A Biography of HENRY W.(F) BRIDGES

COMPANY I, 6^TH TEXAS CAVALRY REGIMENT, CSA

Henry Bridges was the commander of a company of the 13^th Militia Brigade, Texas State Troops, a Texas Ranger company from the Dallas and Henderson County areas. After completing duties in the summer of 1861, he led them to the Fair Grounds in North Dallas and enrolled his company as Company I, 6^th Texas Cavalry Regiment, C. S. A. During the first few weeks, this company operated along side its sister companies and trained as a cavalry company. The regiment mustered on September 12, 1861 and before October had moved to the McKinney Area in Collin County. Next they started the trek to Ft Smith, Arkansas training all the way. The Regiment had been detailed to the Command of the Great Texas Soldier, General McCulloch in Arkansas and the Indian Territories. Before reaching Arkansas, they were to strip down for fast march to Fort Gibson, I.T. The remainder of the company wagons and trains followed. The detachment from the Sixth reached Fort Gibson and immediately prepared for a campaign against the Indians. On December 26, 1861, several units fought the Indians at Chusto Talasah, I.T. and again on December 29, through January 4, 1862 they engaged in a running battle against Chief Hopo-eith-le-yo-ho-la in the Indian Territories. They won a decisive battle against the Union led Indians.

Then they moved to Flat Rock Creek, Missouri, their winter camp, bringing with them, the measles which caused deaths daily until the spring came. The next battle occurred March 4-5, 1862 at Elkhorn, Tavern. Though involved in the first skirmish, they received no farther orders thus missed the remainder of the battle. Two senior commanders had been killed (General McCulloch and General McIntosh) and a division commander was captured, thus creating problems in command and control. Company I assisted in the rear guard during the retreat from Elkhorn Tavern. Next they were part of the first battle at Corinth on April 29 and 30. Though more of an artillery battle, and retreat by the Union forces, than a real battle it showed the 6^th what some of the future battles would be like. They pursued the retreating Union forces to Boonsville, MS until May 12, 1862 when they ran up against superior forces and were told to return to Corinth and then further south to Granada, Mississippi. In the area of Tupelo the unit reorganized and selected leaders for the upcoming battles. Captain Bridges was re-elected, two Lieutenants were dropped from rolls and one returned to the enlisted ranks. Then the unit was reorganized to fight as Infantry and their horses were sent back to Texas. Colonel Ross, the new Sixth Commander designated Company I as a sharpshooter company because of a directive from General Van Dorn and Colonel Phifer their new leaders. Their training continued throughout the summer, with Major Bridges now in charge of a small battalion made up of Company I or the 6^th and Company H of the 9^th Texas Cavalry. In July they received several replacements from other companies of the regiment to augment their sharpshooter role. On August 1, 1862 the battalion was attached to Colonel Ras Stirman’s Arkansas Sharpshooter Regiment and Bridges was promoted to Lt. Col. Second in command. Though expecting to fight, Phifer’s Brigade was not close enough to help General Gate’s Division, when it ran head on into the Union forces at Iuka. Van Dorn’s Corps moved away to the south and west and returned to their original goal of Corinth. To throw the Union forces off they planned to attack from the Northwest. On October 3^rd, Stirman’s Regiment was almost in the middle of the Confederate force and were operating as line Infantry. They should have been employed across the brigade front as skirmishers. As it was, they attacked the artillery battery to their front manned by the 10^th Ohio and captured it and continued to move forward. Company I had started with almost 33 troops and had lost a great number of that wounded or killed when they reached the center of town. They did not know that they had forced Gen. Rosecrans out of his headquarters. Reinforcement and a strong push might have captured Rosecrans, but reinforcement did not come and the sharpshooters had to retreat in the face of two new reinforcing Union Divisions.

