Texas declared its secession from the Union on February 1, 1861 and joined the Confederate States on March 2, 1861. The Civil War began on April 12th, 1861. On September 9th, 1861, at the age of 20, T.F. Meece enlisted in the Confederate Army as First Corporal of what would become Company K, Fifth Texas Infantry, Hood’s Brigade.
Theophilus Franklin Meece (T.F.) was a member of the Polk County Flying Artillery organized by Captain Isaac Newton Moreland Turner in May or early June of 1861. Captain Turner was the youngest officer of his rank in Hood’s Brigade, T.F. was only 21 years old. Turner was able to procure (2) six-pounder cannon, through his Father, and they began to drill as a light artillery unit. These cannons were first used in the Mexican-American War. They were capable of firing a 6.1 lb. cannonball approximately 1,523 yards, as well as canister or spherical case shot (shrapnel).
The Company failed to get service as artillerist and eventually accepted an opportunity to go to Virginia as an infantry unit. The Company assembled in Livingston, TX on Tuesday 9/3/1861 where Captain Turner was presented a handsome flag (typically the Stars and Bars) during an address by the Honorable John L. Henry. Turner, in response, “promised to bring back heroes as husbands and sweethearts” for the noble women being left to cheer. Soldier dinners and entertainment were arranged for the entire Company prior to their departure. Optimism was high.
Confederate Stars and Bars
The Company marched approximately 50 miles to the city of Liberty, TX where they were officially mustered into service as Company “K” Fifth Texas Regiment Volunteer Infantry. Many of these Texas volunteers had little or no military training. They relied on the citizenry for locally supplied rations and uniforms. The Fifth Texas Regiment seemed to prefer gray hunting shirts of varying patterns for their uniforms. Some of the Confederates actually wore U.S. Army uniforms that were confiscated when the Army was banished from the State of Texas following secession. A few Companies left empty handed hoping to secure weapons along the way or they were carrying antiquated firearms.
All twenty Texas Companies were ordered to rendezvous at a staging area called Camp Van Dorn. Confederate Brigadier General Earl Van Dorn was a great-nephew of Andrew Jackson and was known for fighting with distinction in the Mexican-American War as well as his defense of Native American settlements against the Comanche.
Unfortunately he was also well known for womanizing. In May of 1863 he was shot dead at his headquarters in Spring Hill, TN by a Doctor who claimed that Van Dorn had carried on an affair with his wife. The Camp was located in Harrisburg, TX which was a small village on Buffalo Bayou just a few miles east of Houston, TX. There was a steady curriculum of close order drills, handling and using weapons.
The Port of Galveston was blockaded by the Union Navy so the troops could not get to New Orleans by steamer. The troops began the journey east by rail on the Texas and New Orleans railroad to Beaumont, TX. From there they traveled by steam packet to Niblett’s Bluff on the Louisiana side of the Sabine River. They then marched approximately 150 miles through Lake Charles, LA, Lafayette, LA and on to New Iberia, LA which was located on Bayou Teche. Bayou Teche is a 125 mile long waterway that was once the main channel of the Mississippi River.
Heavy rains persisted throughout their journey and lower Louisiana remained flooded during the months of August and September. Many of the soldiers wrote of “water knee to waist deep.” As if the water wasn’t bad enough the men were tormented by “billions upon billions of the largest and fiercest mosquitos in the world.” And of course, there was always the threat of those pesky alligators.
I can attest to his description of the mosquitos. I lived in New Orleans, Algiers to be exact, right alongside the Mississippi River for approximately (20) years. If it wasn’t for Mosquito Control, New Orleans would be unlivable. The trucks spray a heavy mist of pesticide at night. When it happens, you want to make sure that you are indoors and that all of the windows are closed.
Company “K” then travelled by steamboat to Brashear City, now known as Morgan City, LA., where they boarded cars on the Opelousas and Great Western Railroad for New Orleans. Once in New Orleans they boarded the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad for the 1,200 mile trip to the Capital of the Confederacy, Richmond, VA. The initial leg of this journey, from Livingston, TX to New Orleans, La, encompassed approximately 419 miles (see map). The second leg of this trip, from New Orleans, LA to Richmond, VA, totaled approximately 899 miles (see map). The entire trek amounted to 1,317 miles, riding (8) different trains and it took roughly one month from the time they left Camp Van Dorn until they arrived in Richmond, VA.