Inspection Report of Carter's Texas Cavalry Brigade, Marmaduke's Division Oct. 1863

[Mississippian]

Continuing the Trans-Mississippi love fest from a few weeks ago, here is Carter's Texas Brigade. CSR of Capt. T. Newton:

Inspection Report of Texas Commands, Marmaduke's Division Oct 4th 1863:

21st Texas Cavalry, Col. Carter:

Officers present and absent: 46
Men present and absent: 605
Officers for Duty: 10
Men for Duty: 65
Men on Parade: 123
Present Mounted and Armed: 230
Present Dismounted and Armed: 7
Present Mounted and Unarmed: 53
Present Dismounted and Unarmed: 5
Gen'l Kind of Arms: Shotguns
Condition of Arms: Bad
Condition of Equipment: Tolerable
Condition of Horses: Excellent
Number of Wagons: 9
Condition of Transportation: Good

Maj. Morgans Squadron:

Officers present and absent: 8
Men present and absent: 48
Officers for Duty: 2
Men for Duty: 16
Men on Parade: 30
Present Mounted and Armed: 72
Present Dismounted and Armed: 1
Present Mounted and Unarmed: 11
Present Dismounted and Unarmed: 0
Gen'l Kind of Arms: Shotguns
Condition of Arms: Bad
Condition of Equipment: Tolerable
Condition of Horses: Excellent
Number of Wagons: 4
Condition of Transportation: Tolerable

Capt. McKie's Squadron:

Officers present and absent: 7
Men present and absent: 168
Officers for Duty: 5
Men for Duty: 30
Men on Parade: 65
Present Mounted and Armed: 79
Present Dismounted and Armed: 5
Present Mounted and Unarmed: 36
Present Dismounted and Unarmed: 3
Gen'l Kind of Arms: Shotguns
Condition of Arms: Tolerable
Condition of Equipment: Tolerable
Condition of Horses: Excellent
Number of Wagons: 5 + 1 Ambulance
Condition of Transportation: Tolerable

There is a written inspection report I will transcribe later, hard enough for me to read 19th Cent handwriting, harder after a couple of glasses of port wine....

Will MacDonald

[Mississippian]

Re: Inspection Report of Carter's Texas Cavalry Brigade, Marmaduke's Division Oct. 1863

Here are the relevant parts of the inspectors comments:

"....The present commander (Capt Rusk) is a good man, but not by any means your idea of an officer, general. Why yesterday was the first time the troops have been in line on any kind of parade for they don't know how long. They need a little exercise and excitement, they have lost their energy and spirits. All that is necessary for most of them is to revive that as they are performing no duties as soldiers & of course they have nothing else to do but sit, they will lose their pride as soldiers.
Carters Regiment presented 123 on parade, all seemed perfectly all seemed perfectly able to go through with the inspection, the solders reported only 40 of them for duty.
I would respectfully suggest, general, that this command, by all means, be put nearer your Hd Qrts. Amongst your troops, I believe it will have a good effect upon them, order every man to move with the command, except those really down (?) on their horses."

The report goes on to say that the battery attached to the brigade is having trouble getting volunteers to fill the ranks, and asks again that they be moved closer to HQ.

Will MacDonald

[Mark Choate]

Re: Inspection Report of Carter's Texas Cavalry Brigade, Marmaduke's Division Oct. 1863

Will,
I hope you did not hurt your eyes with the 19th Cent scribble transcription. Ha.

I do find this interesting as the inspector really dressed down Capt Rusk and rightfully so. Was Rusk inept and lacked the knowledge to lead the men or was he just lazy as to doing so? Will have to research that.

As always, thanks for the info.

Mark