8. Texas in the Civil War: Part I [i] (December 1, 1863-March 31, 1864)
Selected Texas History Primary Source Documents
(Back to Civil War Table of Contents)
Important Notes
1. These links, almost without exception, are to documents having to do with events and movements (mostly of a military character) which occurred (or at least meant to occur) within the boundaries of the state of Texas. Persons interested in documents having to do with the participation of Texans in various battles and campaigns beyond Texas can consult works found in the first Civil War list at this site, especially The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (plus the same for the navies) and Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.
2. The summary descriptions of the military correspondence do not always make clear which addressors and addressees were in Confederate military service and which were in the Union service. Persons not familiar with the names of all or most of the relevant military personnel may find the following useful.
Confederate officers: (last names): Bee, Bell, Boggs, Debray, Dickinson, Ford, Gorgas, Magruder, Mills, Pendleton, Scurry, Smith, Taylor, Turner, Yancey.
Union officers (last names): Banks, Dana, Halleck, McPherson, Pierce, Stone, Washburn.
3. How to cite most of the documents in this list.
Most of the documents in this list are from the two multi-volume collections listed just below this paragraph. Those collections are at Cornell University's "Making of America" website. At a specific document page, most browsers will display the phrases "Cornell University Library" and "Cornell Making of America" near the top of the page. (If not, use the scroll bar to the right of the "next page" icon to reveal these phrases.) To determine the exact location of a document in either of the War Department or Navy Department series (i.e., series, volume, and part), go to the drop-down "Go To:" menu on the right and choose "Title Page." Please cite both the data having to do with the War Department or the Navy Department series and Cornell University's "Making of America" website. Please do not cite "Lone Star History Links."
United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. 70 vols. in 128. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901.
United States. Navy Department. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. 30 vols. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1894-1922.
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Suggestion: One might also find it useful to consult the list of documents and collections of documents at List 2 , "Texas in the Nineteenth Century: General."
[John] Charles Black to William Hyde Clark, December __, 1863. Report of the recent expedition [led by E. J. Davis] from Brownsville to Rio Grande City. [Scroll down to the document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document
John Bruce to N. B. Baker, December 1, 1863. Account by a member of an Iowa regiment of the part his unit played in the Union expedition to the Rio Grande. States that the army captured a large amount of cotton at Brownsville and stopped a large trade between the Confederacy and Mexico. Link to document
N. J. T. Dana to L. Pierce, December 1, 1863. On November 21, Union troops marched along the beach of St. Joseph's island on the Texas coast to attempt the capture of Saluria and Pass Cavallo. Presumes that this was accomplished by November 26 or 27. Link to document
C. C. Washburn to Major-General Banks, December 1, 1863. Details plans for Union troop movements following the capture of Fort Esperanza on Matagorda Island on the Texas coast. Hopes to take the mouth of the Brazos River within a week. [The document continues onto the next page.] Link to document
C. C. Washburn to Major-General Banks, December 1, 1863. Has just received Banks' order to remain on Matagorda Island until further orders. Will carry it out. Complains, however, about conditions there. Details. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to W. G. Boggs, December 1, 1863. Has ordered that no more cotton be transported on Texas railroads, "as they are needed for strictly military purposes." Details. Has learned that 1,500 enemy reinforcements are to land at either St. Joseph Island or Mustang Island. [It may be necessary to scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Stephen D. Yancey to A. Buchel, December 1, 1863. Confederate troops are being rushed to Indianola on the Texas coast. Details. Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to Brigadier-General Slaughter, December 1, 1863. General Magruder has gone to Indianola. Mentions troop/officer deployments to Houston and Galveston. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
N. J. T. Dana to Charles P. Stone, December 2, 1863. Col. E. J. Davis has returned from Rio Grande City. He encountered no enemy force. He has recruited 125 men into his First Texas Cavalry [Union]. 2,500 bales of cotton crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico in the past two weeks, but trade has about stopped. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
