Texans and the defense of the Confederate Northwest, April 1861-April 1862: a social and military historyShow full item record
Title | Texans and the defense of the Confederate Northwest, April 1861-April 1862: a social and military history |
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Author | Maberry, Robert |
Date | 1992 |
Genre | Dissertation |
Degree | Doctor of Philosophy |
Abstract | When war broke out in the Spring of 1861, the citizens of North and East Texas played major roles in the defense of the Confederate Northwest. Sharing cultural, economic, and kinship bonds with other Southerners, Texas volunteers readily enlisted, but had to overcome confusion and mismanagement by state and national authorities in order to form units that would eventually find their way to former Texas Ranger Ben McCulloch's army in Arkansas. In all, Texas supplied six cavalry regiments, two cavalry battalions, and one battery of field artillery for the defense of the Confederate Northwest during the first year of the war. Federal actions in Missouri during the summer of 1861 meant that the fighting would take place in the western border region between that state, Arkansas, and the Indian Territory. The first Texas regiment to leave the state experienced its baptism of fire on August 10, 1861 at the Battle of Oak Hills, where McCulloch's new command had joined forces with Sterling Price's ragged army of Missouri secessionists. The battle proved indecisive and because of an escalating Union threat to the region, more units from the Lone Star State joined McCulloch's command during the fall and winter. Some of the Texas troops, making their way across the Indian Territory, became embroiled in suppressing Unionist elements of the Creek and Seminole Tribes. In the course of that campaign, which included three small battles, Texans became acquainted with the native American society there and found they shared many cultural traits with the mixed-blood tribesmen. While the armies of McCulloch and Price rested in snug winter quarters, Union General Samuel Curtis initiated what would become the decisive campaign for control of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. In late February, while Confederate forces concentrated at Boston Mountain, south of Fayetteville, General Earl Van Dorn assumed command of the two Rebel armies, which he combined and named the Army of the West. After a hasty and difficult advance over bad roads in horrific weather, the Confederates met Curtis's forces at the climactic Battle of Elkhorn Tavern, fought on March 7-8, 1862. Van Dorn's poor planning and lack of tactical skill negated the bravery and stamina of his troops, and Confederate forces were routed, the army deteriorating into a rabble as it withdrew to Van Buren. Although defeated, the Texans of the Army of the West soon recovered both their strength and morale. In April, Van Dorn's entire command was transferred to Confederate armies east of the Mississippi. All of the Texas units would see service for the rest of the war and in time would become part of the South's most important western field force, the Army of Tennessee. |
Link | https://repository.tcu.edu/handle/116099117/33606 |
Department | History |
Advisor | McWhiney, Grady |
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Doctoral Dissertations [1484]
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