Much of this information was compiled from The Official Records and the compiled service records as obtained from Footnote.com
Since this is a lengthy post, a work in progress, and is for my personal use, I ask indulgence for the use of abbreviations and extracted portions of documents.
First, is an instructive example of the delays and conflicts involved with Kirby Smith making appointments and the corresponding actions by the Richmond authorities.
In April of 1864, General Taylor had recommended Major Brent for the position of Colonel of Artillery. The corresponding nomination to that rank was not made in Richmond until January 1865.
By that time, Brent had been serving as a Brigadier General by appointment of Kirby Smith in October 1864. So, obviously, Richmond was unaware of the later appointment, as it was only now acting on the nomination to Colonel of artillery.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST LOUISIANA,
In the Field, April 11, 1864
Brigadier General W. R. BOGGS,
Chief of Staff:
GENERAL: The large amount of artillery now under my command necessitates its organization into regiments or battalions, in accordance with the law governing that branch of the service. I have therefore the honor to recommend the following officers for promotion; Major J. L. Brent, chief of artillery and ordnance District of West Louisiana, to be appointed colonel of artillery; Major T. B. French, chief of artillery Walker's division, to be appointed lieutenant-colonel of artillery; Captain T. A. Faries, commanding Pelican Battery, to be appointed major of artillery. There will be one or more officers from the Texas batteries recommended for promotion to the rank of major.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. TAYLOR,
Major-General, Commanding
4/17/64 HQ Trans Miss Dept-Shreveport Special Orders #94
....The following appointments are made:
Major J. L. Brent Chief of Artillery & Ordnance District of West Louisiana to be Colonel
By command of E K Smith
11/14/64 [apparently not received in Richmond until now]-Sec Seddon endorses to President Davis-prefers consulting your wishes before submitting for promotion
1/6/65 Nominate as recommended J. D.
1/9/65 Seddon to AG-Nominate
1/28/65 Brent apptd Col of Arty, confirmed same date, to rank from 4/17/64
Next are the sequence of events [from my notes] that relate to the appointment of Brent as a Brigadier General by Kirby Smith. I have omitted the Official Records correspondence that has already been posted in this thread.
10/7/64 HQs Cav forces-Bagby to Buckner-I rec'd a note today from Col Brent and was gratified to learn that he would accept the command of one of the cavalry brigades . I hope you can induce Gen Smith to make him Brig Gen. His merits are outstanding. It is due the men of the command that it should be organized...
10/7/64 Gen Buckner at Shreveport to Gen Smith via Gen Brent-sends recommendation for Col Brent [of the Arty] to be Brig Gen as tendered by Gen Bagby- Bagby asks the early assignment of a good officer for the La bgde. I hope under the circumstances the commanding General will feel authorized to make the promotion, subject to the approval of the President and authorize the immediate assignment.
....Col Brent is detained here awaiting your decision.
..........Endorsements up the chain of command:
.........10/15/64 K Smith endorses to Richmond-I have assigned Col Brent to the command of the La Cav bgde
I would...refer you to the General Taylor reports for the many and distinguished services of Col Brent - By reference to the Dept return you will see two La Cav bgde. I shall select the 4 best Cav reg'ts, and as I can't recommend either of the Cols, I ask for Brent's promotion to command the bgde thus organized. The remaining reg'ts will be dismtd & w/the bgdes of Thomas & Gray be organized into a La Division of [Inf].
........Received headquarters Mobile 9/64 [best translation of this portion of the document that I could make]]
........Jan 18, 1865 marked received by the A & IG office
10/28/64 Smith to Gen Cooper-…enclose.... the return of the army serving in this Dept for the month ending 9/30/64-A more complete Dept return will be forwarded when the returns made from the blanks furnished Dist cdrs are received.
I recommended the promotion of Col J. L. Brent, to command the La Cav Bgde, serving in The Dist of La. It is merited and will advance the interests of the service. The two bgdes of La Cav, as reported on the return, have been ordered to be consolidated into one efficient bgde of Cav, commanded by Col Brent, the surplus reg’ts to be dismtd and added to the La Inf bgde. There is not a Col serving with the reg’ts of La Cav in this Dept that I can recommend for promotion.
Memoranda]
On examination of the last return of the TM Dept, 9/30, it is ascertained that the force serving therein is as follows:
....
...
In addition to the force enumerated there are two La bgdes, which it is proposed to consolidate, and one Cav reg’t and six Bns unattached. The 1st Cav is the only one properly so called.
Col Brent, is recommended to command the consolidated La bgde, is supposed to be an arty officer. Upon an examination of the field return, it will be observed that a judicious assignment of the several officers already commissioned would prevent the necessity for appointing all those recommended.
…
12/31/64 Reference made to Brent as Acting B Gen, cdg 1st La Cav bgde
1/28/65 Brent apptd Col of Arty, confirmed same date, to rank from 4/17/64
3/16/65 Smith to War Dept recommending several officers for promotion to Brigadier General and Major General for division commanders]
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(6) Col Bagby (won his promotion), should be a major-gen, cdg division of Tx & La Cav of two bgdes.
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Colonels Bagby, Debray, Gano, Brent, & W. H. Brooks, having Cav commands, should be promoted.
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Urge the promotion of Dr. S. A. Smith to the grade of Brig- gen, that I may make him chief of staff (provided the President contemplates keeping me in command of this Dept).. .
HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
OFFICE OF CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER,
New Orleans, La., April 13, 1865.
Lieutenant Colonel C. T. CHRISTENSEN,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Mil. Div. of West Mississippi:
COLONEL: I have the honor to submit to your consideration the following report of information received at his office this 13th day of April, 1865:
…
The Seventh Louisiana Cavalry returned to the Teche country from Alexandria on the 16th of March. General Thomas still commands at Alexandria, and Brent's brigade, Bagby's division of cavalry, holds the country this side. This brigade has the Second, Fourth, and Seventh Louisiana Cavalry, and a Regiment consolidated from two others. General J. L. Brent was formerly a lawyer of Los Angeles, …
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A. M. JACKSON,
Major, Tenth U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery.
(In absence of Captain S. M. Eaton, chief signal officer, Military Division of West Mississippi.)
Note the following references by Brent to the size and scope of his command, and his time in such a command. Would seem to justify the rank as Brigadier General regardless if Richmond has seen the nomination by Kirby Smith
ALEXANDRIA, May 30, 1865.
Major General H. T. HAYS,
Commanding, &c.:
GENERAL: You will perceive by the terms of the military convention that the time, mode, and place of paroling is to be determined by commissioners…
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…I respectfully request not to be named as a commissioner for many reasons, one of which is that I have five regiments in my brigade who are scattered from the Arkansas line to the Gulf of Mexico, and it is, hence, impossible for me to supervise the paroling of the brigade. For near eight months I have held the front without any relief, and I think there is nothing in the convenience of the public service which requires my assistance in this matter…
Yours, respectfully,
J. L. BRENT,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Note: Brent signed his parole as Brig Gen and gave intended destination as Baltimore
Finally, I have yet to access this collection, so perhaps someone else can comment on its usefulness for this particular discussion.
Jackson Barracks Civil War Collection by Art Bergeron