C. S. West to J. B. Magruder, December 2, 1863. In reply to Magruder's communication of November 24 about defending western Texas, General E. Kirby Smith states that he has no power "to confer rank or to carry out the proposals you have made." Also has no power to dispose of cotton as contemplated. On account of Juan Cortina's previous character, Smith has but little confidence in him. Link to document
E. Cunningham to J. B. Magruder, December 2, 1863. General Smith responds favorably to General Magruder's request for reinforcements. Details. Link to document
J. Bates to L. G. Aldrich, December 2, 1863. Confederate commander at Velasco calls his position "one of the most important in the State." Explains why. Asks for reinforcements. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Jno. Robertson to Edmund P. Turner, December 2, 1863. Pursuant to General Magruder's orders, he has been seeking and arresting deserters in central and eastern Texas. Details. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to Colonel Bankhead, December 3, 1863. Order to send a brigade to Velasco (to which Magruder is also going from Victoria), as the enemy, marching along the beach, will arrive there in three or four days. If the enemy has taken Velasco, the troops are to go to Galveston to reinforce the troops there. Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to Brigadier-General Slaughter, December 3, 1863. General Magruder orders Slaughter to send scouts as far as San Luis Bay [just southwest of Galveston Island]. If the enemy crosses the bay, Slaughter and his troops are to go to Virginia Point [opposite the city of Galveston]. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to Brigadier-General Slaughter, December 3, 1863. General Magruder orders him to proceed to Galveston "and defend that place to the last." Enemy now appears heading for that city. Link to document
Edmund P. Turner. Circular, December 3, 1863. The evacuation of Saluria and the threat to Galveston and Houston require that all mounted men and other persons in local defense organizations who are situated east of the Colorado River and south of a line from Nacogdoches west to the Brazos River report to Houston immediately. Link to document
Jas. E. Slaughter to Edmund P. Turner, December 3, 1863. Has just arrived at Galveston. Does not believe that it can withstand a combined attack from the land and sea. Explains why. Offers idea for stopping the enemy from reaching the city. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
H. D. Washburn to [unidentified Union major], December 3, 1863. Detailed report on the expedition to capture Fort Esperanza on Matagorda Island. [Scroll down to the document, which continues for three more pages.] Link to document
H. P. Bee to W. R. Boggs, December 4, 1863.Has been criticized for stopping the conscription process in the lower valley previous to the Union invasion. Gives a detailed defense, including asserting that conscription will not work along the border. Provides detailed explanation. [Scroll down to the document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to H. P. Bee, December 4, 1863. General Magruder believes that the enemy probably has not completely committed himself to operations against Velasco. Link to document
Wm. J. Hutchins "to the Cotton Planters of Texas," December 4, 1863. Refers to cotton being the basis of exchange for army supplies imported into Texas. [Hutchins was evidently in charge of this process in Texas.] Details about how the process has fared, military regulations with respect to it, etc. [Scroll down to the document, which continues for two more pages.] Link to document
Nathaniel P. Banks to Abraham Lincoln, December 4, 1863. General Banks reports the taking of Pass Cavallo, giving the Union possession of every important post on the Texas Gulf coast with the exception of Galveston. Comments on the failure of the plan to effect a landing at Sabine Pass, etc. Link to document
Nathaniel P. Banks to Abraham Lincoln, December 4, 1863. Reports that the expedition to Texas was delayed for some days because of bad weather. Is working well with Union military governor A. J. Hamilton. Details about that and about Hamilton's family joining him in New Orleans. Also, Hamilton has stated that the recent success of federal forces in taking control of Matagorda Bay has placed the entire state in the control of the government. Link to document
Charles P. Stone to C. C. Washburn, December 5, 1863. Writes in behalf of General Banks [now back in New Orleans] that he is to make some demonstrations toward Indianola and Palacios if possible to confuse the enemy. Will be reinforced. Is not to move on Houston or Galveston until that has been accomplished. Explains why. Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to H. P. Bee, December 5, 1863. General Magruder has withdrawn "the offers to Cortina." Colonel Benavides will be made a brigadier-general if he raises a full brigade. Needs to do this quickly, as it is needed to fend off enemy efforts to cut off trade between Eagle Pass and Monterrey. Link to document
J. Bates to Edmund P. Turner, December 5, 1863. Confederate officer at Velasco reports that no enemy has been seen in the area for several days. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
