History of the 4th Texas Co. E
"The Lone Star Guard"
The "Hell Roaring" 4th
Lone Star Guard
Statistics
The 4th Texas Co. E was
formed in Waco, Texas in the spring of 1861. They were commanded by; Captain
Edward Ryan. Company E left Waco on July 22, 1861.
Aggregate numbers on July 22,
1861
Officers - 4
Non-commissioned officers - 9
Privates - 85
Musicians - 3
Total: 103
Two additional men were recruited
on the way bringing the total to 105 men.
Throughout the war another 17 men
would serve in the "Lone Star Guard" making the aggregate total 122.
Battle Casualties
Wounded - 43
killed - 28
captured or m.i.a - 5
aggregate total - 76 (62% of
total men mustered into the Lone Star Guard )
Gaines Mill, Virginia
Many people believe that the Rebel Yell was
originally used by the 4th Texas Infantry as it assaulted the Union works at
Gaines Mill Virginia. It was described as an Indian whoop. At Gaines Mill the
4th Texas charged over 800 yds of open field to attack the Union works of
Fritz - John Porter's Corp. The Texans fought their way through three
breastworks. Upon reaching the top of Turkey Hill they captured 14 pieces
of Federal artillery. This was done at great cost to themselves.
After the battle of Gaines Mills the 4th Texas Infantry became know as,
"The Hell Roaring 4th". Here are some
modern day pictures of the Gaines Mill Battlefield.
Modern 4th Texans with the
Union Battery at Gaines Mill in the background
(This is the location of the "Battery" that the 4th
Texas over ran in 1862. The 4th Texans captured 14 artillery pieces.)
Pvt. Mc Keage in front of the location where the 4th
crossed the Powhite Creek.
Remembering those who crossed the Powhite.
Monument dedicated to the 4th's Charge
Up this slope the 4th Texas advanced
Through the 4th Texans eyes ( Following the advance)
Contemplating what happened here.
Sharpsburg Md. (Antietam Creek)
The Dunker Church on the Battlefield at Sharpsburg, MD.
The" Lone Star Guard" in the
morning mist. Antietam National Battle Park 2005
Location of the 4th Texas Battle Line
on Sept. 17th, 1862 (Sharpsburg, Md.)
Sleeping where they slept.
(Sharpsburg, Md.)
The modern "Lone Star Guard" in front
of the "Texas Brigade" Monument at Sharpsburg
The Medich Battalion in front of the
Dunker Church Sharpsburg, Md.
The location of the Texas Brigade's
advance on Sept. 17, 1862
As a 4th Texan I
would like to provide some book titles that can be read to gain information on
4th Texas Infantry and Hood's Texas Brigade
Books
on the 4th Texas and Hood's Texas Brigade:
Officers the
Texan’s served under
The Gallant Hood - John P. Dyer
Advance & Retreat - John B. Hood
Shrouds of Glory - Winston Groom
One of the Most Daring of Men “The Life of
Confederate General William T. Wofford” – Gerald J. Smith
Touched with Valor: Civil war Papers and Casualty
Reports of Hood’s Texas Brigade – Jerome Bonoparte Robertson (diary & journal
of the brigade)
Books on the 4th
Texas Infantry
A Texan in Search of a Fight – John C. West (diary
4th Tx.)
Chaplin Davis and Hood’s Texas Brigade – Chaplin
Davis (diary 4th Tx.)
From Corsicanna to Appomattox – John Spencer
Gaine’s Mill to Appomattox – Waco & McLennan
County in Hood’s Texas Brigade – Harold B. Simpson ( history of Co. E &
McLennan County during war)
Rags and Hope - Val C. Giles (diary 4th Tx.)
Books on Hood’s
Texas Brigade
Hood’s Texas Brigade – Polley ( history written by
member of the Brigade)
Hood’s Texas Brigade – Lee’s Grenadier Guard –
Harold Simpson
Hood’s Texas Brigade in Poetry and Song – Harold
Simpson
Interrupted Lives – Hood’s Texas Brigade (novel) -
Bob Cheney
Barefoot Brigade (novel - 3rd Ark.) - Douglas C.
Jones
Books on other
units in Hood’s Texas Brigade
Rebel Private: Front & Rear – William A. Fletcher
- (diary 5th Texas Inf.)
They’ll Do To Tie To! – Calvin L. Collier - (
history of 3rd
Arkansas Inf.)
Books on Texas
Texas & Florida – Confederate Military History –
Clement A. Evans
Lone Star Nation – How a Ragged Army of Volunteers
Won the Battle for Texas Independence – and Changed America – H. W. Brands
Texas Boys in Gray – Boswell
Battle Flags of Texans in the Confederacy - Alan
K. Sumrall
Books on Antietam:
In the Sunken Road Antietam 2005
Books on the Antietam Campaign. A little
light reading for us to enhance our knowledge of Antietam for the Living
History event from July 30th thru the beginning of August
"Landscape Turned Red" by Stephen Sears
"Before Antietam" by Priest
"Promise of Glory" by C. X. Moreau
"Crossroads of Freedom - Antietam" by James Mc
Pherson
The best Antietam tour guide I
have found:
"Guide to the Battle of Antietam" by Jay Luvass &
Harold W. Nelson
4th Texas Poetry
"The Flag of Our Regiment"
by Val C. Giles
4th Texas Infantry Co. B
The old battle flag of our regiment,
How oft with weary feet
Have we followed its folds to victory,
And guarded it in retreat.
In the red hot glare of battle,
Where carnage and death supreme,
We have seen the flag of our regiment.
Like a star on the horizon gleam.
The flag of the old Fourth Texas,
Through many a conflict shown
O'er the red clay hills of Virginia,
As she swept through tempest and storm.
And when the battle was over
There was many a saddened brow,
When the bots would gather around it _
In memory I see them now.
But we'll gather no more around it,
The star of her glory has set,
Gone down in a cloud of oppression,
But we cherish the old flag yet.
We have seen the flag of our regiment
On many a gory plain
An emblem of victory, and pity
At half - mast o'er her slain.
Through the old flag's furled forever,
'Tis free from dishonor's stain;
That noble old regiment's disbanded,
Their hearts, thank God, are the same.
We love that dear old banner,
We love the cause we lost,
And though some deem it treason,
God bless Saint Andrews Cross.
"In the Days when War was
Hell"
by Van C. Giles 4th TX. Co. B
This faded relic here today,
So torn by shot and shell
Waved proudly o'er Virginia's hills
In the days when war was hell.
No foeman's hand o'er touched the flag
And oft the Rebel yell
Has rung beneath these thirteen stars,
In the days when war was hell
'Tis old and faded now by time,
And worn by shot and shell:
'Twas never furled on any field,
In the days when war was hell.
This grand old flag, so silent now,
A story sad can tell,
Pf those who died beneath its folds
In the days when war was hell.
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