Elliott, Claude, “Union Sentiment in Texas 1861-1865”, L, No. 4, pp. 449-77.
Maher, Edward R., Jr., “Sam Houston and Secession”, LV, No. 4, pp. 448-58.
Ramsdell, Charles W., “The Texas State Military Board”, XXVII, No. 4, pp. 253-75.
Sandbo, Anna I., “Beginnings of the Secession Movement in Texas”, XVIII, No. 1, pp. 41-73; No. 2, pp. 162-94.
Valuable articles are also to be found in such journals as:
Journal of Southern History Mississippi Valley Historical Review Southern Historical Society Papers Southwest Review West Texas Historical Association Year Book
CHRONOLOGY
EVENTS IN TEXAS, 1861-1865
| 1861 | |
|---|---|
| January | |
| 5 | Destruction of the printing office of Die Union in Galveston by mob. |
| 21 | Convening of the State Legislature in Austin in compliance with Governor Houston’s proclamation of December 17, 1860. |
| 28 | Approval of the State Legislature of a joint resolution authorizing the impending state convention to act for the people of Texas on the question of secession. |
| Holding a Secession Convention in Austin by request of prominent citizens (O. M. Roberts, George Flournoy, Guy M. Bryan, W. S. Oldham and John Marshall) made on December 3, 1860. | |
| 30 | Appointment of a Committee of Public Safety by the Secession Convention. |
| February | |
| 1 | Approval of an ordinance of secession by the Secession Convention. |
| 2 | Committee of Public Safety directed to seize all Federal property in Texas. |
| 4 | Adjournment of the Secession Convention until March 2. |
| 6 | Address to the people of Texas by the opponents of secession (D. G. Burnett, E. M. Pease, E. J. Davis, A. J. Hamilton, J. W. Throckmorton, John and George Hancock). |
| 9 | Proclamation by Governor Houston ordering an election to be held February 23 for ratifying or rejecting the Ordinance of Secession. |
| Adjournment of the Called Session of the Legislature until March 18. | |
| 16 | Seizure of the U.S. Army Military Post, San Antonio, by representatives and forces under orders of the Committee of Safety. |
| 18 | Surrender of U.S. Military posts in Texas by General David E. Twiggs. |
| 19 | Substitution of Colonel Carlos A. Waite for General Twiggs as U.S. Army Commander, Department of Texas. |
| 21 | Seizure of U.S. property at Brazos Santiago by Colonel “Rip” Ford’s Volunteers upon orders of the Committee of Safety. |
| 21 | Abandonment of Camp Cooper, Throckmorton County, by U.S. troops. |
| 23 | State election for ratifying or rejecting the Ordinance of Secession. |
| 26 | Abandonment of Camp Colorado, Coleman County, by U.S. troops. |
| March | |
| 1 | Dismissal of General Twiggs from U.S. Army service. |
| 2 | Reassembly of the Secession Convention in Austin. |
| Seizure of U.S. revenU.S.hooner Henry Dodge by armed forces acting under orders of the Committee of Safety. | |
| 4 | Votes canvassed on secession ordinance: for secession, 46,129; against, 14,697. |
| 7 | Abandonment of Ringgold Barracks, Starr County, and Camp Verde, Kerr County, by U.S. troops. |
| 12 | Abandonment of Camp McIntosh, Webb County, by U.S. troops. |
| 15 | Abandonment of Camp Wood, Real County, by U.S. troops. |
| 16 | Administering the Confederate oath of office to state officials in the presence of the Secession Convention; Governor Houston refused to take the oath. |
| 17 | Abandonment of Camp Hudson. Val Verde County, by U.S. troops. |
| 19 | Abandonment of Forts Clark, Kinney County; Inge, Uvalde County; and Lancaster, Crockett County, by U.S. troops. |
| Governor Sam Houston’s farewell address published in newspapers. | |
| 20 | Abandonment of Fort Brown, Cameron County, and Fort Duncan, Maverick County, by U.S. troops. |
