8. Texas in the Civil War: Part F (August 1863)
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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. 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 Please do not cite "Lone Star History Links."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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Francis P. Blair Sr. to Abraham Lincoln, August 1, 1863. Blair, an advisor to the U.S. president, responds to Lincoln's letter to him, July 30, which was a response to reading William Alexander's letter to Blair, July 28. Blair somewhat defends Alexander [a Texas Unionist], but states that Lincoln may well have to divert troops intended for Texas to aid the Army of the Potomac against Lee in the East. Yet, the military intervention of the French in Mexico suggests the need for a Union Army presence in Texas to discourage any French adventurism northward. Link to document
X. B. Debray to A. N. Mills, August 1, 1863. Commander of Confederate forces in Galveston writes to a staff officer for the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona stating that continued requisitions of troops from Galveston have weakened the defenses of the city. Describes defensive works there, health of troops, etc. Link to document
J. Sulakowski to Edmund P. Turner, August 2, 1863. Chief engineer, Confederate forces at Galveston, reports to a staff officer for the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona on the Confederate defenses at Niblett's Bluff, Orange, and Sabine. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to H. P. Bee, August 4, 1863. The commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona writes to the commander of the Western Sub-District that has received Bee's letter of July 31. States that Bee has not followed Magruder's or General Smith's orders with respect to the export of cotton through Brownsville. [Continues for two more pages.] Link to document
S. Hart to _______, August 4, 1863. Quartermaster of Confederate forces at San Antonio has learned that owners of slaves in counties along the Red River in northeastern Texas have refused to hire out slaves to act as teamsters in hauling Confederate government to the Rio Grande. Asks that General Magruder authorize the impressment of sufficient slaves to do the job. Link to document
Abraham Lincoln to Nathaniel P. Banks, August 5, 1863. U.S. president states to the commander of the Department of the Gulf his opinion that recent events in Mexico render early action in Texas more important than ever. General-in-Chief Henry Halleck will likely address Banks on the subject soon. [The Internet collection of which this document is a part is the University of Michigan's "Making of America" website.] Link to document
Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, August 9, 1863. U.S. president writes to s "greatly impressed with the importance of re-establishing the national authority in Western Texas as soon as possible," but is leaving the decision in the hands of General-in-Chief Henry Halleck. [The Internet collection of which this document is a part is the University of Michigan's "Making of America" website.] Link to document
H. W. Halleck to N P. Banks, August 10, 1863. Union army general-in-chief writes to the commander, Department of the Gulf, that he believes that the best point of attack into Texas is not Indianola or Galveston but up the Red River into northern Texas. Explains why. Final decision is Banks'. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to Brigadier General [William Robertson Boggs, August 12, 1863. The commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona requests General Boggs, chief of staff to General E. Kirby Smith, commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department, requesting that General Smith authorize the return to Texas of some artillery now in Louisiana. Explains why. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
R. M. Gano and Nathaniel Terry to J. B. Magruder, August 12, 1863. Commander of a unit of Confederate cavalry reports (from Fort Wort) to the commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico that Indian depredations in Parker and Johnson counties have made it difficult to recruit men into the militia. Details about attacks. Stresses the need for militia to be used on the frontier. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to H. B. Bee, August 13, 1863. A staff officer for the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona writes to the commander of the Western Sub-District that General Magruder speculates that the enemy may soon make a major thrust against Galveston or some other point on the Gulf, with only a diversion at the mouth of the Rio Grande. Even so, he gives instructions about what Bee should do if there is an invasion in force there, including a vigorous defense, possible evacuation of the area, etc. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
H. P. Bee to Edmund P. Turner, August 14, 1863. Commander, Confederate Western Sub-District writes to a staff officer for the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona that he has heard reliable information from a person lately in New Orleans that a federal invasion of Texas will occur soon, with landings at various points on the coast and a move against Galveston from the mainland. Perhaps cavalry raids from Kansas as well. Details and recommendations. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
