Titus County, TX - Civil War- The DALE Family and Titus County Texas in the Civil War ************************************************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGENWEB Archives to store the file permanently for free acess. Contributed for use in USGENWEB Archives by: William David Farnham, (ww2x57@aol.com) ************************************************************************************** 01 June 2002 The DALE Family and Titus County Texas in the Civil War Once can read the history of all the armies of any nation, and you will not find a single one to compare to that of the Confederate army. They were intelligent, brave beyond belief, fearless and determined, but kind and gentlemanly in their bearings, respectful of their officers and obedient to orders. They did not fight for conquest or glory, but simply for the protection of their homes and the independence of the South. The life of the Confederacy was brief, but brilliant and glorious. No nation possesses such a priceless record as that made by her soldiers; none ever contended with so much disadvantages and against such fearful odds; none ever displayed more courage, or exhibited more loyal devotion to any cause than the Confederate Soldier. During the five years of the Civil War, the lives and fortunes of Texans, indeed all of those who called the South their home, would change forever. While Titus County Texas had little strategic military value, its area's farms and livestock helped feed the Southern Armies, and many of its local sons enlisted to fight; many to never return home. This is a brief account of three of these son's and, in the case of one, a tragic ending to a young life. John Henry Dale and his wife Susannah came to Titus County Texas from Cherokee North Carolina just prior to the Civil War. Nine of their 12 children came with their parents, although one daughter died while enroute. Of those nine children, three boys were of age to join the Confederate Army at the beginning of the Civil War and they did. Here is a brief history of each of these three Son’s. a. Albert Jerome Dale was born 26 Sep 1830 in Burke County NC d 1867-1868 Titus County TX m probably in or before 1864 either in Morris or Titus County TX Letitia Jane (Tishy) Hall s b TX d 16 Mar 1906 either Morris or Titus County TX (pneumonia). They are both buried in the Keith Cemetery Cookville Titus County TX. Albert moved, with his parents, from Burke County NC to Cherokee County NC and then came with them in a covered wagon to Titus County TX. Albert first enlisted in the 8th Brigade Reserve Company (for reserve state service) for Titus County in April 1861 at Wheatville TX. The Brigade headquarters was located at Scott’s Springs. He was enlisted as a Private in the Confederate Army on 25 Apr 1862 at Mount Pleasant Titus County TX by William B (Beck) Ochiltree Col. CSA for a period of three years and was discharged in April 1865 in Hempstead TX. His Unit was Walkers Texas Division (Walkers Greyhounds), 1st Brigade, 18th Texas Infantry, Company F. Albert and his wife Tishy had (known) three children. There are a number of units from Texas which can reasonably be called “famous” i.e. the regiments which served in Walker’s “greyhound” Division which, having defeated Banks in Louisiana in April 1864, raced northward to help beat Steele in Arkansas in May 1864. Albert J Dale participated in 23 different Operations, Engagements, Actions, Skirmishs and Captures during the period 07 June 1863 to 30 April 1864. During mid-1864 the Unit returned to Shreveport Louisiana. In early 1865 the Unit moved to Hempstead Texas where it was disbanded. Of interest: We find in Titus County on 01 Feb 1865 a “List of indigent families of Soldiers in Titus County Texas dependent on the County for support.” On this list we find: A. J. Dale - 2 family members (this would suggest that he probably was married prior to 1864. b. Marshal Norman Dale was born 12 Aug 1836 in Burke County NC. He moved with his parents from Burke County NC to Cherokee County NC and then came with them in a covered wagon to Titus County TX. He married in Titus County TX on 12 Dec 1861 Martha Jane Keith born 26 Oct 1842 in LA. Her parents were Warren Cash Keith and Margaret (Unknown maiden name). Marshal and his wife Martha moved from Titus County TX to Prairie Grove Washington County AR after the close of the Civil