and 36th Texas Cavalry Regiments. There were 1,800 men in Cedar Lake with the 2nd Texas Infantry Regiment, Brown's Regiment and Hughes'. Jones' and Moseley's Texas Batteries. The 400 men from Waul's Texas Legion were near Perry's Landing. In Velasco were the 3rd and 13th Texas Infantry Regiments and Wilke's Texas Battery, 1,000 men. Galveston's 2,100-men garrison included parts of the 8th and 20th Texas Infantry Regiments, the 1st Texas Heavy Artillery and Dege's and Greer's Texas Batteries as well as several Engineer troops. At Victoria were the 33rd Texas Cavalry Regiment, a battalion of Texas cadets and Dashiell's Texas Battery, 500 men. At Sabine Pass, 1,200 men were spread across the remainder of the 8th Texas Infantry Regiment, the 21st Texas Infantry Battalion, Spaight's Texas Infantry Battalion, Daly's Texas Cavalry Battalion and Nichol's Texas Battery. The 200 men from Baird's Texas Cavalry Regiment and Christmas' Texas Battery were stationed in San Antonio. At Bonham were the 1st Texas State Troops Battalion, the 2nd Texas State Troops Cavalry Regiment and Hopkins' and Hart's companies, 500 men. Camp Whartin ultimately included 400 men in the 2nd Texas State Troops Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Texas State Troops Infantry Battalion.
Contrary to Richard Taylor's predictions of doom, Kirby Smith had not left the District of Western Louisiana vulnerable, either. A total of three cavalry brigades and two infantry brigades continued to form the Army of Western Louisiana, 4,700 men strong, which, like the district, was to be led by Harry Hays in the future. Harry Thompson Hays was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, April 14, 1820. He was brought up by an uncle in Wilkinson County, Misssissippi, because of the early death of both of his parents. He was graduated from St. Mary's College in Baltimore and studied law in that city. He began the practise of his profession in New Orleans, where he soon became prominent as an advocate and politician. After distinguished service in the Mexican War, he was active in the Whig party during the 1850s and was a Presidential Elector on the Scott ticket in 1852. Entering the Confederate army as colonel of the 7th Louisiana Infantry, he fought at First Manassas and in Jackson's Valley campaign of 1862. He was severely wounded at Port Republic. Returning to duty, he was commissioned brigadier-general on July 25, 1862. Hays rendered outstanding service at Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg before his transfer to the Trans-Mississippi, where he was assigned to duty as a major-general by Kirby Smith. His troops were distributed as follows. Colonel A. J. Dukas' brigade fielded 2,100 men in the 3rd, 4th, 11th and 12th Louisiana State Guard. Brigadier-General Henry W. Allen contributed 400 men with his 1st and 2nd Louisisana State Militia Battalions. Brigadier-General Xavier B. Debray led 700 riders in the 23rd, 26th and 32nd Texas Cavalry Regiments. Brigadier-General Hamilton P. Bee's brigade consisted of 900 men in the 1st, 35th and Terrell's Texas Cavalry Regiments, while Colonel William G. Vincent commanded 600 men in the 2nd and 4th Louisiana Cavalry Regiments.
Under Major-General Samuel Bell Maxey's command, there were nearly 3,000 men in the Indian Territory. He was born at Tompkinsville, Kentucky, March 30, 1825, graduated from West Point in the class of 1846, and was brevetted for gallantry in the war with Mexico. In 1849 he resigned his commission to study law. In 1857 he and his father, who was also an attorney, moved to Texas, where they practised in partnership until the outbreak of the war. Resigning a seat in the Texas senate, the younger Maxey organized the 9th Texas Infantry, and with the rank of colonel joined the forces of General Albert Sidney Johnston in Kentucky. He was promoted brigadier-general to rank from March 4, 1862. He served in East Tennessee, at Port Hudson, and in the Vicksburg campaign, under General Joseph E. Johnston. In December 1863, Maxey was placed in command of the Indian Territory, and for his effective reorganization of the troops there, with which he participated in the Camden Expedition, he was assigned to duty as a major-general by General Kirby Smith on April 18, 1864. Colonel (and by May 10 Brigadier-General) Stand Watie commanded 1,100 men in the 1st and 2nd Cherokee Regiments, the Cherokee Battalion, the 1st and 2nd Creek Regiments, the Creek Squadron, the Osage Battalion and the Seminole Battalion. Colonel Tandy Walker led 700 men in the 1st Chickasaw Battalion, the 1st Choctaw Battalion, the 1st Chickasaw/Choctaw Regiment, 2nd Choctaw Regiment and the Caddo Reserve Squadron. Brigadier-General Richard M. Gano's brigade included 1,800 men in the 29th, 30th, and 31st Texas Cavalry Regiments as well as Howell's Texas Battery of six guns.
- Lothar
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