The next morning the Corps moved slowly, but eventually made Hatchie Bridge. The 1^st Texas Legion and Moore’s Brigade had crossed when they came under heavy fire. Quickly they realized that they had run up against a stronger force. Both units were being cut to pieces. Stirman’s Sharpshooters followed by the 6^th were crossing the bridge, when Gen. Maury came running back from the front saying to Ras Stirman and Lawrence Ross to get back across the bridge. Suddenly fire began to come from the flank and everyone but those around Ross began to rush back. Some jumped into the river and drowned. Pvt. Robert A. Nolan of Company I had his arm broke either by cannon fire or the jump down a deep embankment and was captured in the wild action that occurred . Within a few days he was paroled and caught up with Company I. Many of the Sixth and Sterman’s Regiment made it back across the bridge and began to set up covering fire from the bank. Finally Ross fighting a delaying battle withdrew across the bridge and joined the defense. Then the 9^th Texas came up along with Cabell’s Brigade and an artillery battery to provide additional support. Now it was the Union time for receiving the battle. As the ruminants of Whitfield Regiment and Moore’s Brigade came back to the bridge, the large force that had dug in on the bluff over looking the river and bridge, began to mow down the Union forces as they came forward. The Union commander sent three regiments into this meat grinder before he went forward and was killed. The next Union commander chose to stand and shoot and not cross the bridge, thus allowing Van Dorn to move his Corps south and west to cross a mill dam that was to serve as the corps bridge. The defense by the 6^th and Sharpshooters was costly, but it allowed the corps to fight another day. Company I went into this battle with thirty three present for duty, and returned with twelve. Twenty one were killed, wounded or missing.

When the companies returned to Holly Springs, they began a period of rest and drill. The horses were brought back from Texas and all companies prepared for a raid on Holly Springs. Company I returned to the 6^th and was part of the raid, but little is known of it’s actually accomplishments. It is known that the 6^th charged into town with Lt. Col. Griffith leading the way. The Regiment traveled light, and left wounded behind with the wagons. The size of the regiment and Company I, are facts to be found, and more than likely, Company I was fairly small. Company H of the 9^th took forty men to fight at Corinth and came out with 1 killed, 16 wounded and 8 missing after Hatchie Bridge. That left 15 fully capable to fight. Normally some of the missing returned in a day or so, or were paroled when well enough to travel. If Company I faired somewhat worse as they took thirty three and had twenty one killed, wounded or loss. They may have had 50 men available for the raid. Company H of the 9^th may have had 50. The return of the horses also brought some new recruits who were sorely needed. Also the men who had taken the horses returned. After Corinth there had been another reorganization. The 3^rd , 6^th, 9^th and 27^th Texas Cavalry Regiments were formed into a brigade under the command of Colonel Whitfield of the 27^th. The total brigade strength for the Holly Springs Raid was about 1800. The Texas brigade went on with Gen. Van Dorn into Tennessee and destroyed railroad’s and infrastructure with the Yankee’s Cavalry looking for them every foot of the way.

After Holly Springs the Regiment moved into Tennessee to Spring Hill. Here they trained, skirmished and in March they were at Spring Hill and Thompson Station a great win for the Ross’ Texas Brigade, with the 6^th in the middle of the battle.

In April 1863, Major White with a detachment fought against Union Naval forces on the Duck River Island engagement. Major White was killed April the26th. The same Robert Nolan listed above at Hatchie Bridge has several notations of detached service with Major White. It is likely that other members of Company I were there also at this battle.

Next the unit was sent back to Mississippi to help in the relief of the siege of Vicksburg. On July 16^th, 1863, Companies G and I were skirmishing with enemy cavalry near Clinton, MS, and on the 20^th. Within days the 6^th was moving against a Union Cavalry corps raid from Memphis Tennessee down the railroad toward Alabama. Ross’ took part of the 6^th Texas and the 3^rd Mississippi Cavalry 200 miles east and so harassed this Corps raid, that the corps returned to Memphis thinking it had run up against a Division. These units and Ross received great praise.

A report by Major General Stephen D. Lee said Major Henry F.(W) Bridges was killed commanding a detachment of two companies providing security for General Lee near Yazoo City, MS, on February 4, 1864. A write up of this report is found in the Southern Historical Society documents. General Less said, ”I feel confident, however, that this gallant officer acted with judgment and to the best interests of the service. On the 24th I ordered General Jackson, with his own division and Ferguson's brigade, to move towards Canton and harass General Sherman, who was then retiring from Meridian towards Vicksburg. General Jackson encountered the enemy near Sharon, driving in his foraging parties and hastening his march to Vicksburg. His work was well done, capturing about 20 wagons, and killing and capturing about 200 of the enemy, the last of whose forces recrossed the Big Black on the 4th of March. Brigadier-General Ross, with his brigade of Texans, was sent to the (page 101 Operations of the Cavalry in Mississippi.)

Yazoo country by Brigadier-General Jackson, and Richardson's brigade of Tennesseeans

and Forrest's cavalry were sent by my order to Grenada, from Starksville on the 24th.

