RESOLUTIONS OF THE TEXAS BRIGADE

[CoB4thTEXAS]

The Confederate cause seemed hopelessly lost. By mid winter 1864-1865. Sherman had reached Savannah, cutting the confederacy in two; Grant had tightened the noose around Petersburg; Jubal early had been driven from the Shenandoah valley; Fort Fisher, the last Confederate strong hold on the southeastern coast, had fallen; and the Union blockade was choking the South to death. The confederate armies were plagued with desertions, and even the stable army of Northern Virginia lost hundreds of men each month. The soldiers were reduced to starvation rations, and the Confederate government was torn by dissension. Even with all of those ominous signs of collapse and chaos around them the members of the Texas Brigade remained resolute and proclaimed to the world their fealty to the Confederate cause.

On the afternoon of January 24th 1865, The Texas brigade held a mass meeting and drafted resolutions to express the sense of the meeting. The resolutions expressed clearly and dynamically the desire of the Texas Brigade to continue the war. Hood’s Texas brigade – loyal to the Southern cause – remained defiant to the end.

RESOLUTIONS OF THE TEXAS BRIGADE.

CAMP TEXAS BRIGADE,

January 24th, 1864

At a meeting of the 1st, 4th and 5th Texas and Arkansas regiment composing the Texas brigade of Field’s Division, Longstreet's Corps army of northern Virginia, on motion of sergeant Major J. H. Leete, 1st Texas regiment, Private B S. Fitzgerald was chosen Chairman, and, on motion of Private B.H. Burgress, Co. D. Forth Texas, Lieut. Haywood Brahan, Co. F. 4th Texas, was appointed Secretary.

Lieut. Brahan, being called upon, explained the object of the meeting in a few brief and appropriate remarks.

On motion of Private W. H. Burgess, Co. D, 4th Texas, a committee of five from each regiment was appointed to draft resolutions, expressive of the sense of the meeting. The following is the committee as appointed by the Chairman, viz:

Serg’t Major J.H. Leete; Serg’ts. F. M. Story, Co. Co. D; J. P. Surratt, Co. H and W.A. Shelton, Co. I, and private J.T. Clark, Co. E 1st Texas. Privates W.H. Burgress, Co. D; D.A. Todd, Co. B,T.D. Williams, Co. E, and Wm Morris, Co. F, and Serg’t. Wm.M.Baines, Co. G, 4th Texas. Lieut. B. P. Fuller, Co. A; Serg’ts. M.A.J. Evans, Co. E. and T.F. Meese, Co. K; and Privates Thos. Haynie, Co. H, and H. C. Shae, Co. F, 5th Texas. Assistant Surgeon C.H.A. Kleinschmidts; Captains A.C. Jones, Co. G, and W.H Harrison, Co. E; and Privates J.H. Golsby, Co. K. and R. W O’Oconner, Co. F, 3rd Arkansas.

The committee then retired to consider the preparation of resolutions. During the recess, the meeting was agreeably and pleasantly entertained by eloquent and patriotic speeches from Lieut. Col. C.M. Winkler and Private T. D. Williams, 4th Texas. At the close of Private Williams Speech, the committee, through its Chairman, sergeant-major J. H. Lette, reported the following resolutions, which, on motion of Lieut. Col. C.M. Winkler, were unanimously adopted by the meeting:

RESOLUTIONS

Whereas, We have seen with feelings of sadness, the clouds of gloom and despondency that have recently gathered in the sky of our young nation, hut which are now happily being dispelled by returning confidence, therefore we, the army, who are the people, and the people who are the country, deem it not inappropriate, but fit and proper, that we should, in a meeting composed of the Texas brigade, comprising the 1st, 4th and 5th Texas and 3d Arkansas regiments, make known to our fellow-soldiers, to our country, the enemy, and to he world, our purpose and determination to maintain, at all hazards, and to the last extremity, the rights and liberties which a merciful God has pleased to bestow upon us, and even to contend for a perpetual separation from hated and despised foe, who have murdered our gray-haired fathers, insulted our women and children, and turned out thousands of helpless families to starve-after robbing them and burning their houses-leaving them destitute of all except their honor: Therefore be it

