Sam, Would you share the entire letter with us? I'm sure I'm not the only one that would like to read it.
The 30th Texas Cav was part of Maxey's Division, Gano's Brigade under the command of Col. Charles DeMorse in the Battle of Poison Spring, Arkansas on April 18, 1864.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 34, Part 1 (Red River Campaign) Pages 846-848
Number 76. Report of Colonel Charles De Morse, Twenty-ninth Texas Cavalry, commanding Gano's brigade, of engagement at Poison Spring.
HDQRS. TEXAS BRIGADE, MAXEY'S DIVISION,
Picket Camp, April 21, 1864.
CAPTAIN: I have to report that at 7 a. m. on Monday, the 18th instant, I moved the brigade, in obedience to order and in conjunction with the Choctaw brigade, to a position near the Poison Spring, contiguous to Lee's farm, on the upper road from Washington to Camden, and was there ordered to form on the left of Cabell's command, just then beginning to form, dismount the men, and leaving horse-holders and horses in the rear, to move forward on an elevation in front overlooking an old field. Detaching Captain Damron, of the Thirty-first, with 25 men, to scout a road leading from our left to our rear, I moved forward and halted, and soon had 1 man wounded by a minie-ball from the enemy, who were firing upon us. Keeping the men in like kneeling, I went around the left of the field immediately before us to seek a position for Krumbhaar's battery of light howitzers, attached to the brigade, but found none. I then received an order from General Maxey to move to the left of the field, leaving space enough between me and it. I moved as directed, and at the southwest corner of the fence around the field, upon the north of which the main road ran, I reformed the line in order and proceeded to move around parallel to the rod upon which the enemy were formed and attack them in flank, in accordance with General Maxey's plan of operation. My extreme left was Krumbhaar's battery, upon which the Choctaw brigade was formed, to move concurrently with mine. Upon the left of the Choctaws were two companies of the Thirty-first Texas, of my brigade, mounted. In making this forward movement I found great difficulty in preserving alignment and connection. The ground was very irregular and bushy, and at one time Captain Krumbhaar sent me word that he could not move the battery any farther. He had no axes with him, but causing men to bend to the ground and hold saplings of considerable size he finally got forward. The irregularity of the ground was such that at one time, after crossing a ridge and turning round to my men, I found them marching involuntarily by the left flank. Reforming them and throwing forward skirmishers, I received notice before advancing far that a body of the enemy's cavalry was moving across the field near by. Moved rapidly onward and order Major Carroll, commanding the Twenty-ninth Texas Cavalry, to engage the enemy as soon as practicable. Getting up to the fence, which was attained by passing up a steep ascent, his skirmishers emptied their guns at the small body of cavalry in the field, setting some of the horses rider-less.
Dismounting from my horse I passed into a narrow field fronting me along the near line of fence around which my brigade was stationed. I passed over it to the skirmishers inside the line of fence nearest the enemy. I should state here that, although I had a general conception of were the main body of the enemy must be, I had not been able to see any of them, the small body of cavalry first fired at being a flank guard.
Ordering the skirmishers to take trees and advance through the hollow, I went back to the rear fence; ordered the battery into position on the crest of the field, which was a hill-top of regular elevation in the center; and ordering the entire line forward, it crossed the front fence, passed the hollow, and pushing up the ascent opposite, found itself in presence of the enemy na don his right flank, and opened a rapid fire upon him at a distance of 100 yards, which was promptly responded to. Prior to this Cabell's battery, in front of the enemy, had been directing a fire upon him answered by his four guns. When my men opened the rattle of musketry became instantly very heavy. The enemy returned a fire which but for some advantages of our position must have been very destructive. My field and staff officers were fortunately all dismounted. A horse in rear of the line could not have escaped five minutes. My men went in with spirit, shouting and fighting undauntedly; but in a little time it became evident that we were outnumbered and that the fire upon us was heavier than we could bear, and under it a portion of my canter and left fell back into the hollow, and some few into the field back of us, over which we had passed. i was in person on the left, and with the assistance of Captain Bell, assistant adjutant-general, halted these and rallied them, and just then Captain Krumbhaar, whose order from me had been to fire whenever he could see anything to fire at, concluding that it was a good time for his interposition, opened with his howitzers, and calculating correctly the range, dropped his shells most effectively in the very midst of the enemy and near their artillery. The effect was immediately discernible. our men above gave a loud shout. I advanced the men from the hollow, who went up with a will. The enemy commenced falling back.