C. C. Washburn to G. Norman Lieber, December 6, 1863. Detailed report on the expedition that resulted in the capture of Fort Esperanza on Matagorda Island. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
T. E. G. Ransom to William H. Morgan, December 6, 1863. Report of Union army action on Matagorda Island in late November, including the capture of Fort Esperanza. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to [H. P. Bee], December 6, 1863. Tell the people of the west and the troops who have families there that, as soon as the defense of the middle coast is secured, a sufficient force will be sent west "to capture the enemy if he advances into the heart of the country." [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to Pendleton Murrah, December 6, 1863. Th enemy has captured Saluria and is making plans "for a formidable invasion of the State from Matagorda Island." Is very important that state troops be continued for the duration of the war and that all other Texans capable of bearing arms be brought into the service. Calls on the governor and legislature to act. Details. [Scroll down to the document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to H. P. Bee, December 7, 1863. General Magruder has learned that the enemy is advancing up the Matagorda Peninsula. Orders Bee's force in that that direction immediately. Shoot any who refuse to march. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
H. W. Halleck to N. P. Banks, December 7, 1863. General-in-Chief has received Banks' dispatch of November 18. Agrees with Banks that the best line of defense for both Louisiana and Texas is that of Berwick Bay and the Achafalaya. That is what Halleck had advised from the beginning. Chides Banks about the Sabine and Rio Grande expeditions. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to H. P. Bee, December 7, 1863. General Magruder now believes that the enemy will not advance up the Matagorda Peninsula, at least for now. Instructions. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
E. Greer to W. R.Boggs, December 7, 1863. Wants to call General Smith's attention to the fact that "the decisions of several judicial officers in the State of Texas have seriously obstructed the laws of conscription," etc. Details. Link to document
By command of Major-General Magruder.] Special Orders, No. 334. States that the line of march of Woods', Terrell's, and Pyron's regiments have been marked by robberies and thefts against civilians "who have been doing everything in their power for the soldiers." Details and orders. Link to document
P. C. Woods to [General Magruder], December 8, 1863. Has received a copy of Special Orders No. 334, dated that day, charging that three regiments, including his own, have engaged in robbing, stealing, "and other odious crimes." Says that the charges are not applicable to his regiment and asks that its name be expunged from the order. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Abraham Lincoln. Proclamation of Amnesty, December 8, 1863. States conditions under which Texas (along with all other Confederate states except Virginia) may reenter the Union. Link to document
J. Bates to Edmund P. Turner, December 8, 1863.Officer commanding at Velasco reports the arrival of about 1,000 reinforcements. Is "confident that we will not be whipped." Link to document
J. W. Wiggins to Edmund P. Turner, December 8, 1863. Quartermaster's Agent at Columbia, Texas, writes that some soldiers in the area are "committing depredations on the property of citizens." Asks for help. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
E. W. Cave to L. G Aldrich, December 9, 1863. Aldrich had inquired about the status of the state troops and the duties of the Bureau of State Troops [of which Cave is chief]. Provides a detailed reply that has been authorized by General Magruder. Included is that the only difference between regular Confederate troops and state troops is that the latter serve terms of only six months. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to W. R. Boggs, December 10, 1863. Understands that the 7,000-8,000 Union troops at New Iberia, Louisiana, are daily leaving for the Texas coast. The enemy in Texas" are showing a boldness of movement which indicates strength and confidence on their part." Magruder's forces at present are not sufficient for an adequate defense. Also, the roads are bad and getting worse. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Charles P. Stone to C. C. Washburn, December 10, 1863. General Banks will be sending reinforcements and materiel to Washburn, commanding troops near Matagorda Bay. In the meantime, he is to make it appear he will be moving on San Antonio. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
N. J. T. Dana to Jesus Serna, December 10, 1863. U.S. commander at Brownsville informs the governor of Tamaulipas that he has learned that a British schooner has anchored off the mouth of the Rio Grande and has landed military supplies in Mexico destined for use by Texan "rebels and traitors." Requests that the supplies be seized. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to N. P. Banks, December 10, 1863. Confederate commander in Texas protests treatment of Confederate prisoners at Aransas and Matagorda Bay. Link to document
