Civil War Battlefields in Texas

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By J D Murrah


April is Confederate History Month in Texas

April is Confederate History Month. This month is celebrated across the Southern States, including Texas. The State Legislatures of each of the Southern States have officially set aside designated April as Confederate History Month. Texas passed the legislation in 1999 giving April desingation as Confederate History Month. Although Texas was a part of the Confederate States, few people realize the extensive number of battles fought within the limits of Texas.

Many textbooks gloss over or fail to mention the number of battles or the significance, both militarily and politically of the battle fought in Texas. Texas continues mainating several monuments on the grounds of the State Capitol in Austin in honor of the accomplishments of those Texas soldiers who sacrificed so much.

The battles in Texas were fought against Indians, Mexican invaders, and Union invasions as well. Texas has the distinction of having the only port (Galveston) still open to blockade runners at the close of the war.


Banner used by the Fifth Texas Infantry. Notice the emphasis on the lone star motif. The Fifth Texas Infantry served in such battles as Chancellorsville, Fredricksburg, Gettysburg, Sharpsburg, Chickamauga and Cold Harbor
Banner used by the Fifth Texas Infantry. Notice the emphasis on the lone star motif. The Fifth Texas Infantry served in such battles as Chancellorsville, Fredricksburg, Gettysburg, Sharpsburg, Chickamauga and Cold Harbor

Whiskey & Fightin'

In one of the bombardments of Corpus Christi, the naval forces shelling the city used cannonballs filled with whiskey. One of the sailors had hidden a supply of the liquor in the hollowed out cannon balls stored on the ship. Whiskey also played a role in the capture of Fort Bliss. When the Yankee soldiers departed from the fort, instead of loading their canteens with water, they were loaded with whiskey. When the Confederate troops encountered the inebriated soldiers, they soon surrendered.

During the battle of Sabine Pass, the local hotel matron, supplied the Confederate forces with hot donuts, coffee and whiskey. The supplies kept the Confederate defenders in good morale, as runners braved the bombardment with fresh supplies on a regular basis.

Texas Unit Flag Preferences

Many Texas units preferred this type of St. Andrews style cross pattern with the prominent large star in the center. This style also did not have the white piping that separated the red and blue areas of the flag.
Many Texas units preferred this type of St. Andrews style cross pattern with the prominent large star in the center. This style also did not have the white piping that separated the red and blue areas of the flag.

John Reagan of Palestine, Texas:Postmaster of the Confederatte States of America

Battle of Laredo is still important

"Here is another article that illustrates the seriousness of the emergency along our border. You do not need to go to Iraq to see the war on terror, you can go to Laredo. Ask any law enforcement officer who serves along the Rio Grande and they will confirm that there is a full scale war going on down there. I have just returned from a tour of the area, guided by border county sheriffs, and I am now convinced that the battle for Laredo is as important strategically as the battle of Gettysburg was during the Civil War. "-Congressman John Culberson-US Representative 7th Congressional District

Civil War Battles Fought in Texas

Battles Fought in Texas

Aransas Bay, February 22, April 22, July 7-17, 1862

Aransas Pass, February 11-13, 1862, November 17, 1863

Beaumont, October 2, 1861

Fort Belknap, October 13-20, 1864

Fort Bliss, March 31, August, 1861

Brazos Santiago, February 21, 1861, August 4-15, September 6, 1864 May 11-14, 1865

Fort Brown, March 20, 1861

Brownsville, November 6, 1863, July 30, 1864

Caney Bayou, January 8-9, February 7, 1864

Cedar Bayou, November 23, 1863

Fort Chadbourne, February 28, 1861

Fort Clark, August 10, 1862

Camp Colorado, February 20, 26, 1861

Concho River, January 8, 1865

Camp Cooper, February 21, 1861

Corpus Christi, August 16-18, 1862, March 17-22, 1864

Fort Davis, April 13, 1861

Dove Creek, January 8, 1865

Fort Duncan, March 20, 1861

Eagle Pass, June 19, 1864

Elm Creek, October 13, 1864

Fort Esperanza, November 22-30, 1863

Flour Bluffs, September 13-14, 1862

Galveston, January 1, 1863

Galveston Harbor, November 7, 1862

Indianola, April 25, 1861, February 22, 1864

Fort Inge, March 19, October 11-16, 1861

Fort Lancaster, March 19, 1861

Laredo, March 19, 1864

Los Patricios, March 13, 1864

Fort McIntosh, March 12, 1861

Matagorda Bay, December 29-30, 1863, April 12-13, 1864

Matagorda Peninsula, December 29, 1863, January 21-25, 1864

Mustang Island, November 17, 1863

Northwestern Texas, April 30, September 20, 1862

Nueces River, August 10, 1862

Palmitto Ranch, September 6, 1864, May 12-13, 1865

Pass Cavallo, June, 1864

Rio Grande River May 29, 1865, November 16, 1866

Sabine Pass, January 24, September 7, 1863

San Antonio Arsenal and Barracks, February 16, 1861

San Lucas Springs, March 9, 1861

Taylor’s Bayou, September 27, 1862

Camp Verde July 22, 1862


The medals awarded to the Davis Guards were struck from silver Mexican Peso coins. Only seven are known to be in existence.
The medals awarded to the Davis Guards were struck from silver Mexican Peso coins. Only seven are known to be in existence.

The Davis Guards Medal

The Davis Medal was the only medal awarded by the Confederate government. President Jefferson Davis ordered it be struck. Citizens of the city of Houston paid for the medals. They consisted of mexican silver peso coins which had been smoothed and engraved. The medals for the officers were made of gold.

Many of these battles were the defense of coastal areas from naval bombardments from the Union fleet.

Texas and Florida were the only Confederate States whose State Capitols of Austin and Tallahassee were never occupied during the war.

One of the most remarkable battles was that of Sabine Pass, where 52 Confederate defenders turned back an invading force of 5,000 Union troops. The Confederates managed capturing several boats with no casualties in this action.Governor Pendleton Murrah referred to it as the Thermopolaye of Texas. In recognition of their achievement a medal was struck for those men who fought in the battle. It was one of the few military medals awarded by the Confederate government.

The Confederate Monument in Austin

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