as researched by George E. Otott Jr..
Company A, 1st Texas Infantry


Hood's Texas Brigade was a distinguished brigade in Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. According to Harold B. Simpson, historian of Hood's Texas Brigade, the Texas Brigade was to Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia what the Old Guard was to Napoleon and the Imperial Army of France--first in the advance--shock troops in battle--the rear guard in retreat.

The Civil War record of the Texas Brigade was magnificent. The Brigade fought in every battle engaged in by the Army of Northern Virginia except Chancellorsville, which it more than made up for by fighting at Chickamauga, Knoxville and Suffolk. The Texans fought in 38 engagements including six of the greatest battles of the war--Gaines' Mill, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, Chickamauga and the Wilderness. In all of these engagements, the men of the Brigade distinguished themselves and drew praise upon them from all who observed their conduct. Among those who praised them often was Robert E. Lee. Of all his troops, Lee favored the Texans the most and often referred to them as "My Texans." Several times during the war, Lee requested more Texas troops, once remarking that he relied on his Texas regiments "in all tight places." In October 1864, while waiting for some of his troops to form for an assault, Lee asked a staff officer if all commands were formed for the advance. "None but the Texas Brigade, General," answered the staff officer. Lee then said, "The Texas Brigade is always ready."

Just a glance at casualty figures for the Texas Brigade during the Civil War will show that the Texans were generally in the thickest of most fights which they were engaged. Total Civil War causalities for the 1st, 4th and 5th Texas regiments was nearly 62%. At Shaprsburg, the Texas Brigade had a casualty rate of 64.1%, the third highest battle loss of any brigade, Union or Confederate, during the war. In the same battle, the 1st Texas Infantry suffered the highest single battle loss of any regiment, Union or Confederate, during the war--82.3%.

The core around which the Texas Brigade was formed was the 1st Texas Infantry Regiment, originally composed of eight companies. The first of these companies was the Marion Rifles, or Company "A." In fact, the Marion Rifles were the first troops from the state of Texas to be mustered into the Confederate States service. Originally, mustering over 100 men and officers, the Marion Rifles surrendered only one officer and three men at Appomattox, the remainder having succumbed to combat, capture, disease and desertion during four years of service.

The history in which you are now reading was written for the re-enactors of Company "A," the Marion Rifles, 1st Texas Infantry. It is mostly a synopsis of the history of Hood's Texas Brigade supplemented with what little information regarding the 1st Texas and the Marion Rifles that could be found. The purpose of this material is to provide basic historical information regarding Company "A," 1st Texas Infantry for those of its members who do not have the means or the time to do the research themselves.