N. P. Banks to H. W. Halleck, December 11, 1863. Had learned, on occupying Brownsville, that large quantities of cotton, property of "the rebel government," had been transported across the Rio Grande into Matamoros. Has made efforts to seek help of the Mexican government in gaining control of it. Link to document
N. J. T. Dana to Charles P. Stone, December 11, 1863. Notes the danger of a clash of authority in Brownsville between himself as military commander and military governor A. J. Hamilton. Also, is concerned about the safety of the Union men of Texas. Also, has heard that Dallas County farmers are resisting the impressments of wheat. "Civil war is threatening." [Document continues for two more pages.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to E. Kirby Smith, December 11, 1863. The enemy's forces are increasing in strength to the extent that he is unable to prevent extensive raids into the central coastal plain and into western Texas. As a result, he is moving military stores inland. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
William H. Seward to N. P. Banks, December 12, 1863. Instructs him to communicate to military governor A. J. Hamilton the contents of Seward's dispatch to Banks, dated November 23, and to inform him that any communication with rebels, with the Mexican government, or with any Mexicans, must come from Banks only. Is authorized to suspend Hamilton from office should the public interest require it. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
N. P. Banks to H. W, Halleck, December 12, 1863. Washburn, at Pass Cavallo, wants to march toward the Brazos River. Why Banks is opposed. Banks wants to occupy Galveston as soon as he has the troop strength, etc. Link to document
Joseph G. Ramsay to Henry Halleck, December 12, 1863. Officer reports to the Union army's general-in- chief that Union forces had captured Fort Esperanza on Matagorda Bay. All but six of the 1,000 Confederate defenders escaped. They blew up the powder magazines before they left. [To access this document, click on "Link to document," then type "Joseph G. Ramsay" in the search field, then click on the "Search" button, then on the document name.] Link to document
C. C. Washburn to Charles P. Stone, December 13, 1863. Explains the importance of gaining a sufficient force to march from his position at Fort Esperanza up the coast to the mouth of the Brazos River. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to W. G. Boggs, December 13, 1863. A Union deserter asserts that there are now 22,000-24,000 enemy troops on the Matagorda Peninsula. There is yet no indication of their advance. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
C. C. Washburn to J. B. Magruder, December 13, 1863. U.S. general replies to recipient's December 10 dispatch to Banks. Refutes Magruder's charges about maltreatment of Confederate prisoners, etc. Link to document
C. C. Washburn to Charles P. Stone, December 14, 1863. Yesterday, U.S. troops briefly occupied Indianola. Local people are frightened, as Confederate general Magruder had falsely claimed to them that the federals would maltreat them. Link to document
A. J. Hamilton to N. J. T. Dana, December 14, 1863. Governor of Tamaulipas had, at Hamilton's request, arrested a Texan accused of murder and was turning that person over to Hamilton. The latter proposes turning him over to Dana for military trial. Encloses his commission as military governor and instructions from the secretary of war. Link to document
[E. Kirby Smith] to J. B. Magruder, December 15, 1863. Has instructed General Taylor to send Greene's division to Magruder. Should make it possible for him "to give a good account of the Federal force which have landed on the Texas coast." Understands that most of Banks' troops are still in Louisiana but that many will soon be bound for the Texas coast. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to Thos Green, December 15, 1863. Orders him to come with his force immediately. "The enemy, in force, is pressing on all sides." Give no furloughs or leaves of absence. [Scroll down to the document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to S. M. Baird, December 15, 1863. General Magruder orders him to proceed immediately with his troops [on the northwestern frontier] plus troops now in the Indian Territory to San Antonio. "The enemy is threatening all quarters in large force." Link to document
N. J. T. Dana to A. J. Hamilton, December 15, 1863. Has read Hamilton's commission and instructions from the secretary of war but is still of the opinion that, as the area of South Texas under federal control is under martial law, only he [Dana] has the authority to request the extradition from Mexico of suspected criminals. [Scroll down to the second letter to Hamilton on the page.] Link to document
N. J. T. Dana to Charles P. Stone, December 15, 1863. Encloses correspondence between A. J. Hamilton and himself. Hopes that Hamilton will not force any collision of authority between them. Reports negative comments by Hamilton to him, including determination to continue his course until or unless Dana restrains him from doing so. Link to document
