Thanks, Jim. Very good post. I pt the ensuing together as a follow up on the Texas Brigade, the 18th Ga., and the Battle of Gaines Mill. Stan

http://www.writing.com/main/books/entry_id/524744

The brigade was composed of the First, Fourth and Fifth Texas Infantry Regiments, and was originally commanded by Brigadier General Louis T. Wigfall…In November of 1861 the Eighteenth Georgia Infantry (which became affectionately called "The Third Texas") under the command of Col. William Wofford was attached to the Texas Brigade, The famed Texas Brigade was first organized by the Confederate War Department on October 22, 1861.

On March 7, 1862 Hood was notified of his promotion to Brigadier General, and his appointment to command of the Texas Brigade, replacing its original commander Brigadier General Wigfall, who, recently elected to the Confederate Senate, had resigned from the Confederate army.

Gaines Mill, first description.

The Confederate attack at Gaines' Mill began in the late afternoon, after a diversionary movement by Whiting and General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

The Texas Brigade, originally held in reserve, was called upon by Lee to attack Federal infantry and artillery positions at the site of Gaines' Mill, on McClellan's right flank. The Federals held a virtually impregnable position, taking advantage of terrain that included exposed approaches, and a swamp that the attackers would have to cross. Lee, realizing that the Gaines' Mill ridge was the key to victory, asked Hood if he could take the heavily fortified Union position where earlier attempts had met with disaster. Hood replied "I will try."

According to Private Val Giles of the Fourth Texas, Hood calmly addressed the troops with instructions, and reminded them that he had promised to personally lead their first major assault, declaring, "The time has come and I am here." The instructions were to fix bayonets, and charge the Federal entrenchments, not firing until the Federal lines had been reached. The assault involved a charge of approximately one mile over an open field, across the swampy bottom land of Boatswain Creek, and up another exposed slope to the crest of the hill occupied by Union General George Morell's division.

A Confederate soldier recalled, "I tell you what,...I got mighty nervous and shaky while we were forming in the apple orchard to make that last desperate charge on the batteries. But when I looked behind me and saw old Hood resting on one foot, his arm raised above his head, his hand grasping the limb of a tree, looking as unconcerned as if we were on dress parade, I just determined that if he could stand it, so would I."

Hood launched the attack, personally leading the Fourth Texas in the charge. "Oh the slaughter as we charged" recalled Private Bennett Wood of Company C., "We understood why General Hood wanted us to go...without firing, for in piles all around us were other Confederates, who had stopped to load their guns...dead and dying." Passing over hundreds of their dead and wounded Virginia and Louisiana comrades who had failed on two prior assaults, the Federal infantry was crushed in the tide of screaming Texans, resulting in the capture of sixteen artillery pieces and most of the Fourth New Jersey Infantry Regiment. The Fourth Texas paid a terrible price for their victorious effort, suffering 261 casualties out of 546 participants.

During the fight, every field grade officer in the Fourth Texas was killed or wounded. General Hood, who, although a staff officer, personally led the regiment in the assault, was the only officer remaining with the Fourth Texas at the end of the battle.

The affectionate relationship between Hood and his troops grew even stronger after the victory at Gaines' Mill. During the night after the battle Hood patrolled the field, assisting his men in the gathering of the dead and wounded. Hood gave his own horse to Private Jake Smilie so that the he could collect the bodies of his two dead brothers, and bury them together.

Late in the night, Major James W. Ratchford of D.H. Hill's staff at Gaines' Mill (the Texas Brigade was part of Hill's Division) wrote of a scene immediately after the battle, "Early in the same night, while I was trying to gather up some of our division that had been scattered in the pursuit (of the Federals), I came upon General Hood sitting on a cracker box. As I approached, he looked up at me, and I could see tears streaming down his cheeks. His brigade had lost heavily, and all about him were the dead and wounded. I spoke to him and he replied brokenly, 'Just look here Major, at all these dead and suffering men, and every one of them as good as I am, yet I am untouched.'

