7th TEXAS CAVALRY
The 7th Texas Cavalry, is a group of Civil War re-enactors based in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Our historical impression is that of the 7th Texas Cavalry, a Confederate cavalry regiment that served in the Department of the Trans-Mississippi during the Civil War.
In battle, our mounted troops support our dismounted troops and, at times, dismount and fight beside them. We are proud to be one of the few cavalry units in Civil War re-enacting that consists of both mounted and dismounted troops who work together as one unit on the battlefield. This gives us the opportunity to present a unique cavalry impression that is not ordinarily seen at re-enactments.
It is our common goal as re-enactors to educate the general public about the events and the people who shaped the conduct and the final outcome of the Civil War. Presenting an authentic portrayal, on and off the field, is our mission.
When in camp, on the battlefield, or on the march, you will be portraying a member; either mounted or dismounted, of the 7th Texas Cavalry, with a distinguished record as one of the best fighting outfits raised in Texas during the war. A very brief history follows, highlighting the actions of the 7th Texas Cavalry.
The 7th Texas Cavalry has a very proud heritage. They were with Sibley's Brigade in the Confederate Army's push to wrest control of the Western United States from the Union Army in the autumn of 1861. In time the 7th Texas would turn to the eastern arena and participate in many battles. In the East, in the heat and smoke of fierce combat, it would emerge as one of the best mounted regiments in the CSA. Its Regimental Colonel, Arthur P. Bagby, was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General (see biographical sketch below). During the Civil War, many mounted regiments that began as cavalry were often, by command, unhorsed and made into infantry. Not so the 7th. This regiment entered the war horsed and ended the war horsed because of its exemplary performance in the field.
The 7th served proudly in both the East and West including the Red River Campaign, The Battle of Pleasant Hill, Mansfield and others.
The new recruits typically provided their own horses, tack, and weapons. At that time, swords were the exception; most carried a variety of pistols, shotguns, and long rifles brought from home.
ARTHUR PENDLETON BAGBY
Upon the eruption of the Civil War he joined the Confederate Army and raised the first company of men from the Victoria area for the cause. He served as a major, Seventh Regiment of Texas Mounted Volunteers, in Gen. Henry H. Sibley's Army of New Mexico. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in April 1862 and later to colonel. On January 1, 1863, he led his regiment in the battle of Galveston, in which his "Horse Marines" assisted in the capture of the federal ship Harriet Lane. In this encounter Bagby won, according to Gen. John B. Magruder, "imperishable renown." Bagby later served under generals Richard Taylor and Thomas Green in western Louisiana, where he was wounded in fighting along Bayou Teche on April 13, 1863. For his service in Louisiana E. Kirby Smith promoted him for gallantry in action to brigadier general in early 1864, although the rank was not approved in Richmond.
Nevertheless, Bagby's cavalry brigade, formerly Sibley's Brigade, in which Bagby served during the invasion of New Mexico in 1862, was one of the best mounted commands in the Trans-Mississippi Department. It consisted of the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Texas Cavalry and Waller's Thirteenth Texas Cavalry Battalion. In the Red River campaign at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill in 1864, Bagby also assumed command of Augustus C. Buchel's cavalry brigade, which consisted of the First and Thirty-fifth Texas Cavalry and Terrell's Texas Cavalry. Bagby commanded a brigade under Hamilton P. Bee in late April and early May 1864, before replacing Bee in command of the cavalry division in mid-May to harass the Union retreat. Following the surrenders of Lee and Johnston, E. Kirby Smith assigned Bagby to duty as major general on May 16, 1865. He was placed in command of all cavalry forces in Louisiana and held that post until the surrender of the Trans-Mississippi Department.
You
will hear the term “farby” tossed around on a regular basis. There are many
theories as to how the term originated. It doesn’t matter how it originated, as
long as you understand two things:
o It is not a compliment
o You do not ever want to be referred to as “farby.”
In simple terms, farby means “FAR Below standard!” It means that either you and/or some part of your uniform, equipment, accoutrements, etc., are NOT PERIOD CORRECT! There are literally hundreds of violations possible, ranging from the wearing of a Fossil watch to wearing Justin ropers. If you are a serious re-enactor, you will thoroughly research the troopers whom you are attempting to accurately portray and study their uniforms, arms, equipment, etc. Don’t discredit the honor of our Confederate forebears in The 7th Texas Cavalry by looking like something from a bad Hollywood movie. If you do, be prepared for some not-so-subtle commentary from your comrades in the ranks. Everyone wants to stand out from the herd and be recognized, but not as a farby geek poster boy. Do your homework! It is the aim of the 7th Texas Cavalry to portray, as accurately as possible, a Texas cavalry unit of the Trans-Mississippi Department during the Civil War.
There are numerous excellent reference books available to help you avoid the farby trap. One of the best reference sources is “Echoes of Glory.” Ask your NCOs or your comrades.
