Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 50472-h.htm or 50472-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50472/50472-h/50472-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50472/50472-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/lonestardefender00barr THE LONE STAR DEFENDERS [Illustration: DECORATION] [Illustration: BATTLE-FLAG OF THE THIRD TEXAS CAVALRY REGIMENT] THE LONE STAR DEFENDERS A Chronicle of the Third Texas Cavalry, Ross’ Brigade by S. B. BARRON Of the Third Texas Cavalry [Illustration: LOGO] New York and Washington The Neale Publishing Company 1908 TO MY COMRADES SURVIVORS OF ROSS’ BRIGADE OF TEXAS CAVALRY AND TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE THIS VOLUME. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 11 CHAPTER I THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR Journey to Texas—John Brown’s Raid—My Secession Resolution—Presidential Election—Lincoln Elected—Excitement in the South—Secession Ordinances—“The Lone Star Defenders”—Fort Sumter Fired On—Camp Life—The Regiment Complete—Citizens’ Kindness—Mustered In—The Third Texas Cavalry—Roster 15 CHAPTER II OFF FOR THE FRONT Organization of Regiment—Officers—Accouterment—On the March—Taming a Trouble-maker—Crossing the Red River—In the Indian Territory—The Indian Maid—Fort Smith—The March to Missouri—McCulloch’s Headquarters—Under Orders—Preparation for First Battle 26 CHAPTER III OUR FIRST BATTLE On the March—Little York Raid—Under Fire—Our First Battle—Oak Hill (Wilson’s Creek)—Death of General Lyon—Our First Charge—Enemy Retires—Impressions of First Battle—Death of Young Willie—Horrors of a Battlefield—Troops Engaged—Casualties 39 CHAPTER IV THE WAR IN MISSOURI Personal Characteristics—Two Braggarts—Joe Welch—William Hood—We Enter Springfield—Bitter Feeling in Missouri—Company Elections—Measles and Typhoid—Carthage, and My Illness There—We Leave Carthage—Death of Captain Taylor—Winter Quarters—Furloughed—Home Again 52 CHAPTER V THE WAR IN MISSOURI—_Continued_ I Rejoin the Command—Sleeping in Snow—Ambushed—Battle of Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge)—Capturing a Battery—Deaths of Generals McCulloch and McIntosh—Battle Continued—Casualties—Keetsville—Official Reports—March Southward—Foraging—Lost Artillery—Illness Again 63 CHAPTER VI THE SIEGE OF CORINTH