Role Of Texans At Battle Of Vicksburg To Be Explored Nov. 21

Texans’ role in the 1863 campaign to defend Vicksburg will be examined in a seminar to be held in Abilene, Texas, on Nov. 21. It is the only symposium held in Texas that focuses solely on the War Between the States.

 ABILENE, Texas — Texans’ role in the 1863 campaign to defend Vicksburg will be examined in a seminar to be held in Abilene, Texas, on Nov. 21. It is the only symposium held in Texas that focuses solely on the War Between the States.

Co-sponsored by the Hood’s Texas Brigade Association, Re-activated (HTBAR), the Department of History at McMurry University, and the Grady McWhiney Research Foundation, Inc., it features an impressive line-up of scholars. Book vendors and other exhibits, including displays of artifacts from the period of the war will be special highlights.

According to Martha Hartzog, President of HTBAR, men from this county and adjoining counties played an important part in the defense of the famous Mississippi city.

“Practically every county in North, East, Southeast, and Central Texas,” she noted, “sent soldiers who were involved in the campaign. This seminar will tell their story.”

Leading off the speakers will be the noted Ed Bearss, Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service, whose tenure at the Vicksburg Battlefield in Mississippi resulted in the raising of the USS Cairo.  

Speakers also include Charles Grear, Department of History at Prairie View A&M, who will explore the roles of the 2nd Texas Infantry, Waul’s Legion, and the 7th Texas Infantry in the Vicksburg Campaign.  Susannah Ural, Deparment of History, University of Southern Mississippi, will illustrate the effects of the two defeats at Vicksburg and Gettysburg through letters of soldiers serving in Hood’s Brigade;  

The relationship between Port Hudson and Vicksburg will be discussed by Dale K. Phillips, Superintendant of the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park; and Richard Lowe, Professor of History at North Texas University will feature Walker’s Texas Division and the attempt to relieve Vicksburg from the west.  

“Texas sent over 90,000 men to fight over the course of 1861-1865,” observed Don Frazier, CEO of the McWhiney Research Foundation, “and the fighting ability of all Texas sons is without peer in the annals of war.” Frazier adds that in the Vicksburg Campaign, Texas troops were heavily engaged in defending against a possible invasion of Texas by Union forces.  

In addition to the all-day seminar on Nov. 21, there will be a pre-event Friday evening, the 20th, which features a Lantern Lit Tour and Chuck Wagon Dinner at the Buffalo Gap Historic Village in nearby Buffalo Gap.

Cost for the seminar, which includes lunch is $50.00; the pre-event at Buffalo Gap will be $65.00.  

For information on registration, see the Hood’s Texas Brigade Association, Re-activated website at (www.hoodstexasbrigade.org), the Grady McWhiney Research Foundation Website at (www.mcwhiney.org), email Martha Hartzog at (m.hartzog@mail.utexas.edu) or call (512) 447-3881. Deadline for reservations is being extended until Nov. 13. Walk-ins to the seminar are accepted but lunch cannot be guaranteed.