The
Online Archive of Terry's Texas Rangers
Sharing & preserving the history of the 8th Texas Cavalry Regiment, 1861-1865
The
Online Archive of Falls County Civil War Veterans
Company A, 8th Texas Cavalry, Terry's Texas
Rangers
Original Enlistees
Allday, Charles. The Falls County Old Settlers and Veterans organization list of the late 1920's1 show him: "Pvt. Co A, Harrison's Bgde, Wheeler's Div, enlisted Wilderville, TX Sept 61, lived in Wilderville." His service records2 reflect he was from Burleson County and was enlisted in McLennan County by Capt Harrison on Sep 10, 1861 (Harrison was in Falls Co on that date). In Nov 1861 he was on sick leave in Nashville until able for duty on Nov 3. His records also show he was absent without leave from Oct 20 through Dec 31, 1863. Paul Scott's Master Thesis3, a combination of various records, shows him wounded and captured in July 1863. In Jan and Feb 1864 he was in South Georgia on duty with General Wharton. He was captured at Dickenson, TN Sep 8, 1864 and sent to Camp Chase. He was released from Louisville, KY on Sep 17, 1864. In 1898 C.A. Allday was living in Cartersville, GA.4
Allen, James. He was a Pvt. Co A, discharged at Bowling Green5 by Dec 1861.6 No other information available (Service Record not checked), but many men got sick in the first few months with measles and pneumonia, and died or were discharged.
Aycock, John. He was discharged at Bowling Green Dec 1861.7 There is a Captain John Aycock buried in Powers Chapel Cemetery near Wilderville who was born in 1838 and died in 1863. This is thought to be the same John Aycock who recruited a Falls County company for Green's Regiment of Sibley's Brigade8, 5th Texas Cavalry. He may have first joined the Rangers then returned to Falls County.
Brown, Joseph. The Old settlers list him "Pvt., Co A, Harrison's Bgde, Wheeler's Div, enlisted Wilderville, TX Sep 61, lived at Wilderville."9 His service records10 show he was enlisted by Capt Harrison in Falls County, and record him as "left at camp very sick," Oct 26, 1861, and "reported from sick leave," Dec 31, 1861. He was present for duty through June 29, 1863. He was then absent and at the hospital in Atlanta from 1 Feb through May 14, 1863 although he was "entitled to pay for himself and horse from Oct 31, 1862 to May 19, 1863." He was again reported at the Atlanta hospital from Aug 1, 1863 through Feb 1864. No other information available.
Capeheart, James. The Old Settlers list him as "James Capheart, Pvt., Co A, Harrison's Bgde, Wheeler's Div, enlisted Wilderville, TX Sep 61, lived at Wilderville."11 J.C. Capeheart's Service Record12 shows he was recruited by Capt Harrison in Falls County on Sept 10, 1861. He was sick at Nashville, reporting for duty Nov 3, 1861. He was discharged in Aug 1862. No other information available.
Davison, E.F.(Elijah) The Old Settlers list him as "Pvt., Co A, Wheeler's Div, Harrison's Bgde, enlisted Falls Co,TX 1861, lived at Westphalia."13 Elijah F. Davison's Service Records14 show he was enlisted by Capt Harrison in Falls County on Sept 16, 1861, and that he was present for duty through the last recorded official record, Feb 1864. Born Feb 17, 1822 he was an early Falls Co pioneer, arriving in 1853. He was wounded at Elk River, TN in May 1862 and was out of action for about a month while remaining with the Rangers. He refused to surrender with the Terry Rangers at the end of the war, and made his way back to Falls County.15 He died in Marlin June 11, 1910 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Marlin.
Denton, B.F. He enlisted in Falls Co according to Claiborne.16 His service records17 reflect he was from Burleson County, but Captain Thomas Harrison signed up other Burleson County men when he was in Falls County recruiting for his company.18 Denton's service record shows he fought with the Rangers continuously through the last officially recorded service period in Feb 1864 and was promoted to 1st corporal in May 1863. No other information available.
Evans, W.H. Shown by Claiborne as "absent."19 Scott lists him as absent without leave in March 1862.20 No other information (service record not checked).
Folk (Foak), James H.(Jim) The Old Settlers list James Folk as "Pvt., Co A, Harrison's Bgde, Wheeler's Div, enlisted Wilderville, TX Sep 1861, lived in Wilderville."21 His service record22 lists him as James Foak, recruited by Capt Harrison in Falls County on Sept 10, 1861. He was sick in Nashville until Nov 20. He is then listed as present through the last official records in Feb 1864. He was born in 1845 and is buried in Powers Chapel Cemetery23 (no headstone).