Resolved, 1st. That before the commencement of the great struggle for our rights and liberties we considered well the causes and consequences, for which we were about to take up arms-that our cause was just and that no sacrifice was so great that it could not be made in defense of such a cause-that we have gone boldly forward, now for nearly four years, and our determination had not abated, but increased, having had a clearer view of the' character of the brutal foe with whom we contend, and gained from experience, in close contact with them. Certainly no one now can be so blind and stupid, as not to agree with us, that the warning was of inspiration, and that the warning was the auspicious time to strike for our rights; and that we are fully determined to go forward as we have done, and, if need be, to renew our pledges of devotion to our country; and that we will rid ourselves of tile tyranny the enemy would thrust upon us, or die in the attempt.

Resolved, 2d. That whilst we die battling in a cause, the most sacred, for liberty and independence. against a people so base, treacherous and despised, that language fails us to properly portray tray our detestation of them, we cannot be indifferent lookers on at those in our own country, who would divide and distract the counsels of the nation. and tear down the presentable and patriotic Administration ; and, at the same time, give aid and comfort to the enemy. To politicians and demagogue newspaper editors, men in and out of positions, croakers, and those who are firing in the rear, and those who pull down, whilst we build up-we warn you that there is a point beyond which you cannot go with impunity ; that nothing will deter us from the prosecution of our purpose, whether it be our open enemies in the front, or the hidden and less respectable enemy in our midst; for the latter of whom, we take this occasion to express our most hearty scorn and contempt

Resolved, 3d. That after calmly considering the present situation of affairs in the Confederate States, we can see little cause, if any, for losing confidence in our final success; but on the contrary, much on which to congratulate ourselves. In the beginning of this war--four years ago--we were a peaceful, unwarlike people, following quietly our ordinary avocations, totally unused and uneducated to warfare. Our men had to be organized; the material, and appliances with which we have so often routed the enemy had to be made from the crude state. And now let the world say if we have not accomplished much. That there is much yet to be done, we admit, and we declare ourselves prepared to undertake it. Let us look back at Manassas the first and second, Gaines’ Farm, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Wilderness and hundreds of other fields, where Confederates have shown a heroism almost unequaled in all past ages; and let us take new courage, if any have grown weary…

…Let us go bravely on; peace mist come sooner or later, and with it our independence. Our final triumph is certain and inevitable, and our subjugation is an impossibility.

Resolved, 4th. That we can say with perfect. confidence to our friends in Texas, Arkansas and the Trans-Mississippi Department, that at the front all is bright, buoyant and hopeful. We congratulate them on having , during the past campaign, driven the enemy back from their frontiers. We ask them to stand firmly by their armies, protect the wives and children or the absent soldiers, and to tolerate no man who will go back in the Union with the Yankees, but to punish such treachery as it deserves.

Resolved, 5th. That in President Davis, the wise, patriotic, good Chief Magistrate of the Confederate States, we repose the, most perfect confidence and respect, tendering him our warmest sympathies and cooperation in the onerous duties and responsibilities resting upon him.

Resolved, 6th. That for Gen. Robert. E. Lee, the great soldier, rather and friend of his army, we have the love and veneration that dutiful children owe their father-that we will always follow where he may direct, and assure him at all times, of our hearty support and cooperation.

Resolved, 7th. That we invite all or organizations in the armies or the Confederate States, to come forward and show to the world, by an expression of their sentiments, their unalterable purpose and determination to conquer an honorable peace.

Resolved, 8th. That the Secretary furnish a copy of these resolutions, and the proceedings of this meeting, to each of the newspapers published in Richmond, Va., and that the Texas and Arkansas papers, and all others friendly to the cause, be requested to copy. Also, that a copy be sent President Davis, General R E. Lee, the Texas and Arkansas Senators and Representatives in Congress, and to the Governors of Texas and Arkansas.

Private W. II. Burger;, 4th Texas, and Capt. A. C. Jones 3d Arkansas, being called upon, addressed the meeting in an appropriate eloquent and patriotic style. Their speeches were received with great applause and enthusiasm.

On Motion of Lieut. Col. C.M. Winkler, 4th Texas, the meeting adjourned.

B.S. Fitzgerald, Chairman

Haywood Brahan, Secretary


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