8. Texas in the Civil War: Part E (May 1-July 31, 1863)
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Important Notes
1. These links, almost without exception, are to documents having to do with events and movements (mostly of a military character) which occurred (or at least meant to occur) within the boundaries of the state of Texas. Persons interested in documents having to do with the participation of Texans in various battles and campaigns beyond Texas can consult works found in the first Civil War list at this site, especially The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (plus the same for the navies) and Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.
2. How to cite most of the documents in this list.
Most of the documents in this list are from the two multi-volume collections listed just below this paragraph. Those collections are at Cornell University's "Making of America" website. At a specific document page, most browsers will display the phrases "Cornell University Library" and "Cornell Making of America" near the top of the page. (If not, use the scroll bar to the right of the "next page" icon to reveal these phrases.) To determine the exact location of a document in either of the War Department or Navy Department series (i.e., series, volume, and part), go to the drop-down "Go To:" menu on the right and choose "Title Page." Please cite both the data having to do with the War Department or the Navy Department series and Cornell University's "Making of America" website. Please do not cite "Lone Star History Links."
United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. 70 vols. in 128. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901.
United States. Navy Department. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. 30 vols. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1894-1922.
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Suggestion: One might also find it useful to consult the list of documents and collections of documents at List 2, "Texas in the Nineteenth Century: General."
Franklin Barlow Sexton. Diary, 1862-1863. [Relevant entry: May 2, 1863.] Author was a member of the Confederate Congress, representing a district in eastern Texas. The entry recounts a visit with Jefferson Davis, in which the Confederate president states that he will do all that he can for Texas in its present danger. [Scroll down to the entry.] Part II [For Part I, see List 8C.]
James Duff to E. R. Tarver, May 30, 1863. Confederate officer at Fort Brown reports to Tarver [identified only as aide-de-camp and acting assistant adjutant general] that on the previous day some U.S. troops came ashore and briefly occupied Point Isabel, effecting some damage before embarking and leaving. Details. Link to document
M. M. Kimmey to William H. Seward, June 4, 1863. Acting U.S. consul at Monterrey, Mexico, reports to the U.S. secretary of state on conditions in Texas, including the lightly defended Rio Grande border and informs him of the escape of some Texas Unionists into Mexico. Link to document
William Alexander to Benjamin F. Butler, June 10, 1863. A Texas Unionist writes from New York City to the Union general that he believes that there is still a chance for an expedition to Texas, with Butler in command. Explains why the expedition is important and predicts that the restoration of Texas to the Union will result in the division of the state. Details. [Poor scanning probably explains why Brownsville is rendered "Brunsville" and Matamoros as "Montonnoy."] Link to document
Stephen D. Yancey to H. P. Bee, July 2, 1863. The acting assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, conveys General Magruder's instructions to the commander of the Western Sub-District in Texas to procure small arms and ammunition for "our forces" in the district. Impress them if necessary. Impress cotton under certain circumstances. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to C. G. Forshey, July 2, 1863. Commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona orders his chief consulting engineer to go to Niblett's Bluff (in Louisiana on the Sabine River opposite Orange County) to see what defensive works may be necessary there to protect against a Union invasion of Texas at that point. Link to document
Stephen D. Yancey to H. P. Bee, July 3, 1863. The acting assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, conveys General Magruder's orders to the commander of the Western Sub-District in Texas to move his headquarters to Brownsville because of the importance of getting Confederate cotton out of Texas through Mexico. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to E. Kirby Smith, July 3, 1863. Commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona reports to the commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department that he has carried out Smith's order to direct General H. P. Bee, commander of the Western Sub-District in Texas, to obtain cotton "to meet our demands on the Rio Grande." Also, has sent agents to hire slaves from their owners to replace soldiers as teamsters to carry the cotton. [It may be necessary to scroll down to document.] Link to document
E. Kirby Smith to S. Cooper, July 4, 1863. The commander of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department writes to the adjutant-general and inspector in Richmond of the need to get some cotton out of Louisiana and into Mexico via Texas in light of the inevitability of the fall of Vicksburg to Union forces. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Stephen D. Yancey to "the Planters of Texas," July 4, 1863. The acting assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, declares the need for every able-bodied man to serve in the army. Because of this, General Magruder asks that they be willing to hire out slaves to the army to serve as teamsters. Details. Link to document