J. B. M. [J. Bankhead Magruder]. Endorsement on the Bee to Turner letter of August 14. [Endorsement not dated.] In this endorsement, the commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona provides details about supply depots and troop locations already in place in anticipation of a federal invasion. Some specific instructions. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
J. A. Gilmore to Abraham Lincoln, August 14, 1863. New Hampshire governor urges the U.S. president to reappoint A. J. Hamilton as military governor of Texas and to send a military force sufficient to bring that state under Union control. Offers to help raise troops in his state for that purpose. Link to document
Nathaniel Terry to J. B. Magruder, August 14, 1863. Commander of a brigade of Texas state troops reports to the commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona that more Indian depredations have caused him to order militia in the counties west of Fort Worth to the frontier. Warns of dire consequences if the state and Confederate forces do not respond adequately and soon. Link to document
Report of the proceedings of a conference of the Confederate governors (and other persons) of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri at Marshall, Texas, August 15-18, 1863. [Had been called by General E. Kirby Smith, commander, Trans-Mississippi Department.] Includes resolutions pointing out the isolation of their states from the remainder of the Confederacy, especially in light of the fall of Vicksburg. Use of cotton to obtain military supplies mentioned. General Smith needs authority to act more independently of the Richmond government. Expression of confidence in General Smith, etc. Details. [Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the document, which continues to p. 1010.] Link to document
H. P. Bee to Edmund P. Turner, August 15, 1863. Commander, Confederate Western Sub-District writes to a staff officer for the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona that he believes that the French will be in Matamoros soon, Hopes that they will be able to provide him with needed arms. Reports widespread sickness among his troops. Link to document.
Santos Benavides to William O. Yager, August 15, 1863. Confederate cavalry commander writes from Carrizo to an acting assistant adjutant-general that the export of cattle to Mexico will soon cause shortages of fresh beef for the troops. Proposes an order that would control the trade, which he says is almost entirely in the hands of anti-Confederates in the area. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to H. P. Bee, August 15, 1863. A staff officer for the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona conveys to the commander, Confederate Western Sub-District, a message from General Magruder that, in light of disaffection at Waco and Austin and of the mutinous behavior of some of the troops at Galveston, it was very necessary that Bee carry out certain orders (involving troop deployments). [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
J. Y. Dashiell to Edmund P. Turner, August 15, 1863. Adjutant general and inspector general of Texas, writes to the assistant adjutant general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, responding to a letter from General E. Kirby Smith to Governor Francis Lubbock of Texas (dated June 20) which offered help in the process of conscripting men into state military service. Lubbock now asks for that assistance. Details. Link to document
N. P. Banks to H. W. Halleck, August 15, 1863. Commander, Union Department of the Gulf, reports to the Union army chief of staff in Washington, D.C., that he hopes to have troops in Texas within a week. Details. [For this document, scroll down to the bottom of the page. Document concluded on the following page.] Link to document
Guy M. Bryan to J. B. Magruder, August 15, 1863. A staff officer for the Confederate Department of the Trans-Mississippi, writes to the commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona that General Edmund Kirby Smith has instructed him to state "that he did not mean to include the cotton belonging to the State of Texas in that subject to impressment" [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
F. R. Lubbock to E. P. Turner, August 16, 1863. Texas governor writes to a staff officer for the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, enclosing letter from Guy M. Bryan to General J. B. Magruder, dated August 15, 1863. Resulted from the governor's explaining to General Smith the situation with the state's cotton. Link to document
N. P. Banks to H. W. Halleck, August 17, 1863. Commander, Union Department of the Gulf, reports to the Union army general in chief in Washington, D.C., about the need for more cavalry for the Texas expedition, as "all of the Texas troops are mounted men." Also needs equipment and arms for the black soldiers. [Second document on the page.] Link to document
Stephen A. Hurlbut to Abraham Lincoln, August 18, 1863. Union major general communicates to the U.S. president his belief, based on reports coming out of the South, that the Confederate and French governments have come to an understanding. Gives details. Then notes that some informants expect a surrender of Texas to the French. Link to document
