This page contains a collection of articles concerning citizens of Parker County in the service of the Confederate Army. I have not found complete unanimity on the numbers but the most authoritative source I have consulted indicates that there were 1200 men of military age living in Parker County at the outbreak of the War Between the States and 900 entered Confederate Service. The most conservative figure I have encountered places the figure at 800 men entering Confederate Service. Either number represents an astonishing percentage of men willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in the protection of their homes. Each article contains the proper citation, when known. Please e-mail the webmaster if you read an article with no citation and you are knowledgeable of the source. Every effort as been made to offer the proper acknowledgement.
A Reunion of Confederate Veterans, thought to be in the
Millsap area around 1910. Please e-mail webmaster
if you have any information concerning this photograph.
Note: This article was in my personal
archives and contained no citation or
origin. Any information concerning it's
authorship will be appreciated.
The Mayor Goes to War
Company K
The Commander
Charles L. Jordan, the son of Charles L. and Matilda J. Jordan was a native of Lynchburg, Campbell County. Virginia. The Census of 1850 shows that he was living in Lynchburg with his parent, two older brothers and a sister. His father was a bricklayer with real estate valued at $800. Jordan and his brother were listed as students, possibly at Lynchburg College. Jordan studied law and probably was admitted to the Virginia bar before he migrated to Texas in the 1850’s. He settled first in Houston and then Weatherford to practice his profession in partnership with D.O. Norton. Jordan and Norton served from June thought December of 1858 as co-editors of The Frontier News—“the first newspaper ever published in the State of Texas, west of Dallas and North of Waco.” The same year the young men of Weatherford and vicinity organized a volunteer rifle company styled “The Frontier Guards” and elected Jordan their captain. On August 20, 1858 Jordan was elected by a vote of thirty-nine to four to be Weatherford’s second mayor. On November 20 of the same year he married Tennessee born Mrs. Isabella G. Young, the daughter of Colonel Wilson Hutchinson, at Pilot Point, Denton, County. Jordan was a charter member of Weatherford Lodge No. 77 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On March 20, 1860 a delegation from seven frontier counties met in Weatherford to discuss ways and means of dealing with hostile Indians. This meeting resulted in the creation of county Protection Fund Associations to raise money for frontier defense. Jordan was honored by being elected one of the five member of the central committee which coordinated activities of the various county Associations. At another public meeting held in Weatherford on November 29, 1860 Jordan was selected to be one of eleven commissioner “to go among the people of the interested portions of the state, and disclose to them our wants and…to ask (for) contributions of men, and the means of war: guns and ammunition for an effectual expedition against the Indians.”
The Census of 1860 lists Jordan as a lawyer residing in Weatherford with his wife. His real estate was assessed at $13,000, and his personal property at $2,000. His wife owned real estate worth $1200. Jordan also owned three mulatto slaves. His letterhead stated that he was an “Attorney and Counselor at Law…(who) Practices in the Courts of the following Counties: Ellis, Johnson, and Parker, of the Sixteenth District, Denton, Jack, Young, and Wise, of the Twentieth District. Also the Supreme Court at Austin. His attention is devoted exclusively to his practice.” On August 12, 1861 Jordan wrote Governor Edward Clark asking for a commission to raise a company of flying artillery. He stated that he had “a thorough knowledge or Artillery practice,” but did not report where he had acquired it. He probably received training as a student in Virginia, for most schools of that day were military academies. Possibly because there was a shortage of cannon in Texas, Jordan’s request was not granted. Jordan enrolled his company in Weatherford, Parker County, on October 1. The unit was mustered into Confederate service for “the war” in San Antonio as Company K, 5th Regiment Texas Mounted Volunteers on October 23, 1861.
The Company Record
Company K took part in the battle of Valverde and the skirmish of Peralta. Of the sixty-four men on this roll, one was left behind sick prior to leaving San Antonio for the West. By the eve of the invasion of New Mexico one man had died and another was discharged, leaving Company K with sixty-one effectives. During the campaign two men were killed or died of wounds at Valverde, four were wounded at Valverde, one died of disease, and one was medically discharged. Eleven were taken prisoner, including two who had been wounded. Two of the prisoners later died of disease, and four were sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois. At the end of the campaign, one man was medically discharged, seven transferred to the Valverde Battery (one of whom shortly died), and one transferred in. Company K returned to San Antonio with no more that thirty-nine fit for duty.