Gott, S.S.(Sam) The Old Settlers list him as "Sgt, Co A, Harrison's Bgde, Wheeler's Div, enlisted Falls Co, TX Aug 1861, lived in Lott."24 Sam Gott's service record25 shows he was enlisted by Capt Harrison in Falls County on Sept 10, 1861. He was appointed 4th Corporal on Oct 26, 1861 at Camp Johnston, Bowling Green. He was on sick leave at a private house near Bowling Green, KY in November until reporting for duty Dec 12, 1861. He was appointed 4th Sergeant July 1, 1862 and was present for duty through the last official records in Feb 1864. Sam Gott was an early Falls County pioneer, arriving in 1854. He was born in Logan Co., Illinois January 16, 1836 and died in Falls Co. March 20, 1914.26 His marker is in Powers Chapel Cemetery.
Gott, Ab (Al). The Old Settlers list him as "Ab Gott, Pvt., Harrison's Bgde, Wheeler's Div, enlisted Wilderville, TX Sept 1861, lived in Wilderville."27 His brother, Sam Gott above, called him Al. His service record28 shows A.M. Gott present for duty through the last official record, Feb 1864. He was promoted to 4th Corporal by Dec 1863. In 1898, Al Gott was living in Alta, Cherokee Nation (OK).29
Jones, W.H.(Billy) The Old Settlers list him as "2Lt, Co A, Harrison's Bgde, Wheeler's Div, enlisted Marlin, TX 7 Sep 61, lived in Marlin."30 His service records31 show he was enlisted by Capt Harrison on Sept 20, 1861. He was elected 2nd Lieutenant during the initial organization of the regiment in Oct 1861. He was on sick leave in Nov and Dec at a private home near Bowling Green, KY until able for duty Dec 21, 1861. Billy Jones was present for duty during all of 1862 and 1863 until critically wounded at Mossy Creek, TN on Jan 12, 1864. He was assigned to the Invalid Corps Enrolling Service in Alabama until he was surrendered with General Taylor's army on June 6, 1865. Billy Jones was probably wounded in a skirmish with the First Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment32 where he received a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Billy Jones came to Falls County in 1853 with his father, Churchill Jones. He was educated at the Rudersville Military Academy near LaGrange.33 He was born in Conecuh Co., AL Aug 13, 1842 and died in St. Louis Sept 9, 1912 returning home from VA. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Marlin.
Pierson, John H. He is listed by Claiborne as "discharged Murfreesboro.34 John Pierson's service record35 shows that he was enlisted by Capt Harrison in Falls Co on Sep 10, 1861. He was medically discharged Feb 26, 1862. His discharge certificate shows he was born in Union County, KY; his age was 45 years, and he was suffering from rheumation and chronic diarrhea. John Hogue Pierson was the son of John Goodloe Warren Pierson, a Falls County early pioneer. John H. Pierson was born April 17, 1817 and died about 1867 in Falls County.36 Thought to be buried at Cedar Springs.
Pool, J.C. He is listed by Claiborne as "absent."37 Service records38 show a J.B. Pool was enlisted by Capt Harrison in Marlin, Sept 1861 and show him present for duty through Dec 1861. The records switch to J.C. Pool and show him absent without leave by Aug 1862. A letter in his service records indicate a Johnathan Burleson Pool from Falls county enlisted in Wallers Regiment in Aug 1862. There is a Jonathan Cochran Poole from Falls County, born 1806, who was a veteran of both the Texas Revolution and the Civil War (unit unknown). He had two sons, Jonathan Burleson Pool, born 1843, and Jonathan Cochran Pool, born ca 1845.39 No other information available.
Pruett, T.J.(Thomas). The Old Settlers list him as "Pvt., Co A, Harrison's Bgde, Wheeler's Div, enlisted Falls Co, TX Sep 61, lived in Reagan."40 His service records41 show that he was recruited by Capt Harrison in Falls County on Sep 10, 1861. He was sick in Nashville until able for duty on Nov 3, 1861. He was present for duty through the last official records in Feb 1864. He was present at the 1898 Ranger reunion42 and was still alive when Sam Gott died in March of 1914.43 He is buried in the Covington Cemetery near Reagan, TX, but there are no dates on his gravestone.
Robinson, A.(Austin). The Old Settlers list him as "Pvt., Co A, Harrison's Bgde, Wheeler's Div, enlisted Falls Co, TX 7 Sep 61, lived in Reagan."44 Austin Robinson's service record45 reflects that he was enlisted by Capt Harrison in McLennan County on Sept 1, 1861. He was present and due back pay on May 14, 1863. He was present for the last official record in Feb 1864. Austin Robinson was wounded at Salt River, KY in (the first week of) October, 1862. Shot through the side, he was "left on the field to die at the hands of the enemy." He was captured and taken to Bardstown where he recovered until being exchanged at Vicksburg in the Spring of 1863. He fought with the Rangers for the remainder of the war and surrendered in North Carolina.46 Austin Robinson was an early Falls County pioneer, arriving in 1851 as one of five overseers for the initial Churchill Jones Falls Plantation.47 Austin Robinson was born in VA Feb 28, 1828 and died in Falls Co. Aug 8, 1897. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Marlin.
