Walker's Texas Division - Honeycutt Hill

In April of 1864 the men of "Walker’s Texas Division" participated in two battles of the Red River Campaign. The first was the Battle of Sabine Crossroads and the second, the Battle of Pleasant Hill. Our unit, 12th Texas Volunteer Infantry (originally designated as the 8th Texas) was a participate in both battles. Commanded by Colonel Overton Young, these brave Texans stormed Nims’s Second Massachusetts Battery on Honeycutt Hill and overtook three of their guns. The history of these guns are interesting. After Mansfield the guns eventually ended up in the hands of the Val Verde Battery. I’m still working on the particulars of their history, but the rumor mill indicates that the guns were buried when word of surrender reached Texas. Of the three guns taken at Honeycutt Hill, two have survived and are currently on display. The first is located at the Confederate Reunion Grounds in Mexia, Texas on the Navasota River. The second was recently restored and presented to the town of Fairfield, Texas and proudly takes it place in front of the County Court House.

Both battles are current reenactment events and are held each year in April. On April 18th, 1998, the Val Verde Battery (Reenactors from Fairfield, Texas)will place one of the original guns on Honeycutt Hill. The 12th Texas again will have the honor of charging that hill and re-live history.

The following are first hand accounts from officers and privates of the charge of Walker’s Texas Division and the brave Texans who overtook the enemy at Honeycutt Hill.

Walker gave the command: "By the right of companies to the front, forward march!" The line of march was through a large field in front, then through a skirt of timber and into another field. Resting a few minutes in the timber, the command was given; "By companies, into line!" After the line was formed orders were given to fix bayonets. The men passed Walker and marched steadily forward. Soon the command was given to double-quick. The enemy was found strongly posted behind a rail fence. J. P. Blessington described the advance:

When our army had arrived within about fifty paces, and before we had fired a shot, a general flash was seen along the enemy’s line, and a storm of bullets went flying over our heads. They had aimed too high. Onward our troops advanced, pale with excitement, compressed lips and blazing eyes betokening the spirit of their determination. Casting your eyes along the column, you behold the flags of various regiments floating on the breeze, and each regiment trying to be the first to scale the fence. Nearer our troops advance; the color-sergeants flaunt their flags at the enemy, and fall; others grasp them and fall, and they are then borne by the corporals. In this fearful charge, there was no flinching nor murmuring - nothing but the subdued talk of soldiers, the gritting of teeth for revenge, as they saw their comrades falling around them. At last the fence is gained; over it our troops go, like an avalanche of fire! A loud and prolonged Texas yell deafens the ear; their cheers rise in one great range of sound over the noise of battle, and are heard far down the lines to the left, where the Louisiana boys are at it."

General Albert L. Lee described the Rebel assault from the Federal side:

"There was a very brisk picket firing, and the whole line of the enemy advanced on our flanks and on our front and marched straight up to our line. We opened upon them with artillery, with canister, and with musketry, and fought in line perhaps twenty minutes, when they charged right straight up to our line. They were repulsed two or three times, but the end of the thing was that in twenty minutes our line was just crumbling everywhere and falling back. I ordered my batteries off when the infantry support gave way; but three guns of one of my batteries had to be left on the crest of the hill, as every horse and almost every man had been killed."

The Texans, "yelling like infuriated demons," brushed aside the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry and swept up Honeycutt Hill, flanking and driving back the 67th Indiana and 23rd Wisconsin. Nims’s Battery lost over half its horses and had to abandon three guns. Walker’s men turned them on the fleeing Yankees. Captain Nims reported the following:

"Upon the approach of the enemy, who came out of the woods and on the right flank, the battery opened fire, using shell and canister with good effect, repulsing three successive charges of the enemy. Within twenty minutes from the time the action commenced, the battery was ordered to retire from the hill, the infantry support having previously retired in disorder. Three pieces were taken to the rear in good order. Three pieces were left on the field, being unable to remove them on account of the horses being disabled."

And to wrap up the taking of Honeycutt Hill, J. P. Blessington concludes:

"Nothing could withstand the impetuosity of our charge. After crossing the fence, we came abruptly upon the enemy’s guns. With loud huzzahs we rushed upon the enemy before they could reload. A murderous discharge of rifle-balls was poured into their very bosoms; afterwards, using our bayonets, we mercifully bayoneted them, ere they could recover from their astonishment. Their prostrate column was trampled in the mire. Ah! Now comes the tug of war. The enemy is panic stricken; they abandon their artillery; they cannot stand the bayonet charge; the retreat; and from their appearance, "every man is for himself." They sadly feel the loss of their artillery. Cheer after cheer burst forth from our lines, as the enemy is seen fleeing, casting away their knapsacks and arms.

It is impossible for me to make individual mention of all those who on that day sacrificed their lives upon the altar of our country, but many a once happy home now mourns the loss of some brave soldiers who on that night slept in death upon the sanguinary battle-field of Mansfield."

This is Captain Nims account of how he lost his guns.

HDQRS. BATTERY B, MASSACHUSETTS LIGHT HORSE ARTY., Grand Ecore, La., April 11, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that my company left Natchitoches April 6, at daylight, marching in the center of the division as reserve artillery; encamped with the Third Brigade at Crump's Corners; distance marched, 23 miles. April 7, marched at 6 a.m. in the center of the division as reserve artillery. Reached Pleasant Hill at 1 p.m.; was ordered to the front (Wilson's farm), but being unable to get into position was ordered back to Pleasant Hill; at 7 p.m. moved up to Wilson's farm and encamped. April 8, marched at 6 a.m. in the advance. At 8 a.m-four pieces were ordered to the front of the column; went into position in the road, and shelled the woods in front. Moved in that position until we reached a position one-half mile from Sabine Cross-Roads, where we went into battery and shelled the enemy from the heights. Then the whole was ordered into position on the heights. Four pieces in battery to the front and two pieces in battery to the right flank within 250 yards of the woods. Upon the approach of the enemy, who came out of the woods in front and on the right flank, the battery opened fire, using shell and canister with good effect, repulsing three successive charges of the enemy; within twenty minutes from the time when the action commenced, the battery was ordered to retire from the hill, the infantry support having previously retired in disorder. Three pieces were taken to the rear in good order. Three pieces were left on the field, being unable to remove them on account of the horses being disabled. During the action First Lieut. Warren K. Snow received a mortal wound while assisting to limber up a gun. He fell into the hands of the enemy. Second Lieut. Charles B. Slack was slightly wounded in the neck. The pieces that were brought off were prepared for action, but in consequence of the panic and the enemy's pressing upon the flanks were placed in the road, preparatory to marching in retreat. The roads becoming blocked with teams, from which the mules had been detached, we were compelled to abandon the pieces brought from the hill as well as the caissons, baggage wagons, battery wagon, and forge.

April 9, the company arrived at Pleasant Hill at 2 a.m. At noon the company was ordered to march with the Cavalry Division ammunition train, acting as guard to the same. Marched at noon and all night. April 10, arrived at Grand Ecore at 4 p.m., where we are now encamped. Casualties, 2 commissioned officers wounded, 16 enlisted men wounded, 1 enlisted man killed, 1 enlisted man missing, 64 horses, 18 mules lost.

I have the honor to remain, sir, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
ORMAND F. NIMS,
Captain, Comdg. Battery B, Mass. Light Horse Artillery.
Brig. Gen. RICHARD ARNOLD,
Chief of Artillery, Department of the Gulf.

Events were described in the following accounts. Journey To Pleasant Hill, The Civil War Diary of Captain Elijah P. Petty and The Campaigns of Walker’s Texas Division by J. P. Blessington and the Offical Records.