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Texas Brigade

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The Texas Brigade, winter 1861–1862.

The Texas Brigade, also often referred to as Hood's Brigade, was an infantry brigade in the Confederate States Army that distinguished itself for its fierce tenacity and fighting capability during the American Civil War.

Organization

The original Texas Brigade was organized on October 22, 1861, primarily through the efforts of John Allen Wilcox, a member of the First Confederate Congress from Texas who remained as the brigade's political patron until his death in 1864. The brigade was initially and briefly under the command of Louis T. Wigfall until he took a seat in the Confederate Senate. Command was then given to John Bell Hood (hence the Texas Brigade was often known as "Hood's Brigade" or "Hood's Texas Brigade").

For much of the war, it was assigned to Longstreet’s Corps, General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, and commanded for much of the war by Brig. Gen. Jerome B. Robertson. It initially comprised the 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas regiments, the 18th Georgia Infantry and (after the Battle of Seven Pines) Hampton's (South Carolina) Legion. After the general reorganization of Lee's army following the battle of Antietam in late 1862, the Georgians and South Carolinians were reassigned to brigades from their respective states and the 3rd Arkansas Infantry was added due to their being the only other trans-Mississippi regiment and single Arkansas regiment serving with Lee's army.

Battle actions

The brigade distinguished itself as a hard fighter during the Seven Days Battle where it routed the enemy at Gaines' Mill, captured a battery of guns, and repulsed a cavalry counterattack. Its reputation was furthered when it spearheaded Longstreet's assault on Pope's left at the battle of Second Manassas. The brigade overran two Union regiments, nearly decimating the 5th New York Zouaves, and captured a battery of guns.

The brigade's most famous action took place on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, during its fight for Devil's Den. Though the Confederacy ultimately lost that battle, the 1st Texas, 4th Texas, 5th Texas, and 3rd Arkansas distinguished themselves in taking Devil's Den despite being greatly outnumbered and suffering heavy casualties, to include General Robertson being wounded.

By the war's end, the Texas Brigade had fought in all the battles engaged in by the Army of Northern Virginia except Chancellorsville. Battles included the Battle of Seven Pines, Seven Days Battle, Battle of South Mountain, Battle of Sharpsburg, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Gettysburg, and the Battle of the Wilderness. They later fought with the Army of Tennessee at Chickamauga and during the Knoxville Campaign, as well as with Longstreet at Suffolk.[1] Of the estimated 5,353 men who enlisted in the three Texas and one Arkansas regiments, only 617 remained to surrender on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.[1] The Texas Brigade, along with the Stonewall Brigade from Virginia, were considered to be the Army of Northern Virginia's shock troops.[citation needed]

Orders of battle

  • Fredericksburg (December 11 – December 15, 1862); assigned to Hood's Division; Brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. Jerome B. Robertson
    • 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas Infantry Regiments
    • 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment
  • Gettysburg (July 1 – July 3, 1863); assigned to Hood's Division; Brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. Jerome B. Robertson
    • 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas Infantry Regiments
    • 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment
  • Chickamauga (September 18 – September 20, 1863); assigned to Hood's Division; Brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. Jerome B. Robertson
    • 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas Infantry Regiments
    • 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment
  • Wilderness (May 5 – May 7, 1864); assigned to Field's Division; Brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. John Gregg
    • 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas Infantry Regiments
    • 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment
  • Cold Harbor (May 21 – June 3, 1864); assigned to Field's Division; Brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. John Gregg
    • 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas Infantry Regiments
    • 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Frameset Hq
  • Polley, J. B., Hood's Texas Brigade: Its Marches, Its Battles, Its Achievements, Morningside Bookshop, 1988, ISBN 0-89029-037-X.
  • Simpson, Harold B., Hood's Texas Brigade: Lee's Grenadier Guard, Texas Press, 1970, ISBN 1-56013-009-1.
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