The 2d Cavalry’s Texas Campaigns

Indian attacks in Texas in 1855 were reaching epic proportions. The frontier had pushed past the thin and sparsely garrisoned line of forts set up to protect it, and Congress acted to protect the settlers. On 3 March 1855, Public Law 70 created two new cavalry regiments and two additional regiments of infantry, marking the first time that the U. S. had ever had two cavalry regiments authorized at the same time during peacetime.

Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, proceeded to pick, without regard to seniority, the best officers he could find to command and staff the regiments. The noncommissioned officers were carefully chosen from other units, and only outstanding enlisted men were selected or recruited to man the units. The regiments were also equipped with the best horses available, and each company was mounted on a single breed. The weapons were the fmest in service: breech-loading carbines, Colt Navy revolvers, and sabers. The 2d Cavalry Regiment, which soon became known as “Jeff Davis’ Own,” was formed in the spring of 1855 at Jefferson Barracks, MO. The regimental commander was Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston, a former general in the Texas Army and a future general in the Confederate Army. His second-in-command was Lieutenant Colonel Robert Edward Lee, who would later command the Army of Northern Virginia.

The 2d remained at Jefferson Barracks until it was assigned to the Department of Texas in October 1855, when it departed for Fort Belknap, Texas with 750 men and 800 horses, divided into ten companies and aregimental headquarters. At Fort Belknap, on the Brazos River just northeast of the present-day city of Graham, Colonel Johnston received orders from the commander of the Eighth Military Department (Texas), Major General Persifor F. Smith, to help guard the frontier against the Comanche Indians. The unit was to garrison forts along the expanding Texas frontier. Colonel Johnston was also directed to occupy previously abandoned Fort Mason, and to establish 31 Ft. Ringgol U F

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t. Brown Rio Grande Line: -------Frontier Line:.............. Map 1. Active Military Posts in Texas, 1849. anew outpost on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, approximately 40 miles southwest of Fort Belknap.

The instructions Colonel Johnston received for defending the rapidly expanding Texas frontier were part of an overall strategy known as the “Smith Plan.” General Smith had constructed a double line of forts along the frontier. He proposed to station the cavalry unit in the second line behind the actual frontier where forage would be more plentiful. The forward line of posts were beyond the actual frontier and were manned by infantry units. They were to detect the Indian raiding parties, allow them to pass their forward line, and notify the cavalry to intercept the Indians before they reached the settlements. The infantry would then seal off the frontier to prevent any escape.

The new post on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River had a twofold mission. In addition to guarding the frontier, the post would also guard some 300 Indians living on a nearby reservation. At Fort Belknap, Colonel Johnston divided his regiment in accordance with his orders and sent two squadrons (Companies A, E, F, and K) to the Clear Fork of the Brazos to establish anew outpost. The men lived in tents throughout the winter, and many of the horses died of exposure. This new outpost was established on 2 January 1856 and named Camp Cooper. On 25 March, Johnston assigned LTC Robert

E. Lee to command the part of the regiment stationed at Camp Cooper. Lee assumed command on 9 April. On 2 January 1856, the same day Camp Cooper was established, regimental headquarters and the remaining six cavalry companies left Fort Belknap for Fort Mason. Having been abandoned several years before, Fort Mason was in poor shape and local settlers had stripped the post of anything of value. Johnston bivouacked his troops in tents and put them to work rebuilding the post which was not completed until early spring. Johnston also ordered his regiment to begin offensive operations against the Indians as soon as weather permitted. On 14 February, the 2d Cavalry had its fust engagement. Part of Company Cleft Fort Mason to pursue a band of Huaco Indians reported to have been stealing horses and scalping settlers southwest of Fort Mason. The unit picked up the Indians’ trail and followed it for several days before catching up with them on 22 February. The Indians were defeated and two soldiers were wounded. In addition to command of his regiment, Colonel Johnston assumed command of the Military Department of Texas on 1 April 1956. He was now in aposition to deal with the Indians pretty much as he saw fit and his regiment provided him the means with which to do so. As a former Army general of the Republic of Texas and as an Army paymaster, Johnston had had ample opportunity to study the Indian 32 ARMOR problem and to observe the weaknesses of the defensive Smith Plan. Therefore, he decided on an offensive policy designed to cany the war to the Indians.