The best way to learn any new job, or in this case, hobby, is to plunge right in and get some experience under your belt. Here are a few tips that will make your transition from raw recruit to seasoned trooper a smooth one.
o If you are not already in good physical condition, start working on it now. Re-enacting can be, and often is, physically challenging – especially in the summer months. Even seasoned troopers who are in good condition sometimes become casualties of heat prostration and dehydration. This is important for drill, but it is even more so when participating in a large national event. Depending on the flow of the battle, you may find yourself in 100-degree heat, quick-timing all over the battlefield, in a wool uniform and toting a heavy rifle and “cooters.” If you are not in good shape, you could become a casualty – a REAL casualty! Start getting in shape now!
o Always ask questions if you aren’t sure about something. Ask your NCOs or ask your pards. There are NO dumb questions! We all started out as greenhorn recruits; there is no shame in that. But, if you don’t ask ... you don’t learn!
o Always prepare for every event, whether it is a routine weekend drill or a national event. Inventory your gear well in advance and check it out. Make sure you have everything you need for the weekend. Make allowances for the weather (rain, cold, heat). Ensure that your weapons (musket and pistols) are clean and in proper working order. Always make sure you have an adequate supply of cartridges and caps.
o DO NOT show up unprepared! If you are a lazy slug and didn’t roll any cartridges, didn’t bring caps, or didn’t think to pack any food or extra water, you probably will rely on mooching from your pards in the ranks. DON’T! It’s a good way to get a bad reputation in a hurry. Prepare yourself.
o Always volunteer for work details. This sounds crazy because, as we have always been taught, “never volunteer for anything.” The 7th Texas Cavalry is not just a unit ... it is a team! On a team, everyone shoulders their fair share of the load. When you volunteer, you set a good example for the others. And, it’s always better to volunteer than to be volunteered. When you volunteer, you are basically choosing your work detail. If you wait to “be volunteered,” you may wind up hauling water for horses or chopping firewood. Don’t be a slacker; there is no worse reputation to have.
o Always keep your campsite neat and period-correct. Do not leave farby items such as coolers, soft drink cans, or fast food bags/wrappers outside your tent. If you must have a cooler, there are “correct” canvas, wood, and burlap covers available from the sutlers. Avoid modern-day kerosene or Coleman lanterns. Candle lanterns are preferred. If you must have a flashlight, use it only inside your tent. Please ... NO cell phones or boom boxes in view at any time.
o NEVER go by yourself to the sutlers area to make a major purchase, i.e., uniform, musket, pistol, tent. Always talk to an NCO or officer first, if possible, and have them go with you when you intend to make a purchase. It is all too easy for a recruit or new member to buy something that is incorrect, overpriced, or nonreturnable. It can be an expensive lesson.
o When you arrive in camp or at a weekend drill, the very minute you arrive make a mental adjustment. Change your mindset. You have just left “modem civilization” and stepped back in time. You are now a trooper in The 7th Texas Cavalry. It is now the 1860s, and you are at war with the cursed Yankees. If you’re going to play the part, you first have to “think” the part. This is a vital part of doing an accurate, authentic, period-correct impression.
o Always pay attention to your officers, NCOs, and corporals, especially when in formation. This is not the time for joking, horsing around, talking, or goofing off. One of the reasons for holding formation is to pass vital information to the troops in the ranks. Be quiet and listen up; show respect for your leadership. If you don’t listen up in formation, then you probably won’t listen up in battle either. That’s a good way to get “killed” or captured.
o Respect the rights of others when in camp. When the 7th is in camp, it is not a frat party, and it is not a beer bust. If you’re not ready to turn in at a decent hour, respect the rights of your pards, who are trying to get some sleep. Keep the noise down and the fires low. With respect to drinking, there are established rules and regulations regarding the consumption of alcohol in camp. Ask your NCOs or officers for specifics. Basically, know your limits, don’t overindulge, and keep the alcohol out of sight or in a period-correct container. DO NOT EVER give alcohol to a minor; there are a lot of underage troopers in the 7th. If you become loud, rowdy, or uncontrollable, you will be escorted out of camp, and you will face disciplinary action. Historically, there was hardly ever any alcohol in camp. It was a scarce commodity, usually enjoyed by a few privileged high-ranking officers.
“Only three times while I was in the army did I know of whiskey being issued, and that was just three times too often. This time it proved to be a serious affair. We were camped in a wood. The drunken men began firing their guns. The balls were glancing in every direction through the timber. My diary says that, in this drunken spree, three men were killed and fifteen wounded in our own camp.”
Whether in camp or on the march, the 7th Texas Cavalry offers spiritual guidance to all members who are interested in an informal church service and fellowship with their comrades. Our chaplain, Trooper Ed Quick, conducts church services on Sundays when the 7th is participating in weekend events. Attendance is strictly voluntary.
“While in camp near Dalton, Georgia, a religious revival ‘sprang up.’ In the center of the meeting place, an old tree had been set afire while brush was being burned in the pre-revival clean-up. It had been smoking and burning for several days, and nobody seemed to notice it. During the sermon given by the Reverend J.G. Bolton of the 50th Tennessee, a ‘mourner’s bench’ had been placed in position for as many as ten men to kneel on as they poured out their ‘souls in prayer’. In the middle of the service, without warning, the burning tree fell with a crash right across the ten kneeling soldiers, crushing them to death. A bystander allowed as how ‘God had heard their prayers; their souls had been carried to Heaven.’ ”
To introduce the exciting world of Civil War re-enacting to young men ages 10 to 14 who are too young to be on the battlefield, the 7th Texas Cavalry is organizing a Cadet Corps. Membership in this group will provide them with a new and exciting activity and get them involved in re-enacting. Affordable uniforms are being designed. When complete, they will resemble uniforms used by cadets at West Point or VMI. In addition, members of the 7th Texas Cavalry will instruct these young men on how to be soldiers (drill, salute, battle skills, etc.). The cadets will be outfitted with wooden guns (at first) for the purpose of learning the manual of arms and staging mock skirmishes.
For further information, contact Major Kevin Keim.
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