The Marshall Guards: Harrison (Texas) Countys Contribution to Hoods Texas Brigade by Colonel Harold B. Simpson (USAF Ret), (Port Caddo Press, 1967, 26 pages) is the history of Marshall County Texas soldiers who fought in the First Texas Infantry (Company E) as part of the famed Hoods Texas Brigade fighting primarily in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War as a part of the Army of Northern Virginia. This limited release book (only 50 copies), is based on a lecture that Colonel Simpson presented in 1965 to the Harrison County Historical Society and the Colonels lecture was later expanded and published in a very limited release of 50 copies. The men of Marshall County Texas would hear the call of Texas and the Confederacy in 1861 and join the Confederate Army. The men of Texas in Hoods Brigade were raised in 26 counties located in East Central and Southeast Texas. The men from Harrison county would be known as the Marshall Guards and later would be designated as Company E in the First Texas Infantry. The soldiers of Company E were originally trained under the experience eye of Frederick S. Bass, a former instructor in military tactics at Marshall University. A short while later, the company was sent to Virginia and organized as a regiment in later what would be known as Hoods Texas Brigade. The original strength of the company was four officers, eight non-commissioned officers, one ensign or flag bearer, and 55 enlisted men for an overall strength of 68 men. The company as with the rest of Hoods Texas Brigade fought in 38 battles and skirmishes including the battles of Gaines Mill, Second Manassas (Bull Run), Sharpsburg (Antietam), Gettysburg, Chickamauga, and the Wilderness. The company lost the most men in battle at Manassas where the First Texas would suffer 82.3% casualites. At Gettysburg the company would lose 8 men. During the war the Bass Company (in Company E) had an overall rate of 53% casualties which included 15 killed, 40 wounded and nine either missing or POW. These men endured the hardships of severe winters, disease, battle casualties, starvation and other terrible things endured by the Civil War soldier. However, the men of Hoods Texas Brigade were always known as fierce in battle, shock troops that General Robert E. Lee always depended on in tight situations as he called them. At the Battle of The Wilderness it was the men of Hoods Brigade who led General Lee back to safety of his lines as he wanted to lead the Texans and other regiments in the ANV into charging the Union lines. General Lee would say Texans always move them!. A great tribute to the men of Company E, and the rest of Hoods Texas Brigade. This is a brief read about this great company from Marshall, Texas who fought valiantly in the War Between the States. Colonel Simpson who was the modern historian of Hoods Texas Brigade did a great tribute to Harrison County, Texas by publishing this great read. It is a Very Rare book that is expensive, however it is a valuable history to anyone who is interested in Hoods Texas Brigade, the Army of Northern Virginia, Confederate Military History, Texas History, and Civil War History. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 00:43:24 +0000
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