Colonel Johnston ordered all posts to conduct extensive scouting operations to track the Indians operating along the frontier. He also dispatched several expeditions deep into Indian temtory with orders to pursue and attack the Indians with vigor. To enhance the protection of the frontier settlements, Colonel Johnston deployed the 2d Cavalry to six posts: The first squadron (Companies A and F) established a camp midway between Forts Mason and Belknap on a crossing of the Colorado River. The second squadron (Companies Band G) remained at Fort Mason. The third squadron (C and I) was stationed at Fort Clark. The fourth Squadron was divided, with Company D stationed at Camp Verde (northwest of San Antonio) and Company H stationed at a crossing of the Sabinal River on the El Paso Road. The fifth squadron (E and K) remained at Camp Cooper. Thecompanies of the regiment were widely separated, trying to cover as much temtory as possible. Although the initial efforts of the 2d Cavalry Regiment had not produced any overwhelming victories, by the middle of the summer, the frontier was relatively free of Indian troubles as a result of the emphasis on long range patrolling and scouting. A friend told Colonel Johnston that the people of Texas now knew that everything possible was being done to guard against Indian attacks. The Indians had, in fact, just withdrawn to gain strength for renewed attacks dpon the frontier.

On 18 May 1857, Brevet Major General David E. Twiggs relieved Colonel Johnston as commander of the Department of Texas and Johnston resumed full-time duties as regimental commander, but served for only 3 months before being ordered to Washington. Johnston passed command of the regiment to Colonel Lee on 28 July 1857. On 21 October, Lee asked for, and was granted, a leave of absence, and turned the regiment over to Major George H. Thomas. Meanwhile, the regiment had been ordered to assemble at Fort Leavenworth on the way to Utah. All of the companies had assembled at Fort Belknap awaiting a supply train when the orders were rescinded and the 2d Cavalry was ordered to remain in Texas. Four companies (A, F, H, and K) remained at Fort Belknap and the others returned to their outposts as a sizeable increase in the number of Indian attacks in 1858 led General Twiggs to order an even more aggressive Army policy, one emphasizing deep attack. General Twiggs secured permission to send the 2d Cavalry into the Indian territory to the north and Major Thomas led the expedition. The four companies at Fort Belknap proceeded on yet anotherexpedi-Ft. Ringgo u t.

Brown Primary Frontier Defense Line: --------Secondary Border Defense Line: ++++++ Map 2. The Smith Plan Completed, 1852.

L J 0 Rush Springs Ft. Duncan 0 \w Ft. Mclntos “T Ft. R i n g g o u t. Brown Map 3. Active Posts in Texas, 1856. tion under the command of Brevet Major Earl Van Dorn. This force, later known as the “Wichita Expedition,” left Fort Belknap on 15 September 1858. On 29 September, scouts led by Lawrence Sullivan Ross located a large group of Comanches near what is now the town of Rush Springs, Oklahoma, and attacked at daybreak on I October. A 2-hour battle ensued and Van Dorn’s forces killed 56 warriors, captured 300 horses, and burned 120 lodges. The Cavalry suffered five killed, and Ross and Van Dorn were among the 11 wounded. The expedition returned to Texas and discovered that officials in the Department of the West had concluded a peace treaty with the Comanches in August, well before Van Dorn’s attack in October. However, Van Dorn was not at fault, and he received extensive praise from General Winfield Scott as well as General Twiggs. Although the battle at Rush Springs was the most complete victory ever achieved over the Comanches, the frontier of Texas was still subjected to frequent attacks throughout the rest of 1858.

A series of expeditions were launched during the remainder of the year and the efforts of the 2d Cavalry further built up the settler’s confidence in the Army; and, more importantly, the Indians began to fear the Cavalry as they had never before feared other soldiers of the regular Army because of the Cavalry’s attacks against objectives deep in the Indian’s rear areas.