| 23 | Abandonment of Fort Chadbourne, Coke County, by U.S. troops. |
| Ratification of the permanent Constitution of the Confederate States by the Secession Convention. | |
| 25 | Adjournment of the Secession Convention. |
| 29 | Abandonment of Fort Mason, Mason County, by U.S. troops. |
| 31 | Abandonment of Fort Bliss, El Paso County, by U.S. troops. |
| April | |
| 5 | Abandonment of Fort Quitman, Hudspeth County, by U.S. troops. |
| 9 | Adjournment of the called session of the legislature. |
| 11 | Arrival in New York of Federal troops from Texas aboard U.S.S. Coatzacoalcos. |
| 12 | Fort Sumter fired upon. |
| 13 | Abandonment of Fort Davis, Jeff Davis County, by U.S. troops. |
| 17 | Texas Volunteers under Colonel Earl Van Dorn, C.S.A., capture Star Of The West off Texas coast near Indianola. |
| 20 | Seizure of U.S. Coast Guard schooner Twilight by W. A. Jones, Deputy Custom Collector, Aransas, Texas. |
| 21 | Assumption of Military Command of Texas by Colonel Earl Van Doren, C.S.A. |
| 23 | U.S. Army officers at San Antonio made prisoners of war; capture of 8th U.S. Infantry near San Antonio. |
| 25 | Surrender of U.S. forces at Indianola. |
| Abandonment of Fort Stockton, Pecos County, by U.S. troops. | |
| May | |
| 9 | Capture of U.S. troops near San Lucas Springs or Adams Hill, fifteen miles west of San Antonio. |
| 5 | Capture of Forts Arbuckle, Cobb and Washita, Indian Territory, by Texas state troops commanded by Colonel W. C. Young. |
| 13-14 | Burning of the Alamo Express office, San Antonio by the Knights of the Golden Circle |
| June | |
| ? | Organization in Virginia of the First Texas Infantry Regiment. |
| 13 | Organization of the Third Regiment, Texas Cavalry. |
| July | |
| 2 | Blockading of Galveston initiated by the U.S.S. South Carolina. |
| 4-12 | Destruction and capture of twelve vessels off Galveston by the U.S.S. South Carolina. |
| Taking the Oath of Allegiance to the State of Texas and the Confederacy by Live Oak County residents at a mass meeting in Oakville. | |
| 8 | Ordering of Brigadier General H. H. Sibley of Texas to expel U.S. forces from New Mexico. |
| 27 | Fort Filmore near Mesilla, New Mexico, captured by Second Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles under Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor, C.S.A. |
| August | |
| ? | Skirmishing near Fort Bliss; preparation of Confederate forces for the invasion of New Mexico. |
| 3 | Bombardment of Confederate batteries at Galveston by U.S.S. South Carolina. |
| 11 | Ambushing of Lieutenant May’s detachment of fourteen men, Company D, Second Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles, in a fight with Apaches near Fort Bliss. |
| 14 | Appointment of General Paul O. Hébert, Commander of all Confederate troops in Texas. |
| September | |
| 6 | Mustering of the Sixth Regiment of Texas Cavalry into service at Camp Bartow, Dallas County. |
| 7 | Capturing of the Solidad Cos off Galveston. Its cargo was coffee. |
| 9 | Mustering into service Terry’s Texas Rangers at Houston. |
| 18 | Transferring the command of Confederate troops in Texas from General Van Dorn to General Hébert. |
| October | |
| 1-20 | Discovery of a secret organization in Cooke and adjacent counties to overthrow the Confederate state Government resulting in numerous hangings in and near Gainesville. |
| 2 | Organization of the Ninth Texas Cavalry at Brogden Springs, twelve miles north of Sherman. |
| 3 | Capturing of the Reindeer off San Luis Pass by the U.S.S. Sam Houston. |
| 5-8 | Evacuation of Galveston during a four day truce. |