E. B. Pendleton to "All Quartermasters in the District," July 6, 1863. General Magruder orders them to send agents to planters in their vicinities to hire slaves to serve as teamsters for the army. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
H. P. Bee to Edmund P. Turner, July 9, 1863. The commander of the Confederate Western Sub-District in Texas, informs the acting assistant adjutant general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, that he will proceed to Brownsville immediately but regrets "this disagreeable duty." Has been slandered before about his handling of cotton. Link to document
Jefferson Davis to F. R. Lubbock, July 14, 1863. The Confederate president thanks the Texas legislature for its joint resolution pledging the state to pay its share of the Confederacy's debt. Link to document
H. P. Bee to E. P. Turner, July 16, 1863. The commander of the Confederate Western Sub-District in Texas, informs the acting assistant adjutant general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, that he has arrived in Brownsville, where he immediately prohibited further exportation of cotton. Details. Also states that the French navy has taken into custody off the mouth of the Rio Grande a British vessel loaded with arms intended for the Confederacy. Details. [Scroll down for the document.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder. Proclamation to the People of Texas, July 16, 1863. The commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, announces fall of Vicksburg to Union forces but predicts that the Confederate cause will prevail. Still, Texans need to prepare for self-defense. To this end the governor has acceded to Magruder's request to recruit 10,000 state troops for that purpose. Details. [Scroll down for the document.] Link to document.
Edmund P. Turner. Special Orders No. 192, July 16, 1863. The acting assistant adjutant general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, conveys General Magruder's order that the fall of Vicksburg requires that Texas, especially the works around Galveston, be put in the best possible state of defense. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
R[ichard]. Taylor to J. B. Magruder, July 17, 1863. The Confederate commander of the Western District of Louisiana writes to the commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson means that "an army of the [Confederate] Trans-Mississippi Department must concentrate in Texas." Link to document
R[ichard]. Taylor to J. B. Magruder, July 18, 1863. The Confederate commander of the Western District of Louisiana asks the commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to send pickets to crossing points on the Sabine River to arrest stragglers from Taylor's command attempting to cross into Texas. Also, asks for the manufacture of ammunition at Magruder's foundry at Houston. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Stephen D. Yancey to H. P. Bee, July 20, 1863. Acting assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, in Richmond writes to the commander of the Confederate Western Sub-District in Texas that, although Major-General Magruder knows that superintending the cotton trade on the Rio Grande is "an unpleasant duty," yet it must not be entrusted to an officer of lesser rank. Link to document
F. W. Rhine to Maj. Simeon Hart, July 20, 1863. The author, identified as "Quartermaster's Agent," cannot find the conscripts to serve as teamsters in hauling cotton from northeastern Texas to the Rio Grande for the Confederate government. Wants authority to hire slaves for that purpose. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Charles Ricker to Major [Charles J.] Helm, July 20, 1863. Unidentified author writes to a Confederate army officers that a "splendid" cargo of arms, bought by Confederate agents in England, has been seized from a British ship off Matamoros by the French and taken to Vera Cruz because they suspected it was destined for the Juarez government. Matter must be adjudicated before the arms can be sent on to Texas. Link to document
L. Pierce to [William H. Seward], July 21, 1863. U.S. consul at Matamoros, Mexico, reports to the U.S. secretary of state that General Hamilton Bee, commanding Confederate forces on the frontier of Texas, has issued an order prohibiting any more cotton crossing the Rio Grande and has held a meeting with cotton merchants in the Brownsville area. Details. [Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the document.] Link to document
J. Gorgas to E. Kirby Smith, July 22, 1863. The chief of ordinance for the Confederate army informs the commander of the the Trans-Mississippi Department that a vessel will be sent from Bermuda to Texas with arms for the Trans-Mississippi generally and especially for the Department of Texas. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
John S. Ford to Edmund P. Turner, July 22, 1863. Confederate commandant of conscripts in Texas writes to acting assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, that he has previously asked General Magruder for armed men to assist in the enforcement of the conscript law in Texas. Needs them even more now. In counties north of Austin men armed men are assembling to resist the enrolling officers. Details. Link to document