C. C. Washburn to Charles P. Stone, December 15, 1863. Needs heavy guns to reduce the works at Quintana and Velasco. Enemy has about 3,000 men on Caney River. Will, when possible, make a feint toward San Antonio as ordered. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
C. C. Washburn to Charles P. Stone, December 15, 1863. In a separate communication, General Washburn reports that he has 6,321 troops, "or exclusive of the colored regiment, 5,865." Has eight days of rations. Link to document
Charles P. Stone to N. J. T. Dana, December 16, 1863. General Banks conveys instructions about what to do about the cotton in Dana's control at Brownsville, etc. Banks expresses satisfaction with Dana's actions as commander there. [Scroll down to the document,] Link to document
Thomas Green to Major-General Magruder, December 17, 1863. Has left Vermilion Bayou in southwestern Louisiana. Is moving in several brigades of Texas troops to Niblett's Bluff and then into Texas to reinforce Magruder's troops. Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to James Duff, December 18, 1863. General Magruder gives orders to Colonel Duff to station his troops at Victoria and to be ready to act should the enemy move toward Laredo. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
N. J. T. Dana to Charles P. Stone, December 18, 1863. Reports that one hundred Texas Rangers have arrived at Eagle Pass. Has learned that 1,200 mounted Confederates from eastern Texas have been sent to keep open a line from San Antonio to Eagle Pass and Laredo. This is of special interest to Confederate officers who have cotton interests. Link to document
N. J. T. Dana to L. L. Kimmey, December 18, 1863. Wishes to make the road from San Antonio so perilous that no one will want to travel it. Wishes to "kill, burn, and destroy all that cannot be taken and secured." Link to document
A. J. Hamilton to William H. Seward, December 18, 1863. Arrived in Brownsville, December 1. Found there hundreds of refugees from the interior of the state, many of them destitute. Details. Also, is preparing an address for the people of Texas. "The people are preparing to be conquered." Tells of efforts to have his family [living in Austin] join him. [Scroll down to the document, which continues for two more pages.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to Pendleton Murrah, December 19, 1863. Has learned that the legislature has passed an act keeping state troops in the field for twelve months and specifying that 25% of the militia remain at home. Makes request regarding state forces and urges the governor, in light of the large and growing enemy force along the coast, to use all of his constitutional powers to increase the forces defending Texas. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to Pendleton Murrah, December 19, 1863. Responds to an earlier communication from the governor that evidently questioned the destruction of a railroad from the coast to Victoria. General Magruder defends this action on military grounds. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to Pendleton Murrah, December 19, 1863. Urges the governor to make the Frontier Regiment of state troops available "for the defense of the State against the present invasion." Details. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to Pendleton Murrah, December 20, 1863. If the legislature has passed an act creating three brigadier-generals and transferring them to the Confederate service, he requests that John S. Ford be named one of them. Explains why. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
[Edmund P. Turner] to W. J. Hutchins, December 20, 1863. General Magruder orders the chief of the Cotton Bureau to pay in cotton for arms and ammunition previously contracted for. Urgent, as "the State of Texas and the whole Trans-Mississippi Department are in the greatest peril." Troops are badly armed. One-fourth have no arms. Link to document
W. R. Boggs to Major-General Magruder, December 21, 1863. General Taylor reports that Green's column has reached Niblett's Bluff and will be available to help repel enemy incursions into the interior of Texas. Expects further operations by enemy in Texas. Explains why. Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to Thomas Green, December 21, 1863. General Magruder orders Green to march his troops from Niblett's Bluff to Houston as rapidly as possible, given the danger from the large enemy force on the Matagorda Peninsula. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to Pendleton Murrah, December 21, 1863. Has learned of a conspiracy in eastern Texas to free Union prisoners at Tyler, destroy public property, and to procure arms and ammunition from Federals in Arkansas so that the conspirators and prisoners can take up arms against the Confederacy. The plot has been frustrated. Requests that the conspirators be confined in the state penitentiary in Huntsville. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to James Sorley, December 21, 1863. Writes to a person seemingly involved with the cotton bureau that he cannot permit "the indiscriminate exportation of cotton, as it would surely fall into the hands of the enemy." The enemy is advancing up the Rio Grande Valley. He hopes to keep open the trade via Eagle Pass. Urges Sorley to procure desperately needed arms. Link to document
