The 18th Texas Infantry in service to the Confederate States
of America (CSA) was formed on May 13, 1862 in Jefferson (Marion County), TX and spent its
entire career within the Trans-Mississippi Department (Confederate operations west of the
Mississippi River). The regiment consisted of 10 companies (11 Companies for some months)
and participated in more than twenty military engagements. Five of these engagements were
significant and are summarized below. Initial
regimental field operations were in Arkansas from late summer (1862) into the spring
(1863) with no military action. In October a new Division was formed and 18th Texas
Infantry was incorporated into the 1st Brigade. In December General John G. Walker assumed
command of the Division. This Division was later known as Walkers Greyhounds
denoting its reputation for its many long, forced marches back and forth across Louisiana
and Arkansas. In January of 1863 the Division was sent to the Arkansas Post (military
outpost) located on the Arkansas River near the Mississippi River to assist in its
defense. They arrived too late to be of any help. In May the Division was sent on a long
march and via the Red River to Alexandria, LA to help defend against a threatened Union
advance commanded by General Nathaniel Banks. Banks, however, chose to turn back east and
attack Port Hudson on the Mississippi River. By early June 1863 the 18th Texas Infantry
was sent on a long march through snake invested bayous, a march that tired mens
souls to Perkins Landing 15 miles from Vicksburg to try to prevent some of
Grants forces from crossing the Mississippi River from Louisiana into Mississippi.
Again, they arrive after most of the Yankees had crossed the River skirmishing only with
several Union gunboats. After establishing camp they were then ordered to move to the
North of Vicksburg to Millikens Bend at Young Point, LA to engage the enemy. The
Brigade commander fearing the exhausted 18th on the move for 28 sleepless hours
would be too tired to be effective ordered a retreat. Once again the Texans were
denied a fight. Soon, however the 18th with all of their pent-up frustration would finally
get their chance to fight the enemy.
June 15, 1863 - Battle - Roundaway Bayou, north of Richmond,
Louisiana, (20 miles west of Vicksburg) --The 18th Texas Infantry crossed the bayou and
charged the much superior enemy force at the point of the bayonet. One account summed up
this engagement this way:
The ground was covered with their
dead and wounded
The 18th Texas Infantry
crossed the bayou and charged the enemy
at the point of the bayonet, driving them pell-mell into the timber. They were
panic-stricken, as they never stopped to resist the charge of the brave 500. Although
their numbers exceeded 18,000, under command of one of their ablest generals, General
Davis, they anticipated that they were ambushed
. This charge made by the 18th
will compare favorably with any regimental charge that has ever been recorded.
Blessington, Joseph P. The Campaigns of Walkers Texas Division
.
New
York: Lange, Little & Co., 1875.
November 3, 1863 - Battle - Bayou Bourbeau near Grand Coteau,
Louisiana (10 miles south of Opelousas). The Infantry Brigade was formed in battle line in
the following manner. - The 15th Texas Infantry, commanded by Colonel Joseph W. Speight
took their position on the right of the brigade; the 18th Texas Infantry, commanded by
Col. Wilburn H. King, was assigned the center, and the 11th Texas Infantry, commanded by
Col. Oran Milo Roberts, took their position on the left of the brigade. The fierce battle
lasted 3 hours. According to the memoirs of Wilburn King here is his account.
The fight was a desperate one for
several hours, {with} my own regiment losing nearly 40% of its strength in killed and
wounded but {it} ended in defeat of the immediate Federal force, the capture of
their camp and many guns, and nearly 1000 prisoners.I had five color bearers shot dead
in the battle, and the eyes of the sixth one shot out, but my colors never struck the
ground. The Autobiography of Wilburn Hill King Edited by: L. David Norris
1996, Hill College Press , Hillsboro, Texas Page 74
April 8, 1864 - Battle - Sabine Cross Roads (5 miles
southeast of Mansfield, Louisiana). Approximately 8,800 Confederate troops facing about
12,000 Union troops in the immediate area. The total Union forces including the naval
force on the Red River (13 ironclads, 4 tinclads and 5 other armed vessels) and support
personnel numbered approximately 30,000. A stunning victory for the Confederates under the
command of General Richard Taylor (the son of former President Zachary Taylor) ultimately
caused Union Army commander General N. Banks to abandon his march toward Shreveport and to
turn back to New Orleans. The Confederates lost about 1000 in killed, wounded and missing.
The loss of the enemy amounted to 2235 in killed, wounded and missing, 20 pieces of
artillery, including Nim's battery, Chicago Mercantile battery and the First Indiana
battery, 200 wagons, 1000 horses and mules and thousands of small-arms. The 18th Texas,
part of Wauls Brigade and Walkers Division, attacked in fury. Following is a
description of the Texans attack.
