Dairy of Henry Davis Pearce, 16th TX -- Company A 15th TX. (pres. march) message board.

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Date Posted: 06:10:32 03/09/04 Tue
Author: Doug Cooper
Subject: Dairy of Henry Davis Pearce, 16th TX

Steve Bounds of Mansfield State Park provides us this outstanding diary of a soldier in Walker's Division (to our right at Mansfield) for the RR campaign to help us understand what they were seeing, feeling and thinking...

March 6th: 1864
The sick were started to Shreveport.
March 7th:
Rumors and alarms of the advance of the Federals.
March 11th:
Baggage all packed up ready to be sent off.
March 12th:
The long roll sounded and all fell into line and marched down to the fortifications, with two days cooked rations in our knapsacks and carrying blankets, fully equipped for battle or marching. Remained n breast works until 10:00 p.m. without seeing the enemy, then commenced retreating slowly in direction of Mareauville, 12 miles and camped a few hours.

March 13th: p3
Marched 5 miles and got with the balance of the division at long bridge, near Mareauville and remained here all the balance of the day and night.
March 14th:
Morning we moved about 2 miles out on the prairie and within about one half mile of the village of Mansura; here we were formed in line of battle fully expecting to be attacked by the Federals, however they did not appear and after waiting some time we continued our retreat to Bayou De Lac Mording 28 miles with continual rumor of attacks on our rear guard. We crossed over the bridge across the bayou, burned the bridge and camped feeling comparatively safe from pursuit, we only having one division Walkers of about 6 or 7 thousand men after the loss of detail at Fort DeRusey and the sick sent off.
March 16th:
Here we rested until the evening of 16th and took up line of march and marched the night of the 16th 20 miles to Bayou Boerb about 25 miles from Alexandria. We had only two small companies of cavalry known as the Buttermilk Cavalry by the soldiers of the division, and commanded by Captain Faulkner. Here we learned that the Federals had taken possession of Alexandria.
March 17th:
After resting during the day at 5:00 p.m. we took up the march and fell back about 6 miles into the pine woods and camped.

March 18th:
We were joined by Mouton�s division, two small brigades, Polignac�s and Grey�s, and in the evening by the 2nd LA Cav. commanded by Col. Vincent, joined the army. In the evening we resumed the march and by the wee hours after midnight had marched 31 miles, and camped in the pine woods near Houston en route towards old Fort Jessup during the night. We had a false alarm of Yankys charging on us as they were known to be following.

March 19th:
March resumed and we went 20 miles and camped near Carroll Jones�, a wealthy free negro who lived in the pine woods back of Alexandria about 35 miles and owned slaves. Here we considered that we were out of danger and so as not to be impeded, we sent our baggage on to Shreveport only keeping a blanket apiece, and such other things as we were willing to encumber ourselves in carrying.

March 20th:
Our wagons started for Shreveport with all extra baggage and we consolidated our messes two going together and only one keeping a small set of cooking utensils for two messes. Our mess consolidation with Joab and Jim Alexander�s mess.

March 21st:
About 12 men ordered to get up and cook a days rations and march at daylight. However we did not march but remained in camps, and could hear heavy cannonading in the direction of the enemy. Bad weather, cold rain and sleet, making it very disagreeable with only our light marching outfit. We lay here expecting to make a stand and fight the Federals some 48 thousand strong when the armies of Banks� and Smith had consolidated at Alexandria; however, they crowded us so close capturing quite a number of our men and one battery Captain Edgars belonging to our division that we could not wait for our help to concentrate.

March 23rd:
The Federals so persistent that we formed a line of battle near Carroll Jones�, expecting an engagement after waiting a while and no enemy appearing we retreated 12 miles towards Pleasant Hill.

March 24th p4
Marched 30 miles and camped and remained here several days practicing skirmish drill and preparing for the coming expected engagement, and we were all the time receiving reinforcements from Texas. Mostly cavalry.

March 29th:
Marched 17 miles in direction of old Fort Jessup along a poor gravel ridge. A cloudy, pleasant day.

March 30th:
Marched 13 miles and caught up with wagon train.

March 31st:
Marched 20 miles and passed old Fort Jessup located in the pine woods. Most of the houses built of logs hewed, a beautiful home-like place. I got out of ranks to explore the place saw a great many of the old documents of the fort scattered about, having been done recently I suppose by Confederate soldiers. Quite a number of the old buildings would yet be a protection from rain and storms while others only the walls were standing. The Yankees cavalry were reported close and we hurried on.

April 1st:
Marched 10 miles and camped near Pleasant Hill.

April 2nd:
Marched 5 miles (did not go through Pleasant Hill) in direction of Bayou Pierre. Could hear cannonading in direction of Watchitaches, and rested. At about 6 p.m. we were informed that we were about to be cut off and were doubled quickly to Pleasant Hill 5 miles and lay in line of battle all night but no enemy appeared.

April 3rd:
Marched 10 miles in direction of Mansfield and camped.

April 4th:
Marched 8 miles to Mansfield and turned off north about 2 miles and camped on a ridge, where we remained until the morning of the 8th-three full days and four nights. While here the army received a considerable reinforcement and General Dick Taylor called in council all the Generals and leaders and they decided to make a stand and fight the Yanks, thought they had orders from Kirby Smith to fall back to Shreveport (this was the understanding among the soldiers at the time).

April 7th:
Had orders to cook a days rations and be ready to march early next morning.