William G. Webb to Edmund P. Turner, December 21, 1863. Captain Webb, commanding the post at Columbia on the lower Brazos River, reports that some of his troops are refusing to cross the river and march to Galveston. Refusal to obey orders "has happened too often." Does not have a force adequate to repress this rebellion. Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to James Duff, December 21, 1863. General Magruder orders that Colonel Duff pursue and capture the men who rebelled against orders at Columbia. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Charles P. Stone to C. C. Washburn, December 21, 1863. The artillery he requested should arrive shortly. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to W. G. Boggs, December 22, 1863. Has reports of enemy strength and movements toward Velasco and also up the Rio Grande. Does not credit the reports entirely. Does believe that both San Antonio and Austin are in danger of attack. Details about Confederate movements, etc. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to John S. Ford, December 22, 1863. General Magruder orders him to proceed to San Antonio to take command of the troops in that area. Then he is to take almost all of them toward the Rio Grande. Details. [Document continues onto the next page.] Link to document
Henry E. McCulloch to Edmund P. Turner, December 22, 1863. Has reliable information that a sizable force of Indians or jayhawkers has reached Gainesville. Has sent cavalry and also Quantrill after them. Complains that he has "no force to defend the granary of Texas with if I should be called upon to do so." [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
N. P. Banks to H. W. Halleck, December 23, 1863. Defends his decisions regarding expeditions into Texas and his call for reinforcements once a federal presence had been established in South Texas. Link to document
C. C. Washburn to Charles P. Stone, December 24, 1863. Rebels are in inconsiderable force at both Velasco and Quintana. Animals at Fort Esperanza dying for lack of forage. Link to document
Norman Lieber. Special Orders No. 322, December 24, 1863. General Banks orders Major-General Francis J. Herron to take command of the Rio Grande frontier at Brownsville and Major-General N. J. T. Dana to take command of the forces on the Gulf at Fort Esperanza. Link to document
Abraham Lincoln to Nathaniel P. Banks, December 24, 1863. Thanks the general for his "successful and valuable operations in Texas." Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to E. Kirby Smith, December 24, 1863. Praises E. W. Cave for his unpaid service in organizing the state troops. Notes problems Cave has had with the department's inspector-general. General Magruder has ordered John S. Ford to take troops to the Rio Grande to attack the enemy. Mentions the failure of some troops at Columbia to obey orders to march to Galveston. They have marched west. Their pretext is "the exposed state of their families." Will arrest them. More details. [Scroll down to the document, which continues for three more pages.] Link to document
Jas. Bourland to Henry E. McCulloch, December 24, 1863. Reports number of citizens killed and wounded in recent Indian attack at Gainesville and states that many horses were taken. [Scroll down to the document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to W. G. Boggs, December 25, 1863. States that one or more of the Confederacy's armed steamers could prove very useful on the Texas coast. Details. Link to document
C. M. Mason to James Duff, December 25, 1863. General Magruder orders Colonel Duff to destroy a railroad somewhere near the middle Texas coast. Intelligence from New Orleans indicates that Banks is outfitting many sailing ships to bring troops to Texas, probably to land in the Matagorda Bay area. Gives orders about how to respond. Link to document
John S. Ford to Edmund P. Turner, December 25, 1863. Submits suggestions to General Magruder about Ford's impending expedition from San Antonio to the Rio Grande. Many details about the use of volunteers (whom he praises). [Scroll down to the document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document
James H. Carleton to N. P. Banks, December 25, 1863. Commanding general of the Department of New Mexico has received Banks' letter of November 4. Explains why he cannot provide troops to aid Banks' projected advance on San Antonio. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
N. P. Banks to Francis J. Herring, December 25, 1863. Reminds the new commander at Brownsville of the need to avoid complications with the government of Mexico. He will find that efforts are under way to recruit both Mexicans and Texans into the U.S. army. Texans insist on only serving in Texas. Has agreed to this. An advance guard of General Carleton in Mexico occupies Franklin in the northwestern part of Texas. Link to document