F. R. Lubbock to Edmund P. Turner, July 22, 1863. Governor of Texas writes to acting assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, endorsing John S. Ford's request of the same date and states also that there is much public property that needs protection. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
H. W. Halleck to N. P. Banks, July 24, 1863. Union General-in-Chief informs the commander of the Department of the Gulf that the navy wants to attack Mobile, but he believes that a military campaign into Texas via the Gulf is more important. General Banks should make "every preparation" for such. [Scroll down the page for the document, which concludes on the following page.] Link to document
John Bachelder to Abraham Lincoln, July 27, 1863. Author, a Connecticut textile mill owner, writes to the U.S. president that, "now that Texas . . . is virtually reclaimed," he proposes a plan to exploit the cotton lands of the state for the Union's benefit. Link to document
William Alexander to Francis P. Blair Sr., July 28, 1863. Author, a Texas Unionist and Austin resident, had left the state earlier in the Civil Warm writes to an advisor of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln that Lincoln promised to send an invading force into Texas upon the fall of Vicksburg. Hopes he will now keep his word. Thinks Texas should be taken out of the military department commanded from New Orleans by General Banks and made a separate department under the command of Francis P. Blair, Jr. Makes a negative comment about A. J. Hamilton. Link to document
Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, July 29, 1863. U.S. president asks his secretary of war, "Can we not renew the effort to organize a force to go into Western Texas?" Asks that the secretary of state consult with General-in-Chief Henry Halleck. [The Internet collection of which this document is a part is the University of Michigan's "Making of America" website.] Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to Major-General Taylor, July 29, 1863. The commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona informs the Confederate commander of the Western District of Louisiana that he has learned that Taylor has fallen back on Niblett's Bluff [just across the Sabine River from Orange County]. Has ordered Texas troops there to protect supplies. Also has sent a quantity of supplies to Orange. Details. [Scroll down to document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to H. P. Bee, July 29, 1863. Acting assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, conveys to the commander of the Wetern Sub-District General Magruder's instructions about how to handle problems relating to the impressment of cotton at Brownsville, including dealing with merchants. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to W. R. Scurry, July 29, 1863. Acting assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, conveys to the commander of the Eastern Sub-District General Magruder orders relating to the defense of southeastern Texas, including how to deal with suspicious characters and runaway slaves. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph. Obituary of Sam Houston, July 29, 1863. Link to document
J. Bankhead Magruder to F. R. Lubbock, July 30, 1863. The commander of the Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona writes to the governor of Texas, making suggestions about the calling of 10,000 Texans into military service and stating how they will be deployed. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to A. G. Dickinson, Jul 30, 1863. Acting assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, writes to the commander at San Antonio that General Magruder has revoked all orders given to Dickinson, commanding at San Antonio, regarding the impressment of cotton and has issued new orders. Details. [Scroll down to the document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document
Abraham Lincoln to Francis P. Blair Sr., July 30, 1863. U.S. president writes to a friend and advisor that that the previous day he had "commenced trying to get up an expedition to Texas for Texas and would do the best he could. He asks "who is this great man Alexander" who had, in his letter to Blair of the 28th, hinted that the president might not keep his word about sending an expedition into Texas and had also cast aspersions on General Nathaniel N. Banks. Link to document
H. W. Halleck to N. P. Banks, July 31, 1863. Union general-in-chief informs the commander of the Department of the Gulf that he has ordered General Grant to send General Banks 10,000-12,000 "for operations west." Orders Banks to "get everything ready." Link to document
H. W. Halleck to N. P. Banks, July 31, 1863. Union general-in-chief writes to the commander of the Department of the Gulf. [Second communication of that date.] States that it is important that "we immediately occupy some point or points in Texas." Details. [Scroll down the page for the document.] Link to document
Edmund P. Turner to H. P. Bee, July 31, 1863. Acting assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, informs the commander of the Western Sub-District that General Magruder instructs him to say that "the fall of Vicksburg necessitates some slight change in the disposition of troops near Corpus Christi." Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
A. Superviele to H. P. Bee, July 31, 1863. Confederate agent writes to the commander of the Western Sub-District about arms captured by the French off the mouth of the Rio Grande and also about the cotton trade (and its relation to France). [Relevant material begins on p. 148.] [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
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Note: This list will have more links added later.