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Re: 13th Texas Volunteers, Co. D
In Response To: 13th Texas Volunteers, Co. D ()

Scott, I checked the Civil War Soldier and Sailor System for a Blackwell in the 13th and only found Jeremiah Blackwell,but I did do some more searches onthe 13th and this MAY answer a few of your questions. The 13th Texas Calvary mustered on Feb.22,1862 for counties in northeast Texas and March 1,1862 for southern Counties in Texas. The initial strength for the 13th was 1,125 officers and men,but was reduced to 842 as a result of Confederate Conscription Act of 1862. The reorganization was at Porter's Spring,Houston Co.,on 24th May 1862. On June 7,1862, along with 6th Texas Cavalry,left for Arkansas but were stopped in Tyler,Texas by Brig. Gen. Henry McCulloch for added training and to allow any stragglers to rejoin the unit. They departed for Little Rock,Arkansas on July 2,1862. The regiment was delayed again by sickness in Lafayette Co.,Arkansas in mid/late July 1862. The 13th lost 30 men to sick in July and August. They then on August 22,1862 moved on to Little Rock and arrived there Sept.6,1862 and proceeded on to Camp Holmes(north of Little Rock)where they arrived on Sept.9,1862. The regiment was added to the 1st Brigade of a newly organized Texas Division commanded by Brig.Gen.McCulloch. In Oct.,1862 3 brigades of the division engaged in a number of pointless movements along the White River. This just happened to be the worst winter in many years for Arkansas and again,in Oct.14,1862 an epidemic broke out. The 13th was reduced by death and disability discharges from 842 in June 1862 to 615 at the end of Feb. 1863. Just after Christmas of 1862 Brig.Gen. McMulloch was replaced by Major Gen. John George Walker. In early Jan. of 1863 the division was ordered to Pine Bluff,Arkansas. On the 11th of Jan. Walker was ordered to Arkansas Post to reinforce Fort Hindman. After a days march Walker learned the fort fell and returned to Pine Bluff. The 13th and a few other regiments were ordered to build a defensive earthworks at Pine Bluff to counter the threat that Union troops would come up the Arkansas River. The threat never came and the division was ordered to winter quarters near Pine Bluff. In Feb. and March of 1863 some of the men thinking their enlistments were up went home. Desertions became a serious problem during these months. On April 26,1863 the 13th followed the division to Louisiana as part of an attempt to relieve thr Union at Vicksburg,Miss.. The 13th was detached from Walker's Division and assigned to Brig.Gen. Paul Octave Hebert for an operation against Union Camps at Lake Providence,Louisiana just northwest of Vicksburg,Miss.. The 13th Texas,13th La. Partisan Cavalry, and one section of artillery constructed a floating bridge at Bayou Macon near Caledonia(south of Lake Providence,La.)and encountered elements of the 1st Kansas Mounted Infantry. There were a few skirmishes and the attack on Lake Providence was avoided by the Union when the brigde was destroyed on the Tensas River. The remainder of 1863 was uneventful for the 13th Texas with picket duty. In late Dec. of 1863 the division(Walker's)winter quatered south of Fort DeRussy,just north of Marksville,Louisiana. the winter months were spent improving the fort and constructing a raft of logs on the Red River to stop Union gunboats from navigating the river. Co.E of the 13th Texas was left at Fort DeRussy and remainder of division moved on to north of Mansfield,La. on the road to Shreveport,La.. On April 8,1864 just south of Mansfield,La.(Sabine Crossroads)along with other Texas units,units from Missouri,Arkansas and Major Gen. Taylor's forces met and defeated Union forces. The Union forces,on the night of the 8th, withdrew to Pleasent Hill and on the morning of the 9th of April 1864 fought the battle of Pleasent Hill. Union forces retreated down the Red River with Confederate Cavalry right behind them. In late April the division returned to Arkansas to fight at Jekins' Ferry. The 13th lost 10 killed,41 wounded,and 6 missing at Mansfield and Pleasent Hill was worse. Hope this shedd's some light on things for you. Good luck!

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13th Texas Volunteers, Co. D
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