In April 1859, General Twiggs ordered the 2d Cavalry to undertake another expedition against the Indians. Major Van Dorn who had recovered from his wounds, elected to command the six companies of the regiment (A, B, C, F, G, and H) detailed for the expedition. Van Dorn moved out of Camp Radzminski (located near present-day Frederic, Oklahoma) and on 13 May 1959, near Small Creek, his command managed to bottle up 91 Indians in a ravine. The Comanches knew they were trapped and fought desperately. Not one Comanche escaped from the battle. Van Dorn’s forces killed 50 and captured 41. They also captured 100 horses. Van Dorn’s losses were two killed and 13 wounded. Burdened with wounded and prisoners, Van Dorn had to call off the expedition and return to Camp Radzminski. Again, Major Van Dorn and his command received official compliments for their victory.

The next mission assigned to the 2d Cavalry was a complete. change-around, for it was ordered to protect the Indians from the settlers! Many Indians were adapting to reservation life, but by the late 1850’s, the settlers had built up a lot of resentment and there was widespread suspicion that reservation Indians were sneaking out to attack settlers and then returning to the safety of the reservation. In May 1859, a force of about 400 settlers, or at least men claiming to be settlers, moved against the Brazos Indian Reservation. Only resolute action by the Federal troops stationed there prevented a slaughter of the friendly Indians.

On 3 June 1859, Major Thomas moved four companies from Camp Radzminski and &%signed them to the Brazos Indian Reservation where they remained until August. When new reservations on the Washita River in Oklahoma were secured, Major Thomas provided the Indians with an escort to their new reservations. Most of 1860 and early 1861 passed quietly for the regiment, but the spring brought grave concern over the fate of the nation. By 1 February 1861, six states, including Texas, had seceded from the Union. As news reached them of secession by various southern states, the officers and men of the regiment wondered what would happen and what to do.

In small groups led by company-grade officers, the 2d Cavalry began to move out of Texas rather than remain and become prisoners of war. It is indicative of the respect and admiration held for the 2d Cavalry and other Union forces in Texas that, after the state’s secession, many newspapers appealed to the governor to prevent any clash between the state forces and the departing regulars. One editorial noted: “The regular Army had made, with its blood, many places within the State holy and almost classic ground, and that black indeed would be the pages in Texas history, which should have to record such contests.”

Even as the departure order was being put into effect the 2d Cavalry continued to perform its duty along the frontier. In mid-February, a detachment from Company C pursued a group of Comanches so vigorously that they fled to Mexico to seek refuge. A bitter biographer wrote: “Thus to the very last hour the regiment discharged its duty to the State, even when the citizens had renounced the flag of their country.”

The 2d Cavalry compiled an impressive record during its tour of duty in Texas. It was involved in 40 major engagements, as well as numerous patrols, escort missions, and other duties. The two major victories achieved under Van Dorn (Wichita Village and Small Creek) were referred to by the Chief of Cavalry, Major General J. K. Herr, as “The most decisive victories gained to that time over those Comanches of the southwest.” The regiment suffered a total of 13 killed and 58 wounded while defending the Texas frontier. The tasks given to the regiment in Texas were perfectly suited to cavalry. It was asked to defend the frontier against amounted enemy, and it succeeded where dismounted troops had failed. When allowed to operate on the offensive, however, the regiment did what no one else had been able to do: namely, carry the war to the enemy by striking deep and often. Its success also served to maintain a good relationship with the citizens of Texas and to keep morale high within the regiment. The small number of casualties and the high percentage of these casualties among the officers indicate that the regiment was well and bravely led. Although it would be improper to give the 2d Cavalry all of the credit for defending the Texas frontier, it is obvious from the examination of the record that the regiment was the most effective instrument of frontier defense in Texas between 1856 and 1861.

M A J O R V I C T O R F.

FRYSINGER was commissioned in infantry from Texas A&M University and holds a master‘s degree in history. He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Armed Forces Staff College. He served as a company commander in the 2d Armored and the 25th Infrantry Divisions and is currently assigned to the military personnel office of the Defense Communications Agency. 33