Texas in the Civil War 1861-1865

Secession South Carolina became the first state to secede in 1860 right after Lincoln’s election. In January of 1861 Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia also seceded. Texas held a convention in January to vote on the measure. It passed 166 – 8 and Texas officially seceded on March 2, 1861 as the 7th state of the C.S.A.

Houston Houston refused to swear allegiance to the Confederacy. A new temporary governor was put in place. Lincoln offered Houston federal troops to keep Texas in the union, but he refused. Houston went to his home in Huntsville and died on his riverboat house in 1863.

Hood’s Texas Brigade Between 60,000 and 70,000 men in Texas between 18-45 actually served as soldiers. They served under John Bell Hood, their first commander. Other famous Texas Commanders and units: 1. Terry’s Texas Rangers – Ben “Frank” Terry 2. Ross’s Brigade – “Sul” Ross 3. General Albert Sydney Johnston – Commander of troops west of the Mississippi and 2nd in command behind Robert E. Lee. 4. Ben McCulloch – Texas Ranger 5. John S. “RIP” Ford

Shiloh, Tennessee. 1862 – Battle fought over control of the northern half of the Mississippi river. Albert S. Johnston was the commander and was in the process of winning the battle and was shot in the leg and bled to death on the battlefield. That night General Grant was able to get reinforcements and pushed the rebels back and won the battle.

Galveston Island Lincoln blockaded the southern ports to block supply routes. Galveston was one of the largest ports in Texas. Union forces captured it and General John Magruder and Confederate forces recaptured it in a battle on Jan. 1, 1863. Cotton clads – flat bottomed boats stacked with cotton to block bullets were used to attack union ships.

Gettysburg, Pa. July 1-3, 1863 – Turning Point of the War Hood’s Brigade fought at Little Round Top on day 2 and nearly won. Union victory broke the back of the Confederacy and the rebels were on the defense and retreating for the rest of the war.

Vicksburg, Mississippi – May 18-July4, 1863 Battle for control of the entire Mississippi river. The South held out for 2 months, the last 40 days without hardly any rations or supplies. The townspeople dug holes in the ground and stayed in caves and resorted to eating rats. They wouldn’t celebrate independence day for 80 years. When Vicksburg was lost to the Confederacy it cut Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana off from the rest of the Confederacy. Very little ammunition, Texas Longhorns, cotton, or other supplies.

Sabine Pass – September 8, 1863 Confederates win a battle on the Sabine river near Confederate Fort Griffin trying to stop the Yankees from using the river to gain access into Texas and block the railroad into Louisiana. The Yankees tried again to invade North Texas via the Red river. Troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas won a battle east of Texas at Mansfield, Louisiana and made the Yankees retreat.

Brownsville, Tx. July 30, 1864 The Confederates were transporting cotton and other supplies in and out through Brownsville to Matamoros and on ships from Mexico to other parts of the Confederacy. General John S. “Rip” Ford and the Confederates win a battle running the Yankees out of Brownsville.

Appomattox Courthouse, Va. – April 9, 1865 Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ullyses S. Grant to win the war. Confederates had to turn over all of their weapons but could keep their horses for spring plowing.

Palmito Ranch, Tx. May 12-13, 1865 Skirmish near Brownsville by Union forces to try and recapture Brownsville to enforce the blockade of all supplies. The Confederates won this battle by using their cavalry to overwhelm the Yankees and run them out of Brownsville. Communication was not good and many Confederates and Yankees may not have been aware that the war was over, but some were well aware. Last battle of the Civil War.