Thomas O. Moore, F. R. Lubbock, Harris Flanagin, and Thomas C. Reynolds "to the People of Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri, and the Allied Indian Nations," August 18, 1863. Governors of Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri state that they have consulted with General Edmund Kirby Smith, Confederate commander of the Department of the Trans-Mississippi, some judges, Confederate senators, and others about what needs to be done "for the defense of our common cause," in light of the fall of Vicksburg. They state that the cause can still be sustained. Explain why. [Document continues onto the third page.] Link to document
H. W. Halleck to N. P. Banks, August 20, 1863. Union army general-in-chief writes to the commander, Department of the Gulf, that "Mexican and French complications" require that the Texas expedition be launched without delay. [Scroll down the page for the document, which concludes on the following page.] Link to document
Charles Russell to Edmund P. Turner, August 21, 1863. Chief quartermaster, First Division, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, writes from Brownsville to one of the district's other staff officers about matters involving the shipping of Confederate cotton. [Scroll down to document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document
Ulysses S. Grant to Abraham Lincoln, August 23, 1863. Union general agrees with the president respecting "the importance of a movement into Texas . . . at this time." Link to document
H. P. Bee to Edmund P. Turner, August 24, 1863. Commander, Confederate Western Sub-District writes to a staff officer for the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, reporting about serious illness among troops at Brownsville. Likely consequences. No rumors of a speedy invasion there. Consequences of a possible enemy landing at Saluria. Link to document
H. P. Bee to Edmund P. Turner, August 24, 1863. Commander, Confederate Western Sub-District writes to a staff officer for the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, that he cannot hire labor, as laborers will not accept Confederate money. Other problems. Military establishment at Brownville is "a farce." Banks cannot invade for three months because of transportation problems, but predicts consequences when he does. Link to document
Guy M. Bryan to Richard Taylor, August 25, 1863. A staff officer for the Confederate Department of the Trans-Mississippi, writes to the army commender in western Louisiana that General Edmund Kirby Smith has ordered a brigade to proceed to Bonham, as he considers northern Texas to be the weak point in the state. Link to document
N. P. Banks to H. W. Halleck, August 26, 1863. Commander, Union Department of the Gulf, reports to the Union army general in chief in Washington, D.C., that he is encountering difficulties in preparing for the expedition into Texas. Explains. Also explains why he has chosen an entry from the sea rather than up the Red River. [Scroll down to the bottom of the page for this document, which continues for two additional pages.] Link to document
N. P. Banks to H. W. Halleck, August 26, 1863. Commander, Union Department of the Gulf, reports to the Union army general in chief in Washington, D.C., asserts in this separate communication that gaining control of Texas is very important aside from political and diplomatic considerations. Predicts likely result of taking Galveston. Notes that Texas Governor Francis Lubbock has ordered the conscription of all men between the ages of sixteen and sixty. Suggests positive and negative consequences. [Document continues onto the next page.] Link to document
W. T. Carrington. Special Orders No. 231, August 27, 1863. A staff officer for the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona communicates General J. B. Magruder's orders concerning troop deployments across coastal Texas. Link to document
H. P. Bee to Edmund P. Turner, August 27, 1863. Commander, Confederate Western Sub-District, writes to a staff officer for the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona that he regrets that his handling of Confederate cotton matters does not meet General J. B. Magruder's approval. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
H. W. Halleck to N. P. Banks, August 28, 1863. Union army general-in-chief writes to the commander, Department of the Gulf, urging caution in moving toward the Rio Grande. Explains why. [Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the document, which continues to the following page.] Link to document
Samuel L. Roberts to Edmund P. Turner, August 29, 1863. Confederate commander at Bonham writes to a staff officer for the Confederate Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona that Union troops in the Indian Territory seemed to be threatening northern Texas. Is trying to prepare to meet the threat. Also, he has heard of a plot in which "disaffected white men and . . . negroes " were planning to murder almost all pro-Confederate whites. Also writes of deplorable situation regarding arms. Link to document
S. S. Anderson. Special Orders No. 125, August 31, 1863. A staff officer for the Confederate Department of the Trans-Mississippi conveys General E. Kirby Smith;s orders for Texas relating to President Davis' proclamation that all men between the ages of 40 and 45 be called into Confederate service unless exempt by law. Details. Link to document
N. P. Banks to William B. Franklin, August 31, 1863. Commander, Union Department of the Gulf, issues orders to the commander of the Nineteenth Army Corps relating to the pending expedition to Sabine Pass. Link to document
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