War. They had ten children. Marshal enlisted as a Private in the Confederate Army on 31 March 1862 in Mount Pleasant Titus County TX by Captain W. L. Crawford in Col. R. Waterhouse’s Regt. CSA. He gave his age as 26. He enlisted for three years or war; he was transferred that day to Jefferson Texas and he was assigned to Walkers Texas Division, 3rd Brigade, 19th Texas Infantry, Company A. Marshal was on the Company muster rolls as “present from 3l March 1862 until October 1862.” During October he was listed as “sick in this place.” During November 1862 and December 1862 he was listed as “sick at Austin AR (The Confederate camp located North of Little Rock and near Cabot AR). He was listed as “present in Arrest for Desertion” during the months of January and February 1863; having been sentenced to “death for desertion” by a court martial on 3 Feb 1863. His brother Jefferson Dale was also under the same sentence for the same crime. Jefferson was executed but Marshal was pardoned. In May and until September 1863 we find Marshal again “present.” However, on 6 September 1863 he “deserted from camp on Bayou Cotile (sic) LA (his second desertion from this Unit). The Unit was disbanded in early 1865 in Hempstead Texas. Marshal apparently returned, in September 1863, to his family and home in the Cookville Titus County TX area and did not return to duty during the rest of the Civil War. He apparently was never arrested and was not tried again for desertion. Robert Alexander Dale, when talking about his Uncle Jefferson and Marshal, stated that he was told “some of the boys - upon hearing the Confederate Soldiers were coming to the house (North of Cookville) to look for deserters - hid among the hogs in the hog pen.” Marshal died in Fort Smith AR after 1880 and we have no further record of his wife. c. Jefferson E Dale was born 09 Jan 1839 in Burke County NC. He moved with his parents from Burke County NC to Cherokee County NC and then came with them in a covered wagon to Titus County TX prior to the Civil War. He never married. Jefferson first enlised in the 8th Brigade Reserve Company (for reserve state service) for Titus County on 4 July 1891 at Wheatville. The Brigade headquarters was located at Scott’s Springs. He was enlisted as a Private in the Confederate Army on 31 March 1862 (with his brother Marshal Norman Dale) in Mount Pleasant Titus County TX by Captain W. L. Crawford in Col R. Waterhouse’s Regt. CSA. He gave his age as 23. He enlisted for three years or war; he was transferred that day to Jefferson Texas and he was assigned to Walkers Texas Division, 3rd Brigade, 19th Texas Infantry, Company A. Jefferson was on the Company Muster Rolls as “present from 3l March 1862 until October 1862.” During October he was listed as “sick in this place.” During November 1862 and December 1862 he was listed as “sick at Austin AR (The Confederate Camp located North of Little Rock and near Cabot AR). He was listed as “present in Arrest for Desertion” during the months of January and February 1863; having been sentenced to “death for desertion” by a court martial on 3 Feb 1863. His brother Marshal Norman Dale was also under the same sentence for the same crime. Jefferson was executed but his brother Marshal was pardoned. Here is an “eye-witness” account of the execution as seen by SGT John C Porter CSA. ....”...a few days afterward, they shot another a few miles from there (below Pine Bluff AR). A young man, named Dale (Jefferson E Dale), a member of Col Waterhouse’s Regiment. This man was in such ill health, and so feeble, that I am satisfied he would have died in a few days. The manner of execution by military authority, may be of interest to the young, so I will state that their grave is generally dug in some old field, where the army may be assembled, and they and their coffins are hauled there in a wagon, followed by the band playing some mournful piece; the doomed man then knees or sits on his coffin; while twelve men are drawn up in a line, whose guns are loaded by other parties, six having balls in them and six none. The squad is commanded by a Lieut. and at his command, they all fire, and none knew who killed him.” Jefferson E Dale died “by firing squad” in mid-march 1863 in Pine Bluff AR. He was executed in or near the present day community of Jefferson Jefferson County AR - located on Hwy 385 between Little Rock and Pine Bluff AR.