| 11-16 | Military Operations from Fort Inge, Uvalde County, against Indians led by Sergeant W. Barrett and Company D, Second Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles. |
| 22 | Sibley’s Brigade leaves San Antonio for the invasion of New Mexico. |
| 27 | Capturing of the brig Delta off Galveston by the U.S.S. Santee. |
| November | |
| 1 | Skirmishing between Indians and a scouting party of the First Texas Regiment Mounted Rifles near Pease River. |
| 7 | Francis R. Lubbock inaugurated governor. |
| 8 | Capture of the Royal Yacht by Federal sailors in Bolivar Channel. |
| 12 | Organization of the First, Fourth and Fifth Texas Infantry Regiments and the Eighteenth Georgia Regiment into a brigade. |
| December | |
| 7 | Suspension by Texas Legislature of all law providing for the collection of certain debts and liabilities on bonds, promissory notes, bills of exchange and contracts for money payments until January 1, 1864, or six months after the end of the war, except for those applying to enemy aliens. |
| 30 | Capturing of the schooner Gasonne off Galveston. |
| 1862 | |
| January | |
| 6 | Permission by the State Legislature to Anderson County allowing the levying and collection of taxes sufficient to pay for 128 Morse Rifles. |
| Legislative appropriation of $5,000 to pay the cost of transporting all clothing or other contributions to Texans in the Confederate service. | |
| 8 | Legislative provision for a Hospital Fund of $150,000 to care for the sick and wounded Texas Soldiers. |
| 11 | Legislation creating a State Military Board with authority to buy arms and munitions, to manufacture arms and munitions and establish foundries for the manufacture of ordinance and arms. |
| 13 | Legislative authorization of County Patrols. |
| 14 | Legislative appropriation of $1,000,000 for military purposes. |
| February | |
| 11-13 | Policing of Aransas Bay by Federal Navy. |
| 21 | Defeat by General H. H. Sibley’s Brigade of the Federal forces at Val Verde and the capture of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. |
| 22 | Attack on Aransas Pass by U.S. Navy. |
| March | |
| 25 | Organization of Sixteenth Texas Volunteer Infantry Regiment at Camp Groce near Hempstead, Texas. |
| 28 | Defeat of General H. H. Sibley’s Brigade at Glorietta, N. M.; return of troops to Texas and collapse of John R. Baylor’s Confederate government in the Arizona Territory. |
| April | |
| 5 | Patroling by the U.S. Navy in San Luis Pass, Galveston Island. |
| ? | Organizing and enlisting of the Thirty-First Texas Cavalry for the duration of the war. |
| 16 | Enactment of the first Confederate conscription law. |
| 22 | Capture of U.S. Navy launches off Aransas Pass. |
| 25 | Capture of U.S. Troops at Saluria (Matagorda Island). |
| Surrender of U.S. forces at Indianola. | |
| May | |
| 14-15 | U.S. Navy demonstrations at Galveston. |
| 26 | Creation of the Trans-Mississippi Military Department of the Confederacy. |
| 30 | Declaration of martial law in Texas. |
| July | |
| 4 | Attack on U.S. vessels at Velasco. |
| 7-17 | Increased Patrol activity by U.S. Navy in San Luis Pass. |
| August | |
| ? | Burning of Fort Bliss by retreating units of Sibley’s Regiment; reoccupation of reservation by Federals. |
| 10 | Skirmishing at Nueces River, near Fort Clark, Texas, between Unionists and Confederates. |
| 11 | Action by U.S. Navy at Velasco. |
| 12 | Capture of the Breaker and the destruction of the Hannah at Corpus Christi. |
| 16-18 | Bombardment of Corpus Christi by U.S. Navy. |
| 20 | Placing Texas and Arizona Territory in the Trans-Mississippi Military Department. |
| September | |