Officers
Charles L. Jordan, Captain, 25 (absent on furlough May 6, 1862)
John W. Squyres, First Lieutenant, 32 (temporarily detached as acting regimental
assistant quartermaster May 8-26; in El Paso Hospital with dysenteria June 12-21,
1862).
Isaac N. Roach, Second Lieutenant, 27 (left sick in Santa Fe Hospital and taken prisoner:
Verbally paroled August 19, 1862 and sent to Texas).
James F. Cole, Second Lieutenant, 27 (in El Paso Hospital with rubeolae June 17-24, 1862).
William T. Moss, First Sergeant, 36 (medically discharged May 2, 1862).
James R. Dean, Second Sergeant, 21.
DeKalb Fondren, Third Sergeant, 22 (resigned sergeancy November 12, 1861).
John Foster, Fourth Sergeant, 20 (resigned third sergeant November 12 1861; transferred
Valverde Battery as second lieutenant Nay 1: admitted El Paso Hospital with
variolae May 24, 1862).
E.L.R. Patton, fifth Sergeant, 57 (appointed quartermaster sergeant (probably third
Sergeant) November 22, but resigned December 11, 1861; medically discharged
March 23, 1862.
Edwin A. Leach, First Corporal, 17 (medically discharged at Fort Clark November 19, 1861).
Samuel E. Layne, Second Corporal, 20.
William M. Mulkin, Third Corporal, 19 (left at Socorro Hospital and taken prisoner;
paroled from Santa Fe Hospital May 24 and sent to Mesilla. Returned to
company June 25, 1862).
Austin Fox, Fourth Corporal, 19 (resigned corporalship November 12, 1861).
Frederick S. Bect, Bugler, 24.
Benjamin F. Washington, Bugler, 18 (resigned as bugler November 2, 1861; died at Fort
Thorn Hospital February 9, 1862).
Gus D. Anderson (Anderson Guest), Blacksmith, 20.
Privates
Bacus, Peter M. 18 (transferred to Valverde Battery May 1, 1862).
Baker, J.N.S., 30.
Brown, Eli P., 26 (detaches as teamster December 3, 1861—January 8, 1862).
Bumgarner, William J., 22 (taken prisoner at Albuquerque Hospital April 15 and paroled
April 18; sent to Camp Douglas and exchanged at Vicksburg September 22,
1862).
Burrows, John Henry, 22 (at Albuquerque Hospital May 11; dead at Santa Fe Hospital
June 14, 1862).
Cornett, Granville, 26 (transferred to Valverde Battery May 1, 1862).
Cross, James Y., 18.
Crum, George, 35 (taken prisoner at wagons near Peralta April 15 and Paroled April 16;
Sent to Camp Douglas and exchanged at Vicksburg September 22, 1862).
Davis, Edward B., 21.
Dean, Levi, 23.
Edwards, C.C., 21.
Fondren Spain, 21.
Fox, John J., 26 (died at Socorro Hospital prior to April 30. 1862).
Gilpin, James N., 23 (elected first sergeant May 5 1862).
Hardin, Ambrose, 29 (left sick at Santa Fe Hospital, taken prisoner; paroled May 24 and
Returned to company June 25, 1862).
Hill, Joseph C., 22 (elected fourth sergeant November 12, 1861; elected third sergeant May 2, 1862).
Hogsett, Jonathan Y., 18 wounded at Valverde; left sick at Santa Fe Hospital and taken
Prisoner; paroled May 24, 1862 and sent to Mesilla).
Holly, Isaac C., 21 (wounded at Valverde according to Noel).
Jones, G.C., 23 (transferred to Valverde Battery May 1, 1862).
Jones, James Cincinnatus, 20 (transferred to Valverde Battery May 1, 1862).
Kent, Smith, 27 (appointed farrier November 12, 1861; taken prisoner; paroled at Santa
Fe Hospital May 24 and sent to Mesilla; returned to company June 25, 1862).