This would be true only a little longer, for the gallant Hood left an arm at Gettysburg and a leg on the bloody field of Chickamauga." The next morning, Hood learned at roll call that over 60% of the men were not present. According to Chaplain Nicholas Davis "Tears rolled down the General's cheeks as he rode away."

General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, upon surveying the field the following day remarked; "The men who carried these positions were soldiers indeed."

John Bell Hood and the Texas Brigade thus played the paramount role in Robert E. Lee's first tactical military victory, and a bond had been established that would cause Lee to call upon Hood and his Texans for the most critical tasks at the ensuing battles of Second Manassas, Antietam, and Gettysburg.

http://www.robert-ford.ws/18th%20GA-2.htm

The 18th Georgia was to be brigaded with the 4th Texas, under the command of John Bell Hood, and the 5th Texas Regiment, under the command of James Archer. They all would join the 1st Texas, who was already on the Potomac Line. Also joining the Brigade was the 5th Alabama Infantry. Together they would be known as the “Wigfall's Brigade.” War Department General Order 15 created the Brigade on October 22, 1861, and appointed Brig. Gen. Louis T. Wigfall Brigade commander.. Before spring of 1862, the 18th Georgia would be referred to affectionately as “The Third Texas."

(There’s that “3rd Texas” again.)

Several false alarms call out the Brigade. General Wigfall was a political soldier and not a professional military man. He was easily panicked and afraid the Federal would cross the River and attack. In November he was elected by the Texas Legislature to the Confederate Senate and would leave his post by the end of February.

Except for the false alarms raised from time-to-time by General Wigfall, the had men settled down into a routine by the end of December. During the month, six men died in camp. They were: W.M. Dabbs of Co. A; Trustin P. Polsom of Co. B; M.A. Cohen of Co. C; James E. Stuckey of Co. D; E.S. Tapp of Co. G; and James Payne of Co. H.

(Mr. Stuckey might have been related to Lee Stuckey, who posts frequently and is very knowledgeable.)

A newspaper was started in December by two members of Company A with an office at Number 4, Acworth Street. It was called "The Spirit of '61." The first issue, consisted of sixteen hand written pages, is the only one to have survived. The subscription rate was fifty cents per copy. It is doubtful that another issue was made because of sickness in the camp and fighting in spring.

The two editors were A. F. Burnet and W.W. White. Burnett deserted January 29, 1864. He was received at Louisville, KY as a Confederate deserter February 10, 1864. He took oath of allegiance to U. S. Govt. there and released February 17, 1864. It is not known if he returned to Georgia. White would be wounded in 1862 and would be captured at Burksville, VA on April 6, 1865.

(Company A was my GF and two great uncles' company. My GGF had already died at Seven Pines, but Frank and Alex were there.)

Camp life was dull. To pass the time, one man built camp chairs that he sold for seventy five cents. Two other started a bakery for ginger cakes. Several men became skilled at "finding" chickens, hogs, honey and smoke house contents. The 4th Texas had a very good band which helped to make camp life more bearable. Other units also had bands

Foraging for supplies from local citizens by the Brigade got so bad that a local newspaper ran a series of stories as to how the citizens could not trust their own soldiers.

Colonel Wofford would make his men take their booty back if and when caught. After the newspapers stories, Colonel Wofford would only let his men go outside the camp to be on picket and river watch duty, or policing the camp. In their cabins, they play cards, held religious services, visited with others, listened to the bands and sang for entertainment. Female companionship was missing.
Suttlers selling their good and ladies of the evening did not began to follow the army in earnest until after the spring campaign.

The weather turned cold with a lot of snow. Because of the bad weather few drills or formations were held and there was a lot of sickness in camp. As J.B. Polley said in his book on Hood's Texas Brigade, "The one monotony was the staying in one place...the grievous lack of feminine society."

