General John W. Whitfield
Hallettsville, Lavaca County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Born Tennessee. Legislator. Went to Missouri 1853. Indian agent Kansas. Territory Kansas representative U.S. Congress 1854-57. Moved Texas before Civil War. Organized Lavaca County company for C.S.A. 1861, led 4th Battalion Texas Cavalry Pea Ridge, Ark. wounded battle Iuka, Miss. Leading legion. Made brigadier general 1863. Left command due to ill health, fall 1863. Lavaca County delegate to Texas constitutional conventions, 1866, 1875. A memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy Erected by the State of Texas 1963 Whitfield's Legion, C.S.A. Originated with Cavalry company organized by Capt. J. W. Whitfield in Lavaca County 1861. Joined C.S.A. troops in Missouri to put Missouri, Kansas in Confederacy. Became part 4th Battalion Texas Cavalry participating Battle Pea Ridge, Ark. Mar. 1862. Organized as 27th Texas Cavalry Regt., commonly called "Whitfield's Legion", Apr. 1862. Soon dismounted, sent to reinforce Gen. Beauregard at Corinth, Miss. Rendered valorous service at Battle Iuka, Sept. 1862 with 106 killed and wounded in successful charge against artillery battery. Protected retreating C.S.A. battery. Protected retreating C.S.A. Army at Hatchie River. Fought Battle Spring Hill, Miss. March 1863. Remounted and made part 2nd cavalry brigade commanded by Gen. Whitfield. Defeated Federals in attack at Messinger's Ferry, Miss. July 1863. Upon Gen. Whitfield's retirement Gen. "Sul" Ross assumed command and brigade gained renown as Ross Texas Brigade.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
John W. Whitfield came to Texas after a career as a Tennessee legislator, Kansas Indian agent, and territorial delegate to Congress, then organized a Lavaca County cavalry company for the Confederacy in 1861. The unit grew into the 27th Texas Cavalry — 'Whitfield's Legion' — fighting at Pea Ridge and charging an artillery battery at Iuka at heavy cost. Promoted to brigadier general in 1863, Whitfield left field command from ill health, and his brigade later won lasting fame under 'Sul' Ross.
Why it matters
The marker traces how a single frontier cavalry company grew into one of the Confederacy's most storied Texas brigades, a thread in the larger story of the Trans-Mississippi war.
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Related people
- · John W. Whitfield
- · Lawrence Sullivan Ross
Related events
- · Battle of Pea Ridge
- · Battle of Iuka
Themes & tags
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