Lieutenant John William Wells, enlisted in First Company "K", of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles at Fort Washita. By November, 1862, he was promoted to captain and was Brigadier General Douglas H. Cooper's Adjutant General. A year later he was Lieutenant Colonel commanding the Texas Battalion stationed at Boggy Depot in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory. "Wells' Texas Cavalry Battalion," was organized in the fall of 1863 at the Spencer Academy, Doaksville, Indian Territory. Most members of this unit were recruited in northeastern Texas. The battalion spent its entire career assigned to higher commands located in the Indian Territory and participated in more than fifteen various type engagements during its career.

In early 1865, "Wells' Texas Cavalry Regiment," was created by the consolidation of "Wells' and Good's Texas Cavalry Battalions." The six companies of Wells' Battalion were assigned as Companies "A" to "F" Wells' Regiment. Like most all Civil War units, Wells' Texas Cavalry was often known by an alternate designation derived from the name of its commanding officer. Names of this type that are identified as being used by the regiment were John W. Wells' Cavalry, Chaplin Good's Cavalry, and L. E. Gilletts Cavalry. February 14, 1865, the regiment was ordered south from the Indian Territory for duty at Houston, Texas. Only one higher command assignment has been identified for the regiment.

March 31, 1865     Fifth Texas Cavalry Brigade, Second Texas Cavalry Division, First Corps, Army of Trans-Mississippi.

The unit was sometimes incorrectly known as the "34th Texas Cavalry." April 24, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Camp Angeles, Texas. When the Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi Department surrendered, Wells' Texas Cavalry was included among them.

On the pension application of Pvt. Blooming Parkhill (listed on the muster roll of "Capt. John Scanland's Squadron") an affidavit of witness by R. B. Fewell states:

"I am personally acquainted with the applicant B. G. Parkhill who I first met in 1862 at the time he enlisted in the Con£ederate Army at Fort Arbuckle. He enlisted in Company "E" Chickasaw Battalion. The Company afterwards became Company "A" Wells' Battalion. We served under General Cooper in the Indian Territory."

It appears John Scanland's Squadron, was originally a part of "Shecoe's Chickasaw Battalion." John Scanland appears on this roll as Lt. & AAQM.

Pvt. Blooming Parkhill, was enlisted by Capt. John Scanland

Reference: The Chronicles Of Oklahoma; Confederate Research Center, Hillsboro, Texas; Indices Of Choctaw & Chickasaw Confederate Soldiers, Bryan County Heritage Ass'n., Calera, Oklahoma                   Top

Capt. John Scanland's Squadron
Texas Cavalry, Co. "A"

This appears to have been a field organization serving in 1862 - 1863 which was composed of two Co.'s, Capt. John Scanland's, serving as "A", and Capt. Wm. Jackson's as "B". The Squadron was assigned as "A" & "B" of Wells' Battalion Texas Cavalry. Finally became Wells' Regt. Texas Cavalry. See muster roll for Co. "A" Scanland's Squadron, June 30, 1862 - June 30, 1863.

Lt. Col. John W. Wells' Battalion, Texas Cavalry

The Captains of the Co.'s in this Battalion, were as follows:

Co. "A" Capt. John Scanland & Capt. Julius Harshaw
Co. "B" Capt. Wade H. Witt, Capt. Wm. Jackson & Capt. Louis F. Cook
Co. "C" Capt. D. W. Vawter
Co. "D" Capt. J.J. Edwards
Co. "E" Capt. John Miller, succeeded by Capt. John T. Marsh
Co. "F" Capt. R. H. Chapman
Co. not identified, Capt. L.E. Gillett.

Rolls of the Co.'s which served as "A" & "B", Scanland's Squadron, are filed with this Battalion, and also a descriptive list of deceased members of Capt. L.E. Gillett's Co.The six Co.'s of this Battalion were assigned as Co.'s "A" to "F" Wells' Regt. Texas Cavalry.

Wells' Texas Cavalry Regt.

Co. "A" Capt. Julius Harshaw, formerly Co. "A" Wells' Battalion
Co. "B" Capt. Louis F. Cook
Co. "C" Capt. D.W. Vawter
Co. "D" Capt. J.J. Edwards
Co. "E" Capt. John T. Marsh
Co. "F" Capt. R.H. Chapman
Co. "G" Capt. Chas. W. Smith
Co. "H" Capt. Thos. A. Perkins
Co. "I" Capt. Alvis P. Ryon
Co. "K" Capt. Jno. N. Daniel

Wells is stated in a letter by Brig. Gen. D. H. Cooper to be org. by consolidation of Scanland's, Gillett's, and Miller's Co.'s.

On April 24, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Camp Angeles, Texas. When the Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi Department surrendered, Wells' Texas Cavalry was included among them. The unit probably disbanded a short time before the surrender, however.

Reference: Confederate Research Center, Hillsboro, Texas
National Archives, Washington, DC
For Addition Information: Oklahoma Historical Society, Indian Archives, Oklahoma City, OK

Scanland's Texas Cavalry Battalion

Scanland's Texas Cavalry Battalion was organized in the summer of 1862 by the addition of more companies. The battalion was under the command of Major John Scanland.

The battalion served in higher command assignments in the Indian Territory throughout its career. The list below shows the specific higher command assignments of this battalion.

Johnny Landers presently lives in Forestburg, TX.  He recently presented this research to the Fort Washita Historic Site and it was greatly appreciated.