April 8th:
Marched out from camp in fore noon down to Mansfield 2 miles and then turned back in direction to meet the enemy. It seemed that the whole population of Mansfield had turned out to see us pass through. Men, women, and children; many biding us God speed and exhorting us to be sure and whip the Yankees, which we felt like we could do and desired a chance. I think Fitzhugh�s Regiment and the army as a whole wanted to make the fight. We marched down the road towards Pleasant Hill about 2 1/2 miles, then turned to the right (where the road comes to a lane with a farm on each side of road) along a fence our regiment going probably one mile anyway our regiment was on the right of our brigade and seemed that the right went as far as the farm. We were until probably 3 o�clock getting into line and had to wait some time before the battle commenced, probably 4 p.m. We had trodden the fence down so that we could charge through it. When the battle commenced the heaviest part was to our left about the road and to the left of the road. The Federals formed across the field in our front in the edge outside of the fence. Their line did not seem to extend as far on their left and right as our line. When they were seen in our front we were commanded to advance in line of battle and we advanced across the field when about half-way across the field a volley was fired at us from an oblique direction to our left which I think did but little execution in our regiment if any. A few shots were fired back from our line but our men could not see anything to shoot at, and but few shots were fired. We continued on through the field, the men seeming inclined to oblique to the left where the fire had come from the Yanks, our officers keeping the men in line and as straight forward as possible. When we got through the field to the fence, the left of our regiment only struck the fence, there seemed to be an ell of the farm a new clearing to run farther on with underbrush only cleared out-our regiment mainly struck and just as we got into that part a battery turned loose on us from our left from up somewhere towards the road but they overshot us mostly cutting off the branches of the trees they falling among us. However several cannon balls went close to the ground but in our front. It was very brushy to our left and I never saw the battery that was firing at us.

We could hear the heavy volleys to our left and the Confederate yells and soon the battery was silenced and taken as I learned afterwards. About this time squad after squad of Yankees were captured running or trying to run out of the battle in the woods to their left and our right. We not having any resistance were keeping in advance of the fighting along the road, where we could hear the fight, every time a body of Yanks made a stand and tried to check the advance. We kept right on in line of battle this way double-quicking most of the time until we came to the branch that ran down by the peach orchard some 5 or 6 miles from where we first formed line of battle, all the time drawing in on our left towards the main road and through the timber all the way. When we got to this pine woods creek, we had considerable trouble to cross the banks being steep and almost too wide to jump. We crossed on logs and soon came to a new clearing part of which had been cultivated and old trees yet standing and the left end had not been cultivated nor fenced on which probably half the trees had fallen (they having been deadened) and cross piled on each other. Here we saw the Yankees forming on the upper side just across this narrow clearing. We formed on the lower side towards the creek and commenced firing at them with our Endfield rifles, and while we remained here I fired about 8 rounds at them taking the best aim possible each time. They firing at us however their balls went over our heads as they shot too high and I do not know of a man hit in our regiment. We were then ordered to fall back and the firing ceased. We marched to the rear and recrossed the branch as before very deliberately and quickly in line and then right faced and marched down the creek to the road which was but a short distance, turned to the right across the creek at the road crossing right at the corner of the field in which the peach orchard was. When just across the creek, we (the head of the regiment) turned up the creek at the right of the road until the last foot of regiment rested just across the road with the head or right up probably near the end of deadening where we had been fighting the New York levies. Just before we were ordered to lay in arm for the night doing advance picket duty, it being dusk when we crossed creek at road and good dark by the time we were fully placed. We could hear the Federals at the top of the hill about the house also groans of the wounded between the lines, one man in particular between the lines near the right of regiment in the woods (it was timber and brush to the right of the road) was calling and pleading for water. Some of our boys took some canteens and started to take him some water but when they got near where they supposed the wounded man was, they were met by the
p6
keen crack of a rifle, but fortunately were not hit. Instantly the whole regiment were on their feet and wanted to charge in the dark through the brush and timber and it was all the officers could do to keep them from charging. They were mad. In the evening when we were crossing the creek or branch above it was reported that one of our men in our regiment killed himself accidentally. He was the only man killed out of the regiment during the day. Without further incident we lay in line of battle until daylight.

April 9th:
At day light some of us began to prowl about some--the Federals having left during the night--I went forward towards the peach orchard on a little knoll on side of hill at edge of the orchard. I found quite a number of dead Yankees; one that had had his brains shot out facing the Confederates. He had a bright new outfit--Endfield rifle and aquarterments and I proceeded to take his and throw mine down. He had only used a few cartridges out of his box and I also took his knapsack it being a good one. His pockets had been turned wrong side out before I found him. Passing on farther and to the right I found in a fence corner next to the road a young man who seemed to be dressed in better material than most private soldiers. He was wounded through the hips and someone had stretched a blanket over him to keep off the sun which was by this time up. When I went up to him he commenced to beg me not to kill him which vexed me to think that he had such a foolish idea about Texans; and replied, "You fool! What would I want to kill you for? Don�t you know any better than that?" About this time I heard the order to fall in and hastened to the company and was just in time to take my place in ranks to start on the march to Pleasant Hill to catch the Yankees.

Different division but you get an idea of the marching distances, light marching order, attitude and "fight" in these Texans. Texans never change...thank goodness.

Doug

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where the story ends -- Stephen Mitchell, 12:47:27 03/10/04 Wed