West of the Mississippi with Waller's 13th Texas Cavalry Battalion, C S A (review)

BOOK REVIEWS73 in quest of economic improvement. The poverty was, nonetheless, real and the aspiration led to repeated frustration. "We might have gone to the poor house," Conklin reflected, "but there was none to go to." Conklin's narrative concludes with a recollection of his service during the Civil War. Caught up in a moment by the patriotic appeal of martial music, he enlisted without thought of wife and children. Later, temptation whispered "Why don't you go to Canada?" But, despising the labels "coward" and "traitor," Conklin turned his back on the north star temptor and marched south to duty. His regiment, the 81st New York, fought in the Peninsular Campaign of 1862. Wounded at the battle of Seven Pines, Conklin was discharged several months later. There his narrative abruptly ends. A handsome volume, well edited and illustrated, Through "Poverty 's Vale" will prove useful in a number of ways. Students interested in the life-style of an ordinary mid-nineteenth century American will be drawn to its many enlightening vignettes. Regional historians may rely on it for illustrating social history. Military historians will find in it a Civil War journal greatly enriched by the foregoing biographical narrative . Perhaps, most importantly, in Henry Conklin's autobiography, historians of America's nineteenth century "inarticulate" will find one of them speaking out for himself. Careful use of the census data and county records to chart mobility studies can be complemented by the recollections of a factor. Ralph E. Luker Allegheny College West of the Mississippi with Waller's 13th Texas Cavalry Battalion, CSA. Compiled and Edited by Charles Spurlin. (HiIIsboro, Texas: HiII Junior College, 1971. Pp. x, 99. $5.00.) A fortunate result of the Civil War centennial was a new emphasis on the role of the trans-Mississippi West in the Civil War. This volume, because of its unique qualities, is a significant contribution to the story. First, the Confederate unit under consideration has not previously had basic research study and can now assume a place of consequence in history among such noted Texas units as Hood's Brigade, Terry's Rangers, and Waul's Legion. Second, the study is remarkably complete, for it contains brief biographies of the battalion's principal officers, its complete history, a diary account covering a portion of its operations, and of considerable significance, a reconstruction of the muster rolls and service records of its members. The 13th Texas Cavalry Battalion of the Confederate States army was organized by Edwin Waller, Jr., in March, 1862, with volunteers from Goliad, Calhoun, Nueches, Falls, and Victoria counties. In July, 1862, the battalion entered Louisiana and soon successfully ambushed a unit of the Eight Vermont Infantry Regiment in the western section 74CIVIL WAR HISTORY of the state. At that juncture Major General Benjamin F. Butler, the Commander of the Department of the Gulf, decided to retaliate and eliminate Waller's Battalion. The Texans were caught by surprise at Bonnet Carre, where they were outmanned, outgunned, and routed. But Waller with the bulk of his command escaped capture by retreating through an almost impenetrable swamp, although the unit had to abandon horses, blankets, and haversacks. Success came in 1863 for Waller's men when they captured the Federal gunboat Diana, and at the sharp engagement at Camp Bisland, at Cheneyville, Fort Buchanan, Morgan's Ferry, and Sterling's Plantation . Waller's Battalion participated in the Federal Red River Campaign in the spring of 1864 and again distinguished itself in harassment and ambush engagements, especially at Moroville and Yellow Bayou. In September, 1864, the battalion moved into Arkansas, attacked a Federal detachment at DeVaIIs Bluff, and early in December was back in the Lone Star State. One final engagement remained, and that came on May 3, 1865, nearly a month after Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, when Waller's men surrounded and captured a Federal infantry regiment under the command of S. M. Baird. Thus ended the service of this successful and gallant Confederate cavalry battalion from Texas, a record heretofore untold. The editor and compiler has handled his subject definitively. His research is exhaustive and resourceful, and his writing is clear and enthusiastic . The only disappointment comes...