| 2 | Enactment of new Confederate conscription law raising the age limit to include all males from 18 to 45; repeal of martial law in Texas. |
| 13-14 | Operations at Flour Bluff, near Corpus Christi. |
| 24 | U.S. Navy bombards and captures Sabine Pass. |
| 26 | U.S. Navy captured Sabine City. |
| 27 | U.S. Navy attempts to burn railroad bridge across Taylor’s Bayou in Jefferson County. |
| October | |
| 2 | Burning of the railroad depot at Beaumont. |
| 5 | Capture of Galveston by U.S. forces. |
| 10 | Arrival of General J. B. Magruder to command Confederate forces in Texas. |
| 29 | Confederate troops attack U.S. Steamer Dan at Sabine City. |
| 31 | Bombardment of Lavaca by U.S. Naval forces. |
| November | |
| 14 | Naming of A. J. Hamilton Federal Military Governor of Texas. |
| 20 | U.S. Naval action near Matagorda. |
| 29 | General J. B. Magruder assumes command of District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona with headquarters in Houston. |
| December | |
| 12 | Naval action against Confederate installation on Padre Island. |
| 24 | Occupation of Galveston by Federal forces. |
| 1863 | |
| January | |
| 1 | Confederate use of a combined land and water attack to capture Galveston as well as the Harriett Lane and to destroy the Westfield. |
| 11 | Naval engagement near Galveston between the Federal Hatteras and the Confederate Alabama. |
| 31 | Confederate gunboats Josia Bell and Uncle Ben capture Union warships Morning Light and Velocity off Sabine Pass. |
| March | |
| 5 | Legislative addition of $200,000 to the Hospital Fund; appropriation of $600,000 for distribution among needy members of soldier’s families and doubling of state tax rate. |
| April | |
| 18 | U.S. Navy paid a call on Sabine Pass, resulting in capture of landing party. |
| May | |
| 3 | U.S. Navy landing party upon Joseph Island attacked and repulsed. |
| 22 | Capture of the schooner Stingaree on the Brazos River. |
| 30 | U.S. Navy attack at Port Isabel. |
| August | |
| 10-13 | Mutiny at Galveston. |
| September | |
| 8 | Repulse of General Bank’s expedition at Sabine Pass by Lieutenant Dick Dowling’s men. |
| November | |
| 2-6 | Occupation of Brazos Island and Brownsville, result of Federal combined army and navy action. |
| 5 | Pendleton Murrah inaugurated Governor. |
| 17 | Capture of Confederate battery at Aransas Pass. |
| 22 | Skirmishing in Cedar Bayou, Matagorda County. |
| 25 | U.S. Navy attack on and capture of Fort Esperanza, Matagorda Island. |
| December | |
| 1 | A. J. Hamilton arrives at Brownsville and attempts to exercise authority as Military Governor of Texas. |
| 10 | Legislative authorization for the Governor to sell $2,000,000 of cotton bonds. |
| 15 | Enactment of law defining “sedition” and “disloyalty” and setting the punishment upon conviction before a jury. |
| Legislative appropriation of $200,000 for the Hospital Fund. | |
| Legislative appropriation of $1,000,000 to be spent in the next biennium for support and maintenance of families of Texas officers and soldiers. | |
| 16 | Appropriation of $1,000,000 in Confederate State Treasury notes to be expended for the defense of the state’s western frontier, 1864 and 1865. Severe Indian raids in Montague and Cooke counties. |
| 23 | Indianola occupied by a Federal Brigade. |
| 29 | Skirmishing of Confederates and Federals on Matagorda Bay; attack of U.S. Navy on Cavallo Pass. |
| 1864 | |
| January | |
| 3 | Major General Francis J. Herron assumed command of Federal forces on the Rio Grande. |
| 8 | Naval action at entrance of Caney Creek, Matagorda County. |
| 21-25 | Reconnaissance on Matagorda Peninsula. |
| February | |
| 11 | Bombardment and destruction of the town of Lamar, Aransas County, by the Federal Navy. |