Christmas was a snowy day, but "every ness had its egg-nog, or a first-class substitute for it, the first thing in morning, and something better than common for dinner, while after supper, many became tangle-footed...."

(Vignettes of camp life in the Texas Brigade. along the potomac.)

http://www.angelfire.com/va3/southernrites/GainesMill.html

Gaines Mill, second description

The Texas Brigade, having earlier been sent to support General Jackson's divisions, as a feint to make the Federals beieve there was a planned push toward Washington, were returning with General Jackson's troops to the Richmond theater of operations. Early on the morning of June 27, 1862... while moving towards Cold Harbor/Gaines Mill area, the Confederates of General Jackson's command could hear the battle raging.

Three Union divisions under Brig. Gen. Fitz John Porter had moved their line at Mechanicsville and had formed a stronger line that stretched over a series of hills, along the east bank of Boatswain's Swamp. Generals James Longstreet and A. P. Hill were sending their troops forward against this strongly entrenched position to try and dislodge the Union troops.

Upon entering the battlefield, General Jackson ordered General Richard Ewell's division to the left and General Whiting's division (which included the Texas Brigade and therefore the 18th Georgia Regiment of Volunteer Infantry)to the right, in company with the rest of General Jackson's corps.

Late in the day, General Whiting was ordered to support General Longstreet's attack on Union General Porter's left flank. General Hood's Texas Brigade was placed in the lead. At approximately 5:00 PM, skirmishers from the Texas Brigade reached a clear area where they could view the battle raging.

General Whiting's Division were deployed in front of Turkey Hill. This steep, heavily wooded hill was just across Boatswain's Swamp.

From his position, General Whiting was able to deduce that this hill he was facing was the highest point of the Union line. The Federals had stongly prepared its defenses with a line of abatis and had entrenched Colonel Berdan's First U.S. Sharpshooters near its base. Behind them, in support, were three brigades commanded by Union General George Morell, who had his men entrenched in two overlayed lines.

The first was halfway up the hill, the second was near the top of the hill. At the crest of the hill were eighteen artillery pieces, under the command of Capt. William Weeden. Finally, in support and ready to route any attempt of a breakthrough, a battalion of Union cavalry commanded by General Philip St. George Cooke (Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart's father-in-law), was to General Fitz-John Porter's left, between him and the Chickahominy River. The Confederate approach to Boatswain's Swamp and Turkey Hill was both downwardly sloped and exposed.

General Robert E. Lee orderd General Whiting to have his men directly assault Turkey Hill. An assault that would be difficult at best, as it was first downhill and once committed...would be very exposed in approaching Boatswain's Swamp. This would prove to be the case until entering the wooded areas at the base of the steep Turkey Hill.

The obedient General Whiting prepared his division for the assault. Placing Colonel Evander Law's Brigade to the right of General Hood's Texas Brigade. General Hood deployed his brigade with Hampton's Legion on the left, the 18th Georgia to the right, with the First and Fifth Texas in the center. The Fourth Texas, General Hood's old regiment, was placed in reserve.

Before the troops began their assault, Generals Lee and Whiting approached General Hood on horseback and General Lee asked, "Can you break his line?". The feisty Texan replied "I shall try". As General Lee turned to ride a way, he raised his hat in salute to General Hood and said, "May God be with you!"

General Hood rode forward to reconnoiter the situation from an open field just to the right of the 18th Georgia Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. He realized his men would be crossing 800 yards of exposed, rolling field, broken only by a wooded area on the closest bank of Boatswain's Swamp. He further realized that his men would be advancing under the same murderous artillery fire from the crest of Turkey Hill which had earlier stopped three attempts by General Longstreet's troops to take the hill.

There would be no Confederate artillery support, as the Union counterbattery fire had been very effective and had knocked out what Confederate artillery there was. General Hood wisely saw that there was a better way to approach the hill, from the right of Col. Evander Law's position. He also recognized it would be necessary to let the momentum of his attack push his men across the creek and not let them stop to return fire and reload, as had the others before them. He knew that stopping to fire would break the momentum of the charge and allow the Federals to easily pick off his men.