C. W. West to J. B. Magruder, December 26, 1863. General Smith has learned that Magruder has issued some orders relative to cotton removal and other cotton trade issues. Smith, in Special Orders, No. 198, makes it clear that the operation of the cotton office is independent of Magruder's command. He is to issue no more such orders except in extreme military emergency situations. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
John S. Ford to Edmund P. Turner, December 27, 1863. Companies of volunteers have been raised in several central Texas counties. Ford proposes to move south to Goliad, then west to San Diego, then south again to engage enemy troops along the Rio Grande. Details. Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to Henry E. McCulloch, December 27, 1863. General Magruder, on receipt of McCulloch's communication of December 22 announcing an enemy invasion of northern Texas and occupation of Gainesville, has suspended the order for McCulloch to march his troops to Houston. Should the invasion not be severe or if it is quelled quickly, then the original order will stand, as the enemy continues to threaten on the coast. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to Charles J. Helm, December 27, 1863. Asks for help in procuring armed cruisers for service on the Texas coast. With such he could regain Brownsville and all of the occupied ports, thus driving the enemy "from our shores. States that he has now a very efficient naval force on the Gulf. [Scroll down to the document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document
N. J. T. Dana to Charles P. Stone, December 27, 1863. E. J. Davis' First Texas Cavalry is 400 strong; J. L. Haynes' Second Texas Cavalry has 300. Tells of the destitute condition of the First Cavalry when it arrived and what he has done about that. [It may be necessary to scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Edward Arall Pye. Letters from a Texas physician in the Confederate service to his family, December 27, 1863-March 7, 1865. Author was a resident of Waller County. The letters cover the service of Pye in an infantry regiment of the State Troops for a brief time and then in the Confederate Medical Corp. Link to documents
N. P. Banks to H. W. Halleck, December 30, 1863. Rivers are still too low to allow movement northwestward in Louisiana and into northeastern Texas. Still hopes to occupy Galveston. If successful, both it and Brownsville can be held with troops recruited in Texas. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
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Finding and sentence of [Union] naval general court martial of Lieutenant-Commander Richard L. Law, January 7, 1864. Defendant commanded the U.S Steamer Clifton in the battle that resulted in the Confederate retaking of Galveston, January 1, 1863. Details of charges, sentence, and mitigation by President Lincoln. [Scroll down to the document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document
Harvey C. Medford. Diary, January 9-February 15, 1864, March 10-April 14, 1864. Author was a private in Lane's Texas Cavalry, CSA. Valuable for descriptions of camp life in Houston and Galveston and of the unit's march from that area to Mansfield, Louisiana. Recounts events of the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill.
Part I [Scroll down to the document.]
Part II
J. Barton McFarland to Edward Bates, January 12, 1864. Writes from Brownsville that the people there are united in their support for Union military governor A. J. Hamilton. They do not want anyone else. [To access this document, click on "Link to document," then type "McFarland" in the search field. Then click on the "Search" button. Then click on the document.] Link to document
Confederate States of America. Congress. Resolution of thanks to participants in the Battle of Sabine Pass [September 8, 1863]. Approved February 4, 1864. Link to document
Abraham Lincoln to Nathaniel P. Banks, February 6, 1864. Bearer of the letter [to General Banks in New Orleans] is G. A. Scroggs of Buffalo, N.Y. If it meets Banks' approval, Scroggs is to go into Texas "to collect and organize the colored men of that State" into an African-American regiment for the Union Army. [The Internet collection of which this document is a part is the University of Michigan's "Making of America" website.] Link to document
Nathaniel P. Banks to Abraham Lincoln, February 12, 1864. Disagrees with those in Washington military circles that a victory over Confederate forces in Georgia will result in the fall of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas without much effort. Writes of the importance of Texas to the military success of the Union government. Link to document
Thirty-four residents of Mason, Menard, McCulloch, San Saba, Llano, Kimble, and Gillespie Counties to J. B. Barry, [ca. March 3, 1864]. This is a petition to the officer commanding the Frontier Regiment, stating that, following the withdrawal of frontier troops from the area, there have been many Indian depredations. Details. They express the hope that the troops will be ordered to return soon. [What appears first is a transcription. To see a photographic iimage of the original manuscript, scroll down the page.] Link to document
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Note: This list will have more links added later.