General Ross, about the 28th of February, while going into camp near Benton, was

charged by about 80 negro cavalry from Yazoo City. About an equal number of the

Texans charged them, and before they got to Yazoo City (10 miles), 75 of the negroes

were caught and killed, as they continued to offer resistance and to run. On the 5th of

March, Brigadier-Generals Richardson and Ross, cooperating, attached Yazoo City,

drove the enemy from all the redoubts except one, and took possession of the city,

capturing many stores and a few prisoners. The enemy having concentrated in the

strongest redoubt, it was not considered prudent to assault it, as it was defended by about

400 infantry and surrounded by a ditch. Generals Ross and Richardson retired from the

city about sunset, and the enemy evacuated the place the next day. This was a gallant

affair and caused the enemy to withdraw from the Yazoo river. I cannot speak in too high

terms of the officers and men of my command. They were in the saddle almost

continually from the 1st of February to the 4th of March, undergoing great fatigue and

fighting a large army of infantry (for Sherman had only a brigade of cavalry with him),

with a gallantry and spirit which cannot be too highly commended. I would especially

commend to the favorable notice of the Lieutenant-General commanding, the good

conduct and soldierly qualities of Brigadier-General W. H. Jackson, commanding a

division, to whose assistant and action much of the credit of the recent campaign is due.

Brigadier-General W. H. Jackson, commanding a division, to whose assistance and action

much of the credit of the recent campaign is due. Brigadier-Generals Adams and Ross

and Ferguson deserve my tanks for their distinguished gallantry on the field and the able

management of their commands. Colonel P. B. Starke, commanding brigade, showed

skill and gallantry on every occasion, and won my confidence. For the parts taken by the

different regiments and for instances of individual gallantry, I refer to the enclosed

reports. I will, however, mention a few seeming to deserve especial notice. On the 4th of

February, near Bolton's depot, my position was being flanked by a cavalry brigade of the

enemy-seeing the danger, and to give time to meet the attack, Major W. H. Bridges, P. A.

C. S., was detached, with the two escort companies of General Jackson and myself,

numbering about 90 men. That gallant officer, with his select band, attacked the vastly

superior force of the enemy with a boldness and daring I have not witnessed before

during the war. The advance was checked and many lives saved by the good conduct of

that officer and the two companies. I regret to state that in effecting the object

(page102 Southern Historical Society Papers.) for which he was sent, he received a mortal wound, and is now lost to his country. A more daring spirit has not fallen during the war, nor one who has been more regretted by his comrades. Lieutenant Harvey, commanding scouts of Starke's brigade (40 in number), killed and captured 150 of the enemy, and he has established an enviable reputation for gallantry and efficiency. To the members of my personal staff, I am indebted for their gallantry and efficiency. I would particularly mention Major William Elliott, Assistant Adjutant-General, and Lieutenants J. D. McFarland, S. M. Underhill and N. S. Farish, Acting Aides. Major G. B. Dyer, C. S., and A. G. Quaite, Quarter-master, performed their duties to my satisfaction. Assistant Surgeon D. W. Boothe, Medical Department, was constantly with me, and, in addition to his regular duties, displayed gallantry in transmitting orders, under fire frequently. The loss of the enemy was about 400 prisoners and 300 killed and wounded. Enclosed are the reports of the General officers of my command, and a list of killed, wounded, &c.

I am, Colonel, yours respectfully,

S. D. LEE, Major-General.

The Company I’s list of field location after March of 63, are few with only a listing of in the field for May and June 1864. The only reason that can be found for this is that units were growing smaller and were beginning to operate together. Through out the Atlanta campaign in 1864, the regiment continually got smaller. After Atlanta fell the strength was about 218 men. This is about 2 companies. Eight companies of men were left behind as killed, wounded, sick from disease or dying from disease, or captured and a few had just gave up and gone home. Some quit and stayed were they were at the time and never went home. A recon conducted by several officers who no longer had enough men to consider a company included Captain H. W. Bridges. The entry is probably incorrect, because General Lee had noted Major Bridges killed before the Atlanta Campaign. Lt. Morrison of Company I was made a Captain in early 1865.

The company was paroled. The Sixth Texas Cavalry Regiment, CSA was included among the forces in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana surrendered at Citronelle, Alabama, on May 4, 1865. Records indicate that the Sixth Texas Cavalry Regiment was paroled at Jackson, MS in mid-May 1865.

Some soldiers went home. Others like the Nolan brothers went back to where they fought. Robert married a girl in north Mississippi in 1865. His brother, Tyre married in Elkton, Tennessee south of Spring Hill also in 1865. We don’t know whether they were there before the parole, but they were on the parole list.