Smolker, Frank. His service record shows he was enlisted by Capt Harrison in Falls County in Sept 1861. He was present for duty in Dec 1861, but was reported in Aug 1862 and May 1863 as "supposed dead."48 Scott's information is that he was wounded at Shiloh, April 1862, and died.49
Thompson, D.G. He is recorded by Claiborne as 4th Sergeant, died at Nashville.50 Service records show he was enlisted by Capt Harrison on Sept 10, 1861. He was elected 4th Sergerant in the initial organization of the regiment in Oct 1861. He was returned to the ranks at his own request on Oct 26, 1861. He died at the hospital in Nashville on Nov 29, 1861.51
Harrison, Thomas. He was born May 1, 1823 in Jefferson County, AL. He moved to Monroe County, MS with his family in 1835. He moved to Texas in 1843, then returned to Mississippi to enter the Mexican War (about 1846/47) as a member of the 1st Mississippi Rifles serving with Jefferson Davis. Returning to Texas, he served in the Texas State legislature as a representative from Harris County.52 He then moved to Marlin where he was a young lawyer representing Churchill Jones and others between the years 1853-1855.53 He then settled in Waco, McLennan County, where he served as a Captain in the Volunteer Militia.54 When B.F. Terry issued a call for volunteers for a Texas cavalry regiment on Aug 12, 1861, he solicited Harrison to enlist a company from McLennan and surrounding counties.55 Although some Falls County men may have gone to Waco to enlist earlier (e.g. Austin Robinson), the men's service records reflect that Harrison signed up recruits in Marlin and in Wilderville on Sept 10, 1861. Initially a captain and commander of Company A, he was elected to major in the first regimental staff organization. He was promoted to brigadier general Feb 18, 1865. He was paroled at Macon, GA on May 31, 1865.56 General Thomas Harrison commanded the Rangers, either directly or as a brigade or division commander, from Nov 1862 through the end of the Civil War. He returned to Waco, was elected District Judge, and was a democratic Presidential Elector in 1872. He died 14 July 1891 and is buried in Waco.57
Albertson, W.H. The Old Settlers list him as "Pvt., Company H, 8th Cavalry, Harrison's Brigade, Wheeler's Division, enlisted at Richmond, TX, July 1862, lived in Lake Charles, LA. and Falls County after the war."58 Scott shows he was born in North Carolina, enlisted in Wharton County, and was captured near Dandridge, TN in January 1864.59
Hooper, F.F. The Old Settlers list him as "Pvt., Company F, Harrison's Brigade, Wheeler's Division, enlisted at LaGrange May 1861, lived in Calvert."60 Scott shows him from Austin County and that he was wounded in April 1865.61
1 Eddins, Roy, Editor, History of Falls County, Texas, privately published, 1947 (hereafter listed as "Eddins"), page 134
2 National Archives Military Service Records, Confederate Forces, 8th Cavalry, Texas (hereafter referred to as "Service Records"), Charles A. Allday
3 Scott, Paul Robert, Masters Thesis, "Eighth Texas Cavalry, CSA," The University of Texas at Arlington, July 1977 (hereafter referred to as "Scott"), page 225
4 Logan, Alonzo T., "Roster of Terry's Texas Rangers from the 29th Annual Reunion, June 2, 1898 (hereafter referred to as "Logan")
5 Claiborne, Jonathan M., "Muster Roll of Terry's Texas Rangers; With Historical Remarks," Feb 20, 1882 Reunion (hereafter referred to as "Claiborne")
10 Service Records, Joseph Brown
12 Service Record, J.C. Capeheart
14 Service Record, E.F. Davison
15 Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World, A Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell Counties, Texas, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, IL 1893 (hereafter referred to as "Pen Pictures"), page 184
17 Service Records, B.F. Denton
18 Eddins, page 134 (see Allday)
23 Research by John Pearson, Wilderville, 1988.
26 Gott, Samuel S., "S.S. Gott, Experience Of An Old Pioneer," The Weekly Tribune, Lott, TX, April 3, 1914 (hereafter referred to as "Gott")
32 War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Washington Government Printing Office, 1891
35 Service Record, John H. Pierson
36 Families of Falls County, compiled by the Falls County Historical Commission, Eakin Press, Austin, TX, 1987 (hereafter referred to as "Families"), page 357
41 Service Records, Thos. J. Pruett
45 Service Record, A.R. Robinson
47 Oltorf, Frank Calvert, The Marlin Compound, The University of Texas Press, Austin, TX, 1968 (hereafter referred to as "Oltorf"), page 47
48 Service Record, Frank Smolker
51 Service Record, D.G. Thompson
52 Sarrafian, Katherine H., The Harrison Family of Texas, 1830-1966, Waco, Texas, 1966 (hereafter referred to as "Sarrafian")
55 Cutrer, Thomas W. (edited by), Terry Texas Ranger Trilogy, State House Press, Austin, TX 1996
56 Service Record, Thomas harrison