CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: SHARPSBURG 

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Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@home.com 
24 October 2001 
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson

SHARPSBURG

Gov. O. M. Roberts says in the "Confederate Military History," Vol. XI, 
in part, what Hood's Brigade did in the battle of Sharpsburg: "At the 
battle of Sharpsburg, Md., the Texas brigade was commanded by Col. 
Wofford, of the Georgia regiment, who reported that the brigade took 
position on the Confederate left, near Mumma church, on the evening 
of September 15th, and being under artillery fire at that time, the 
Fourth lost Lieut. N. J. Mills, severely wounded and one private.  On 
the evening of the 16th they were moved to the left and front of the 
church and formed, with a cornfield in their front.  During that 
evening Capt. Turner, with the Fifth, and Capt. W. H. Martin, with a 
detachment of the Fourth, were engaged in skirmishing.  On the 17th 
the brigade advanced toward the cornfield and engaged in a desperae 
fight.  Hood reported that this was 'the most terrible clash of arms, 
by far, that had occurred during the war.'  'The two little giant 
brigades (Hood's and Law's) wrestled with the mighty force of the 
enemy, losing hundreds of their gallant officers and men, but driving 
the enemy from his position and forcing him to abandon his guns on our 
left.'  Said Wofford:  'This brigade went into action numbering 854, 
and lost in killed, wounded and missing 560, over one half.'  Among 
the officers killed were Major Dale, First Texas, who fell in the 
thickest of the fight, and Lieuts. F. L. Hoffman, P. Runnells, J. 
Waterhouse, S. F. Patton and G. B. Thompson, of the First.  Col. Work 
reported that the First took into action an aggregate of 226, of whom 
170 were known to have been killed or wounded, and 12 (missing) 
supposed to be.  He saw four bearers of the State colors shot down: 
John Hanson, James Day, Charles H. Hingsley and James K. Malone.  Then 
other men upheld the flag, four more of whom were whot down.  Carter,
of the Fourth, reported Lieuts.  L. P. Hughes, A. J.  McKean, H. M. 
Marchant, J. T. McLaurin, J. C. Billingsley and John Roach, mostly 
commanding companies, wounded.  Color bearer Parker was severely 
wounded and left on the field, and the flag was then borne by Captain 
Darden.  He carried into action 200 men and lost 10 killed and 97 
wounded.

Capt. Turner, of the Fifth, reported 5 killed and 81 wounded.  On 
Nov. 14, 1862, it appeared from the report of the adjutant general 
of the army that two thirds of the three Texas regiments were badly 
clothed and shod, and 180 were barefooted.  At the battle of 
Fredericksburg the brigade was not engaged, but lost 1 killed and 5 
wounded.  It was now under the command of J. B. Robertson, promoted 
to brigadier general, and the First was commanded by Col. Rainey, 
the Fourth by Col.  J. C. G. Key, and the Fifth by Col. R. M. Powell.  
Brigaded with them now was Van H. Manning's Third Arkansas, their 
comrades during the remainder of the war.  During the spring of 1863 
they were engaged in the Suffolk campaign in Southeast Virginia.