Greene's brigade, of Marmaduke's command, coming in upon my right, lent co-operation in the very moment when most effective, and from that forward our movement was onward, and the enemy soon in complete rout. The enemy's artillery falling back, and supported by successive stands made by their infantry upon each succeeding ridge, after taking off to the right of the road was captured by a mixed body of the advancing troops from my command and from the front.
The enemy's train of 200 wagons, laden with corn, bacon, stole bed-quilts, women's and children's clothing, hogs, geese, and all the et ^N of unscrupulous plunder, was found standing in the road, having only a few defenders remaining when my men got to it. These few were soon killed or scattered. In one of the wagons was a stand of colors, afterward removed by some one. From this forward my men, who were the first up to the train, pursued a half mile farther up the road and were then order to form a new line. The Choctaws, who, from their position flanking nearly to the enemy's rear, were better enabled to pursue them advantageously, continued keenly on their track and did splendid service, which it is not my province to detail. My men were much fatigued before getting to the scene of action, and after the partial pursuit so entirely exhausted as to have disabled them from any active movement.
The enemy we fought were General Thayer's command, from Fort Smith and Roseville, including parts of thirteen regiments, and comprising 500 or 600 negroes-supposed to be in all 2,500 men. probably 300 of these negroes were killed and 75 white Federals. But few prisoners were brought in by my command, because their work was in the heat of contest and not in pursuit. I carried into action---
Men.
Krumbhaar's battery........................................ 30
29th Texas Cavalry, under Major J. A. Carroll............... 211
30th Texas Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel N. W. Battle......... 195
31st Texas Cavalry, under Major M. Looscan.................. 175
Captain Welch's unattached company, Lieutenant Gano........ 44
----
Total...................................................... 655
Part of the Twenty-ninth was on detached service; also, Captain Hiead's unattached company. A portion of each of the commands still in the Indiana country. One-fourth of those in the field were holding horses and 27 acting as infirmary corps. Without an exception that I know of every officer in my brigade acted gallantly and nearly every man. I exhorted them to coolness and deliberate aim before advancing, and the testimony of their immediate commanders is, that they had never before seen such shooting in action, the men firing as though hunting squirrels. Major Carroll, as usual, exerted himself to do the full duties of a commander. Lieutenant-Colonel Battle was forward in the advance. major Looscan was prompt, active, and gallant. Captain Krumbhaar entirely cool, quick, and importantly useful. Captain Welch's unattached company, their captain being absent, was temporarily under control of Lieutenant-Colonel Battle. To Captain M. L. Bell and Lieutenant S. l. Anderson, of my staff, I am indebted for valuables services promptly rendered.
The killed and wounded of the brigade, as shown by recapitulation rendered heretofore, were as follows, viz: Killed, 3; wounded, 28; missing, 3; total, 34. Of these there were----
Command. Killed. Wounded.
29th Texas Cavalry. 1 4
30th Texas Cavalry. 1 15
31st Texas Cavalry. 1 3
Captain Welch's company. ... 6
Krumbhaar's battery. ... ...
Total. 3 28
Major Davenport, of the Thirtieth, and Lieutenants Gano and Huffman, of Captain Welch's unattached company, were slightly wounded, and are included in the above list.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, yours,
CHARLES DE MORSE,
Colonel, Commanding Tex. Brigadier, Maxey's Div., Troops of Ind. Ter.
Captain T. P. OCHILTREE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.