General Hood stepped down from his mount and instructed the men of his Brigade not to open fire until they were given the order. He then gave the order to move forward with "quick step and determined spirit." The ever observant General, he realized there was a gap between Colonel Evander Law's and Brigadier General Pickett's men.

General Hood quickly turned to his old regiment, the Fourth Texas, whom he had placed in reserve, and gave the order to Col. Marshall to bring his regiment by the right flank following him across the rear of Col. Law's Brigade.

Along with the Fourth Texas, would come one or two companies of the 18th Georgia.

Once in the clear, General Hood dressed the regiment and turned towards the enemy. Reiterating his earlier order not to fire until given the order, he ordered the troops forward and in so doing... personally led the advance.

As the Fourth Texas turned towards the enemy position on Turkey Hill, they immediately came under a murderous artillery barrage and musketry fire from Turkey Hill and at the same moment were subjected to enfilading fire from the Union troops across the Chickahominy River. The commander of the Fourth Texas was killed, however General Hood continued to order the men to be steady and hold their fire.

As these brave Texans and Georgians continue their advance to within 300 yards of the creek, Berdan's Sharpshooters and Morell's infantry continued a brisk and accurate volley fire upon the advancing Confederates. The losses were great, the battle line continued to thin, the men reforming to close the gaps left by fallen comrades. They continued to hold their fire as they advanced at right shoulder lift. As they reached a low hill about 150 yards short of the creek, they observed a a line of Confederates from an earlier assault... holding tight to the ground and refusing to advance no matter the orders given by a young lieutenant, whose pleas were falling on deaf ears. Just then, Lieutenant Colonel Warwick, now in command of the Fourth Texas...save the presence of General Hood... seized the shaken group's battle flag and tried in vane to move them to join the advance. So terrified were they, these battle worn men would simply not budge. Lieutenant Colonel Warwick continues his advance, carrying the group's flag with him. The young lieutenant, realizing his efforts were futile, picked up a weapon from where his men lay and joined the advance of the Fourth Texas and men of the 18th Georgia. This brave young Lieutenant was killed during the advance, failing to reach the crest of Turkey Hill.

As the advancing Texans and Georgians came to the top of the low hill, near the bank of Boatswain's Swamp... Lt. Col. Warwick gave the order to halt and fire. General Hood immediately cancelled that order and gave the order to "Fix bayonets!" and to charge at the "double quick".

Nearly 1000 of their fellow troops had already fallen, dead or wounded thus far in this charge. Sofar, not a shot had been fired by the charging Confederates. As they got to within 100 yards of the creek, the first line of sharpshooters began to leave their positions at the bottom of Turkey Hill and retreat to the entrenchments further up the hill.

The well disciplined Confederates still maintaining their Battle Line, continued their charge across the creek and up the steep bank. This caused even more of the sharpshooters to abandon their pits and retreat up the hill. The remaining Union troops of Martindale's Brigade, soon panicked and they too retreated up the hill. Seizing the opportunity, the advancing Confederates could no longer wait for their General to command them to fire and opened a punishing volley upon the fleeing Union troops.

They did so at a close range and every shot counted, as each ball found flesh and bone of the panicked blue clad troops. As the panicked fleeing Federals ran by their second line of entrenchments, the panic became contagious and the troops of the second line gave way, joining their comrades in a general route. The routed Federals turned and sent a few scattered volleys into the ranks of the oncoming Confederates. One bullet, finding its mark, fell the brave Lt. Col. Warwick, mortally wounding him... still carrying the battle flag he had taken from the frightened Confederates he had tried to encourage further down the hill.

