CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: TERRY'S TEXAS RANGERS.- Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@home.com 28 October 2001 ***************************************************************** TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson TERRY'S TEXAS RANGERS I have a complete roster of this command, company, name, age, county, nativity, where living, where died, when wounded, where killed, when discharged, where discharged, when promoted. Sworn in for the war August 5, 1861, at Houston, Texas, were in absolute service confronting the enemy 1302 days, fought 163 engagements in which there were from 1 to 37 casualties, and 41 skirmishes without casualty. It is remarkable that the sum total of killed and wounded amounts to so few. Some of these battles were continuous for three to six days. Shiloh four days (for cavalry), Murfreesboro five days, Chickamauga six days, Bragg raid into Kentucky almost continuous fighting for 45 days. Protecting Longstreet out of Georgia to Morristown, Tenn., 60 days. Johnston's retreat from Dalton to Atlanta 66 days continuous fighting. Raids inside the enemy's lines under Forrest and Wheeler for weeks at a time. All this makes it almost incredible that the casualties are so light. Out of 1170 men during the whole period of incescent war, only 178 men were killed on the field and 305 wounded. Some of the men were wounded 1 to 6 times, however, and afterwards killed; some twice in the same battle, the entire casualties were 483; 196 died from disease, 184 discharged, 33 transferred and 38 promoted outside. Deducting these, and we have 719 men of whom 483 were killed and wounded, or a casualty of a little over 60 per cent for nearly four years of continuous fighting; and yet I do not presume that there is another regiment of cavalry who will show a better or greater casualty list, or that saw any more fighting. It is a singular fact that only nine of the regiment were taken to Northern prisons. More were captured, but, early effected their escape. There is less than 100 of these men living, the youngest living is three score. The first engagement was at Woodsonville, Ky., Dec. 17, 1861; the last at Bentonville, N. C., March 20 to 23, 1865. It is a singular coincident that the regiment fought the Woodsonville fight with 182 men, and the battle of Bentonville with the exact same number, though nearly four years had elapsed. Taking the whole period, 302 men was the average reported for duty daily. They made the last great charge of the war at Bentonville, March 23, 1865; with 182 men, led by J. F. Mathews, the Jr. Captain of the regiment, saving Johnston's army. J. M. Claiborne. Rusk, Texas.