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Courtesy of Linda McNiel, TX, October 4, 2003 My great grandfather, Joshua Gracie Milburn, along with his father, Williamson Milburn, was in the 3rd TX Cavalry. He wrote the following, about 1920. [Excerpt of a letter written by J.G. Milburn, from Lockney, TX to his grandson, David Otis Kelley] By the way, Joshua Gracie Milburn's father, whom he speaks of in the letter, was Williamson Milburn (16 Mar 1808 GA - 13 Jan 1863 Starrville, Smith County, TX) Williamson was a 1st Lt in Company K of the 3rd Texas Cavalry, mustered into service at Dallas, Texas, 13 Jun 1861. This unit was known as "Greer's Regiment." Joshua Gracie Milburn was a private. |
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I was in school at Bellview, Rusk
county Texas when father enlisted. He wrote me from Dallas not to enlist
in the army but instead to go after the school was out to Murfreesboro,
Tennessee and complete my education, but instead of taking his advice I
quit school and told mother that I would go to Dallas and see father and
return home, which I knew at the time was a falsehood, and I can think
of a great many things in reviewing my past life that I would like to
forget and would not do or say if I could live my life over again. After
being drilled a few days we were ordered to Ft. Smith, Ark. where the
3rd, 6th, and 9th TX Cavalry were formed into a Brigade and placed under
the command of Gen Ben McCullah, and from there we received orders to go
on forced march to reinforce Gen. Price near Springfield, MO., and for 3
days and nights we traveled sleeping or resting only while our horses
were eating. We joined Gen. Price at Wilson Creek about 15 miles from
Springfield, Mo. on the evening of the 3rd day after leaving Ft. Smith
worn out from loss of sleep and constant riding to which we were not
accustomed at that time. Gen. Lyons was in command of the federal army
at Springfield comprising about twice as many soldiers as Price and
McCullah. After skirmishing a few days with the enemy we were surrounded
at night and woke up the next morning by the first artillery fire we had
ever heard and of course everything was in confusion for several hours,
but skirmishing was going on in every direction and after several hours
of fighting Gen. Lyons, the commander of the federal troops was killed
and his army completely routed. This was my first experience in actual
warfare and how I did regret the mistake that I made when I quit school
and refused to take my father's advice and enlisted, but this is the
history of the human family. Copyrighted by Linda McNiel. For any use or additional information please send E-mail to |