R.L. Creswell

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• R.L. Creswell was born March 17,1840,and died January1926, and was buried at Liberty. In his life he joined the 3rd Texas Cavalry (South Kansas-Texas Mounted Volunteers) at the age of 21, and also engaged in many battles.

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When the 3rd Texas Cavalry was organized.

• The 3rd Texas Cavalry was organized in June of 1861 in Dallas, Texas, and mustered men recruited at Marshall, Henderson, Ladonia, Greenville, and Dallas.

• The Commanding Officers were Col. E. B. Greer, Lt. Col. W.P. Lane, and Major C.W. Chilton.

The Battles• One of his first

battle encounters was at Thompson Station on March 4, 1863. At the end of this battle they had captured 1,151 prisoners and killed over 300 of the enemy.

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The Battles (continued)

• Until dispersed by artillery fire, the brigade held up the Union forces for a full day outside Clinton. In an effort to slow the Yankee advance the Texans slaughter cattle and live stock and through them into the cisterns and water supply. Undeterred the Union soldiers pulled livestock from the feted water and drank it anyway. On July 9th, Johnston ordered cavalry to defend Jackson, the Capital of Mississippi.

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• Sherman ordered his artillery assembled and proceeded to pulverize and in one hour alone some three thousand cannon rounds were fired at them. The Texas Brigade was deployed at the extreme northern end of the defensive line. Dismounted, the 3rd Texas Cavalry engaged advancing enemy sharpshooters and artillery in the thick brush and wooded ravines adjacent to the Pearl River.

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• On July 14, General Johnston gave the entire cavalry an assignment that proved beyond their capacity to carry out. Johnston ordered the Cavalry to intercept a huge ammunition train caring the massive shipment of cannon shells that all Sherman to continue his fire. The entire division of some three thousand riders then bore down on the main road to Vicksburg where the ammunition train rumbled along between Bolton and Clinton. Sherman had all ready learned of the plans from a prisoner and was waiting.

Continue• After six arduous weeks of skirmishing, The troopers

of the 3rd Texas Cavalry went into camp on the 20th of July at Pelahatchie, Twenty-two miles from Jackson. With time for rest, the 3rd Texas Cavalry and the Texas Brigade received much needed supplies. They found time to participate in a parade and there was a formal ball held that they attended. Even though a rest was ordered there was still duties of the cavalry that knew no rest. During the “rest” the 3rd Texas was but on picket duty, scouting and guard duty in addition to participation to raids and skirmishes as each regiment was stuck to these duties.

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• Another engagement occurred on the Morning of October 15th when some 9,000 Yankee troops headed toward the Big Black River in an effort to relieve forces near Canton, Mississippi. The battle was fought near Canton where some 4,000 of the mounted Texas Brigade hit General McPherson’s advance. The battle developed with General Whitfield’s Texas Brigade holding the high ground in the wooded ravine overlooking the east bank of Bogue Chitto Creek. Though out numbered, they pinned the Yankees at the bottom of the creek with their artillery and small arms.

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• At dawn on the 16th, the Yankee infantry swarmed up the hill. A second defensive position was set up and the defenders fell back some five miles up the road. The rain began to fall and the battle continued till nightfall. On October 18th the Federals began to withdraw as they were peppered by the 3rd Texas Cavalry and the Texas Brigade.

An important mission

• On December 22nd, they were ordered to escort some 23 supply wagons into the hands of General Edmund Kirby Smith. They plodded north toward Arkansas. By January 1, 1864 the rain began to pour and they became bogged down in mud. The rain turned to snow and ice formed an inch and a half. The men had to physically remove the cargo of weapons from the wagons and carry them by hand. At the end of a forty-mile trek in the blinding snow they reached the river on January 5th. They found flat boats and crossed the river and were able to deliver the weapons to the Arkansas Confederates.

An important mission (continued)

• When the men returned their clothes were frozen so hard that they could not sit down. No fires were to be built for fear of alerting the Federal forces in the area. They all grew colder and though frozen, even more weapons were ferried across using various small boots found in the area. As the mission was accomplished, the cold became even greater, The horse’s hooves began to split from it and the Texas Brigade moved away from the river and bivouac. They killed wild hogs and warmed the themselves. On January 10, they started their journey back.

Battle on the Yazoo River

• The 3rd Cavalry had a chance to rest and on February 1st all volunteered to reenlist for the duration of the war. They set up an ambush for Federal Troops coming up the Yazoo River. They effectively delayed their advance and were honored as heroes from the nearby town.

• On February 28th they destroyed a Federal Cavalry force of about 40 men.

Battle of Syder’s Bluff

• The 3rd Texas Cavalry was to be apart of one more mission before leaving the area. They were part of a raid on Syder’s Bluff where they were to destroy a plantation to keep it’s cotton from falling into enemy hands.

Conclusion• Many battles were fought in the months ahead, from

May 19th –July 3, 1864, Texas fought at Adarisville, Rome, the Etowah River, Cassville, Cass Station, Kingston, Cartersville, Allatoona, Ackworth, New Hope Church, Dallas, Marietta, Kennesaw Mountain, Powder Springs, Sandtown and Nickajack Creek.

• From July 17th, 1864-the end of December of that year, they fought on the chattahoochee River, Lovejoy’s Station in Atlanta, Franklin, Mufressboro, Mississippi, and numerous battles with Federal Cavalry Troops, some of which they had many casualties and those that were captured. The captured were sent to Camp Chase near Columbus, Ohio.

• The war officially ended for the 3rd Cavalry on May 8th, 1865.

• On May 4, 1865 his unit surrendered.

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Research Links

• http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/3680/cw/cw-tx.html

• http://gen.1starnet.com/civilwar/3cvrost.htm

• http://www.rootsweb.com/~txkaufma/civilwar/3txcavf.htm

• http://www.compassnet.com/3rdtxcav/hist3rd.htm

• http://www.compassnet.com/3rdtxcav/3rdcav1.htm

• http://www.geocities.com/lonestardefenders/