As General Hood led the Fourth Texas and the accompanying elements of the 18th Georgia to the top of Turkey Hill, he sent word for the remaining regiments of the Texas Brigade to quickly exploit the breach. It was not long after, the First and Fifth Texas and Hampton's Legion were on the plateau above Turkey Hill. Union General Porter's left flank was crumbling quickly as Evander Law's and General Pickett's Brigades continued to widen the breakthrough.

General Hood orderd the Fourth Texas and now, the remainder of the 18th Georgia, to halt in an orchard on the hilltop. In the open, these men were immediately taken under fire with canister... from Union artillery on their left. General Hood swung the two regiments around to face the guns and ordered a charge at the guns. As they turned, they fired a volley into the horses and men manning the Union cannon, and then with General Hood leading....charged!The weight of the charge by the combined regiments resulted in the capture of fourteen of the eighteen artillery pieces and a full regiment of Pennsylvania troops threw down their weapons in surrender.

The Texas Brigade then continued to press after the fleeing Union infantry. The Fifth Texas, while advancing across the plateau toward the Chickahominy River, came under fire from the rear. Turning about, the Fifth Texas faced the Fourth New Jersey Infantry, who had been bypassed while the Confederates made their dashing breakthrough. Realizing the futility of their situation, the soldiers from New Jersey saw that they were surrounded and lowered their flag in surrender.

Meanwhile, the rumbling of General Philip St.George Cooke's Fifth U.S. Cavalry could be heard by the Texans and Georgians, as they were charging them to prevent the capture of more Federal artillery. As he had done earlier, General Hood swung the two regiments about to face the enemy threat. Once the cavalry was within forty yards, he ordered the men of the Fourth Texas and 18th Georgia to fire a volley into the charging Federal cavalry. The Confederate enfields proved to be devastating as they did their work and unseated nearly 150 of the 250 Union horsemen. This stopped the attack and proved to be the last action by the Federals for the remainder of the day.

As the battle ended and toll was taken of their losses, the Fourth Texas had suffered the most during the charge at Turkey Hill; with 44 killed, 208 wounded, and 1 missing. This included half of all the enlisted men and everyone of the field-grade officers were casualties. They had lost their regimental commander, Colonel Marshall and his successor, Lt. Col. Warwick, both killed during the assault on Turkey Hill. Amazingly though, General Hood, who was at the front of the Fourth Texas during the entire action, was unscathed. In total, the losses for the Texas Brigade were 571: 86 killed, 481 wounded, and four missing.
The brave men of the Texas Brigade, all of whom had some part in spearheading the final assault that broke the back of the Union lines, giving General Lee his first victory, and earning them the respect of the whole Army of Northern Virginia, were men of the 1st, 4th, 5th Texas, Hampton's Legion and the 18th Georgia Regiment of Volunteer Infantry.

Later, when General Thomas (Stonewall)Jackson inspected the abandoned Federal positions on Turkey Hill, he remarked, "The men that carried this position were soldiers indeed!"

An article in the Richmond Whig, said of the 18th Georgia Regiments part in the action against the Union positions at Turkey Hill; "The regiment was under fire for about three hours, and lost one hundred and forty-eight in killed and wounded. Two officers killed and six wounded. Carried into action five hundred and seven men. Every officer and man acted with great gallantry and coolness."

General Lee, in a letter to Confederate President Davis wrote, "Profoundly grateful to Almighty God" the Confederate's had their first real victory. Twenty two guns and more than 2000 prisoners were captured. However, the Confederates had lost 8500 men in total. The Union army of Fitz John Porter had lost 6837 killed, wounded and captured.

The army of General McClellan was beaten back, but not done in. General Lee realized this and wrote to President Davis, "We sleep on the field and shall continue the contest in the morning." However, as morning came General Lee would learn that Union General Fitz John Porter had withdrawn, back towards White House, Virginia. The Confederates would have a respite as their commander tried to determine his enemy's next move.

The 18th Georgia regiment of Volunteer Infantry suffered 16 killed, 126 wounded, and 3 missing.

I hope this hasn't been too long. Jim, you might want to change the title. Stan