Kern, J. Mike, 22 (detached service June 15, 1862).
Lambert, Joseph H., 24 (elected fourth corporal November 12, 1861; left at Socorro
Hospital; taken prisoner at Albuquerque April 16; sent to Camp Douglas and
Exchanged at Vicksburg September 22, 1862).
Lancaster, Newton M., 24.
Lee, John, 19 (transferred to Valverde Battery May 1; admitted El Paso Hospital with
dysenteria May 27-June 5; died July 10, 1862).
Littlepage, James J., 27 (wounded at Valverde and left at Socorro Hospital; at
Albuquerque Hospital May 11; died at Santa Fe Hospital June 14, 1862).
Long, A.B., 22.
Martin, E. Benton, 20 (mortally wounded at Valverde).
Massey, Enoch J., 19.
McEwin, William J., 23 (in El Paso Hospital with variolae May 26—July 13, 1862).
Moore, James C., 19.
Patillo, J.H. 18.
Rader, J.W., 31 (on detached service June 28, 1862).
Ribble, H.W., 18 (on detached service June 16, 1862).
Robinson, Albert M., 24 ( on detached service May 6, 1862).
Ruddick, D.C. 23, (transferred to Valverde Battery May 1, 1862).
Shirley., W.V.D., 24 (killed at Valverde).
Sisk, Henry S., 22 (wounded at Valverde according to Noel).
Smethers, George S., 23.
Smethers, George W., 19 (left Camp at Camp Manassas Hospital November 7, 1861).
Smethers, John, 18.
Smith, Samuel H., 19 (elected first corporal November 20, 1861).
Stradley, J.H., 21.
Watson, John M., 25 (left sick at Albuquerque Hospital; taken prisoner April 15 and
Paroled April 18; sent to Camp Douglas and exchanged at Vicksburg
September 22, 1862).
White, John M., 23 (on detached service June 27, 1862).
Wilkins, Samuel N., 23 (on detached service June 27, 1862).
Wilson, A., 21 (transferred into company at Fort Bliss June 9, 1862; probably
Alexander Wilson of Teel’s Battery).
Wilson, John M., 18 (in El Paso Hospital probably with variolae June—June 12, 1862).
NOTES
1. Jordan’s eldest brother, Alexander N., settled in Houston between 1850 and 1852 in practice law. This was probably the major reason why Jordan migrated to Texas.
2). The first issue of The Frontier News appeared on June 26, 1858.
3). Biographical data courtesy of the late Mr. Fred Cotten, Weatherford, Texas.
CIVIL WAR
“Of the 800 men from Parker County who joined the
Confederate army, perhaps not one was a slave owner. With them the question of
slavery was not so much an issue as state rights, and for that they fought. The
question of slavery was forever settled by the proclamation of President
Lincoln, and by the thirteenth Amendment to the National Constitution. But the
question of state's rights was not settled. Its defenders were crushed and we
are
reaping the reward of enforced extended Federal authority, but like the tariff,
it is still a disputed problem and will be for generations to come. It is to be
hoped that such great issues will be settled at the ballot box and not by the
shedding of blood and tears. Our sympathies are, and always have been, with the
Confederate soldier. He, with the pioneer settlers, endured more hardships and
privations, and took greater risk of life and received less remuneration than
any people who ever lived in America.” Holland, G.A., The Double Log Cabin. The Herald Publishing Company, Weatherford, Texas.
1937.
Parsons Texas Cavalry Brigade
“The call to arms was universal. Nearly every man capable of bearing a musket was on the way to the rendezvous or to the battlefield. Parker County alone, with a voting population of less than eleven hundred, sent eleven companies of eighty men each, to the front. State and municipal officers left their positions and all seemed bent upon a national fight. Among others from the place and county was B.L. Richey, then county treasurer. Mr. Richey appointed John P. Layne, his deputy, who performed all the duties of the office with fidelity and satisfaction” Smythe, H., Historical Sketch of Parker County and Weatherford, Texas. Louis C. Lavat, Book and Job Printer, 16 South Fifth Street, St. Louis. 1877.
