The Texas Brigade

From the time of The Texas Revolution and Republic, to The Mexican War evolving into Indian wars with the Comanche and Apache, Texans were essentially fighting for twenty five years prior to The War of Secession, long after most of the United States had been subdued. Consequently, by the beginning of the war in 1861 the rough and ready frontier Texans were well used to hardship and fighting, being indeed of a combative nature.

Young Texas boys from early teens to an average age of seventeen volunteered in droves to fight for Texas and a new country as their forefathers had done in 1776. From counties all over Texas such as Travis, Navarro, Bexar, Comal, Marion, Walker, Trinity and Galveston to mention only a few, volunteers clamored to join the fight. They took on colorful names attached to companies like, The Texas Invincibles, Knights of Guadeloupe, The Lone Star Guard, The Crockett Southrons, Mustang Grays and The Sandy Point Mounted Rifles.

General John Bell Hood took command of the Brigade in Virginia, early 1862. Hood's Texas Brigade, comprising the 1st, 4th and 5th Texas and 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiments, Lee's "Grenadier Guard", served in Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. The Texas Brigade, held by many to be the most celebrated infantry brigade in the Confederate Army, was to General Robert E. Lee and his army, what the Old Guard was to Napoleon and the Imperial Army of France. A juggernaut, first in the advance, Texans were shock troops in battle and in retreat a trusted rear guard. The Texas Brigade was created on October 22, 1861, with General Order No.15, issued by the War Department in Richmond and though commanded by others, was forever remembered as "Hood's Texas Brigade" and for whom today's Fort Hood is named.

The 1st Texas reported for duty in Virginia during the spring and summer of 1861, and was later united with the 4th and 5th Texas ( William Fletcher's unit ), which arrived that fall. The three regiments came together for the first time on November 13, 1861, when the 4th and 5th joined the 1st at Dumfries, Virginia, roughly 25 miles south of Washington City. Thus the frontiersmen from Texas, who were admired as some of the best horsemen and riflemen in the army, began a matchless march across the pages of history.

In November of 1862 the Army of Northern Virginia was reorganized and the 3rd Arkansas was assigned to the Texas Brigade, where it served until the end of the war. The Texas Brigade fought in all major battles engaged in by the Army of Northern Virginia, to include, The Seven Days Battle, 2nd Manassas, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg to mention a few of the more notable, later fighting with the Army of the Tennessee at Chickamauga and with Longstreet at Suffolk.

The war record of this renowned fighting unit was a gallant and glorious one, written in blood, uncommon valor and devotion to duty. General Lee knew of no better troops upon which he could depend. In fact he referred to them as, "My Texans," stating: "I have never seen the backs of my Texans, except at the charge". In 1889 Jefferson Davis wrote, "The Texas Brigade showed on many battlefields, full willingness to live and die to the glory of Dixie."

On May 20, 1863, Private West penned a letter to his wife in Texas and remarked, "We can't be whipped, though they may kill us all", a statement which unfortunately became virtually true. Of the estimated 5353 men who enlisted in the three Texas and one Arkansas regiments, only 617 remained to surrender their well-used Enfields and bullet riddled flags on April 12, 1865 at Appomattox, Virginia. We pray to God this feat of valor shall not be in vain, nor forgotten.

Rebel Private has the full logistical support of The Texas Brigade ( reenactor ), commanded by General Jack King of Galveston, Texas. A thirty year veteran of the national reenacting circuit. Jack King is a qualified historian on The Texas Brigade's exploits throughout the war and will not only portray General Robert E. Lee, commanding on the field, he will serve as technical advisor for historical accuracy and reenactor coordinator.