The Texans swept down on the
Federals with a rush like a cyclone, said one Northern soldier. Yelling
like infuriated demonsthey came, brushing aside the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry
and closing up the swaths cut in their ranks by the accurate fire of Ormand Nims
fine battery. They charged up the hill, flanking and driving back the 23rd Wisconsin and
67th Indiana, capturing three of Nims guns and turning them on the Yankees. Johnson,
Ludwell H. Red River Campaign: Politics & Cotton in the Civil War, pg. 135 1958, John
Hopkins Press 1993, Kent State Press
April 9, 1864 - Battle - Pleasant Hill, Louisiana (17 miles
southeast of Mansfield). After the Southerners victorious rout of the Yankees on the
8th at Mansfield General Taylor pressed on hoping to cut the Union forces in half and
separate General Banks from his gunboat armada on the Red River 16 miles to the east.
General Banks with 12,193 men engaged suffered 1369 causalities. General Taylor with
12,500 men engaged lost 1,200 killed and wounded. Walkers Texans, including the 18th
regiment, are described going into battle from this account and a scene after the battle:
Walkers Texans were advancing
across the open ground against the left of Gen. Shaws brigade, their muskets at right
shoulder shift. The Federals, hidden in a skirt of woods and protected by light rail
breastworks, could hear the gray officers calling out commands. Dress up on the
right! Steady on the center! Steady! Steady, boys! Keep cool! Keep cool! When the
Texans neared the enemy line, they opened fire
....
(after
the battle description)
. A fresh battlefield was always a frightful and
sickening place, but the one at Pleasant Hill seems to have impressed the soldiers as one
of particular horror. The air was filled, said one, with
groans and shrieks, and delirious yells. As the night turned cold there came
calls from the wounded for fire, and repeated wails such asOh, Im freezing,
and of course the ever present cry, For Gods sake bring us some water.
Men in agony called to their comrades for help. Send someone to get me,
they would say. Where is the 24th Iowa? 4th Texas, come here.
My God, I am dying
.. Johnson, Ludwell H. Red River
Campaign: Politics & Cotton in the Civil War, pg 157 1958, John Hopkins Press 1993,
Kent State Press
A major strategic error on the part of the Confederates took
place after the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. The commanding general of the
Trans Mississippi Army General Kirby Smith made a bad decision, against the
strong opposition of General Taylor, Walker and others, to send most of Taylors
forces, including Walkers Division, north into Arkansas to fight Union General
Steeles force of 6000 that had been heading from Little Rock to Shreveport. Taylor
was convinced that Steele would not be a threat to Smith and Shreveport. Indeed Steele,
upon hearing of Banks defeat at Mansfield, turned back toward Little Rock. Taylor
insisted that if Kirby Smith had concentrated forces against Banks, the Union army and its
valuable fleet would have been bagged, the Mississippi River opened by the captured
vessels, and the outnumbered Confederates facing Sherman in Georgia reinforced with up to
30,000 troops from the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Wars outcome might have
been different. Taylors strong feelings about this issue was revealed in his book.
The Southern people might have
been spared the humiliation of defeat, and the countless woes and wrongs inflicted on them
by their conquerors. Taylor, Richard, Destruction and Reconstruction:
Personal Experiences of the Late War, New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1890April 30, 1864
- Battle - Jenkin's Ferry on Saline River (45 miles south of Little Rock) Arkansas. The
6000 Confederates under the over-all command of Kirby Smith were pursuing the retreating
Union troops (approx. 6000) under the command of General Steele. The Federals had lost to
the Confederates a few days earlier a wagon train of valuable supplies and materials.
Steele needed to cross the Saline River to continue his withdrawal to Little Rock. The
terrain was not favorable for the attacking Confederates, the ground was very muddy and
the attack tactics poor. Wauls Brigade was an integral part of the action that day.
The battle ended in a stalemate, allowing the Union forces to successfully ford the river
and escape the Confederates. Union causalities were 2750 compared to 2300 for the
Confederates. The Union lost over 635 wagons and 2500 mules during the campaign.
During mid 1864 the 18 Texas Infantry was returned to
Louisiana. There it served at Shreveport. In early 1865 the unit was moved to Hempstead,
Texas where it disbanded in May 1865 having never surrendered.
Source: J.E. Adams,
Oklahoma City, OK - February 1999
Note: Samuel G. Adams (1842 1906), my great grand father, served in Co. I of the
18th Texas Infantry from May 1862 until April 1865. |