University of Texas at San Antonio Civil War Diaries

On account of the very brief space allotted me to write. I shall con -fine myself to the most stir -ing incidents and of all the Army. Speak more especially of the Brigade and of the Brigade more especially of the 5th Texas Since from my point of observa -tion I would not be justified in detailing the active part taken by all. The course of greatness of the Brigade began on the re treat from Yorktown Virginia during the spring of 62 hence I will but speak a word or two in regard to the time a sparing between the departure of the Texans from Texas for Virginia and the time when

laurels of victory. But ask them now if their fond hopes have been realized, and if they have yet met hand to hand in bloody encounter their countrys enemy and with a tear trickling slowly down their check. They will point with emotion of sorrow to the man. g green marches run from "El thams Landing" to "Gettysburg" where departed Texans lie. Whose lives have been sacrificed upon a [strn -ger?] soil in a noble cause. The 20 companies had a diffi -cult trip across the Calcasieu, a swampy country in LA, from Sabine River to Bayou Teche. They left Texas in August 61 for Virginia in detachments of 5

companies each after arriving in New Orleans. They took the cars for Virginia, when we arrived about the 15th Sept 61, we were then divided into Regts, and were designated as 4th & 5th Txs Col JJ Archer an old U.S.A. officer was made Col 5th, JB Robertson Capt Comp I was made Lt Col, and JB Bolls of Co "A" was made Mj., JB Hood an old army officer was made Col 4th., John Marshal of Austin TX was made Lt Col, and B Warwick of Va. and a distinguished officer in Garribal di's Army was made Major. We found on our arrival in Virginia The 13 Texas com -pound of companies who

in their advance had went to Virginia on their "own hook" be -for the 1st battle of Manassas Davis L Wigfall of Texas was the Col, upon our arrival he was made Brig Genl and put in command of the three TXs regt. JC McLeod of Galveston Texas Then became Col of 1st Rainey Maj Lt Col, and Black Maj. The Brigade was ordered to the Potomac where winter [?] were enacted and the winter spent. Nothing of importance transpired during the winter, other than disease, laid many a noble and gallant form beneath the sod, and robed Texas of many proud sons, and valiant soldiers