| 17 | Changing of conscription law to include ages 17 to 50 and to make exemptions from service subject to approval of President Davis. |
| 23 | Naval fighting near Indianola. |
| March | |
| 12 | Evacuating Fort McIntosh by the Confederates. |
| 13 | Skirmishing at Los Patricios or San Patricio by Federal and Confederate troops. |
| 16 | Skirmish at Santa Rosa, Cameron County, by Federal and Confederate troops. |
| 17 | Attack on Corpus Christi by Confederates. |
| 19 | Federal attack on Laredo. |
| 21 | Attack at Velasco by Union blockading ship. |
| 22 | Defeat of Federals under E. J. Davis near Laredo. |
| Affair at Corpus Christi. | |
| April | |
| 12-13 | U.S. Navy expedition up Matagorda Bay. |
| June | |
| 15 | Evacuation of U.S. held Cavallo Pass. |
| 19 | Skirmishing at Eagle Pass. |
| 26 | Skirmishing at Los Rucias, 24 miles from Brownsville. |
| July | |
| 7 | Expedition into Galveston Bay by ships of the U.S. Navy. |
| 30 | Reoccupation of Brownsville by Confederate forces. |
| August | |
| 4-15 | Military operations off Brazos Santiago Island by Federal Forces. |
| 17 | General J. B. Magruder transferred to District of Arkansas and Major General John G. Walker assumed command in Texas. |
| 19 | Skirmishing at Port Isabel. |
| September | |
| 6 | Skirmishing at Palmetto Ranch near Brazos Santiago. |
| October | |
| 13-20 | Indian engagement on Elm Creek near Fort Belknap, Young County, on the 13th; operations against the Indians until 20th. |
| 14 | Skirmishing of Federals and Confederates at Boca Chica Pass, near Brownsville. |
| November | |
| 12 | Passage of a joint resolution by the Legislature expressing an unfavorable attitude toward agitation for a reunion of the states by rewriting the constitution so as to include guarantees favorable to the Confederate states. |
| 15 | Legislative appropriation for the annual use of 600,000 yards of cloth and excess thread manufactured by the state penitentiary to be distributed to indigent families and dependents of Texas soldiers; distribution to be the task of the county courts. |
| December | |
| 15-20 | Raiding by Indians from Oklahoma in Montague and other North Texas counties. |
| 1865 | |
| January | |
| 8 | Texas troops defeated in Dove Creek Indian Fight, 16 miles south of San Angelo. |
| February | |
| 10 | Creation of the Military Department of the Gulf, to include Texas and Louisiana by the U.S. Government. |
| March | |
| 31 | Replacing of General John G. Walker by General J. B. Magruder as Commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. |
| April 19 to May 17 | |
| Negotiations for Confederate surrender in Trans-Mississippi. | |
| May | |
| 11-14 | Federal expedition from Brazos Santiago Island; skirmishing and fighting on 12th and 13th at Palmetto and White’s ranch, last fighting of the war. |
| 25 | Alerting of the 25th U.S. Army Corps for duty in Texas. |
| 29 | Assumption of command by General Phil H. Sheridan, U.S.A., of the Military Division of the Southwest. |
| June | |
| 2 | Surrender of the Trans-Mississippi Department, C.S.A., by General Kirby Smith at Galveston. |
| 17 | Assumption of command of all U.S. troops in Texas by General Gordon Granger. |
| Appointment of A. J. Hamilton provisional governor of Texas. | |
| 19 | General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and issued order freeing all slaves in Texas and Louisiana. |
| 27 | Assumption of command by General Phil H. Sheridan of the Military Division of the Gulf. |
| Naming of General E. R. S. Canby as commander of the Department of Louisiana and Texas. | |
COVER DESIGN BY JAMES LEWIS WILKINS