Major Robert M. White, 6th Texas Cavalry Regiment
1. Posted By: Gary D. Bray Send E-Mail
Date: Tuesday, 19 July 2005, at 8:52 a.m.
In Response To: Major Robert M. White, 6th TX Cav Rgt (Bill Nolan)
I found this in "Living and Fighting with the Texas 6th Cavalry" by Newton A. Keen, page 47.
We then moved across to the Tennessee river where we got into a fight with some Yankee gun boats and transports. We killed and wounded about three hundred men and they had to sail by us in some forty yards. We were so low and the cannon shots from the boats went clean over us. My! how we played havock with those troops on the transport. They made it pretty hot for us with small arms and pistols. Major White of the sixth Texas cavalry was killed. He was standing about two feet to my right when he was shot through the body. We brought him back off the battle field some two miles and he died that night. He was a man beloved by all the soldiers. He was the only man touched on this scout which lasted us about three weeks.
Also, I found this.
Major Robert M. White
Whenever there was fighting, Robert M. White was likely to be there. White was in Bell County by at least 1850, and was recorded in the Indian troubles in 1853. That was when a posse was sent to track down a party of Indians that had slipped through the military line of frontier posts, and had stolen horses from David Williams, Riley Irwin and Melville Wilkenson or Wilkerson. The horses were recovered and returned to their owners.
By 1855, joining a frontier ranger company was a status symbol in Bell County. It was also necessary for survival, as the Indians could create quite a problem for Bell County residents in the 1850's. White is listed as an active participant in the frontier units.
White apparently came to the Belton area in the early 1850's. He was born in Tennessee about 1829. The Bell County census of 1860 lists White, his wife Sarah, age nineteen, and their infant daughter, Christina. White's occupation is listed as a grocer.
By 1859 Robert M. White is listed as first lieutenant in the "Bell County Rovers," formed by John Henry Brown, as the successor company to the "Independent Blues." By 1860 he was lieutenant in command of "Bob White's Ranging Company." This company was an organization of twenty-five men, under the authority of Governor Sam Houston, "for protection of the frontier." In a July 1860 roster, lists Robert M. White as the first lieutenant.
White was a prominent States Right Democrat, advocating secession. When Texas left the Union he raised the first company to leave Bell County for the War Between the States, and was elected its Captain. He was one of at least seven to raise a military company from Bell County to serve the Confederate cause.
As company commander White was laying all his experience in many Indian Wars on the line. He had served as commander of many ranging companies organized on the spot to retrieve people and property stolen by small bands of Indians. He also had the reputation of being a good Indian scout.
White's unit left amidst pomp and ceremony. It was July 1, 1861. As his unit was leaving Belton for the war, Miss Victoria Bradford, a popular Southern belle, presented White and his men a Confederate flag.
White's company camped first at old Bosqueville, near Waco, and then moved on to Camp Stone, near Lancaster, Texas. While at Camp Stone (also known as Camp Bartow), the Bell County Commissioners Court passed a special tax and appointed a special commissary officer, John W. Scott, to buy food, clothing, and other supplies for White's company while in training. After leaving Camp Stone, White's unit, and the 6th Texas Cavalry, saw service in Arkansas, the Choctaw Nation, Southwest Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. This company probably saw more fighting, and on a more severe basis, than any other Bell County unit.
White would prove to be a popular and brave Confederate officer. White was promoted to major in Sul Ross' regiment, the Sixth Texas Cavalry Regiment in May 1862. The company was reorganized under Captain William B. Whittington, who was commander until the end of the war. The company left Bell County as cavalry, but the unit was dismounted in 1862, and the horses returned to Bell County. Following the Battle of Corinth Mississippi in October 1862 the Sixth was the first unit to be remounted. They participated in the famous Holly Springs Depot raid where the 6th was the lead unit charging into the center of town. This raid coupled with one by General Forest in Tennessee, caused the war to go on for at least another year. After this raid the regiment moved into Tennessee as part of General Van Dorn’s Corps. At Thompson’s Station they captured a union cavalry regiment.
Major White was often selected to run special operations or reconnaissance which were extremely dangerous. Major Robert M. White was killed in action on April 26, 1863 on the Tennessee River at Duck Island as noted by Newton Keen above. His body was returned to Bell County where he is buried in the South Belton Cemetery. In the same plot are Kittie White (1859-1860), apparently the infant daughter listed in the 1860 census, and R. M. White (1861-1883), apparently a son born the same year White left Bell County for the war. His wife is buried near him under the name of Sarah Riggs. After his death she married W. S. Riggs, another CSA veteran.
-- Arnold Huskins
I had two family members in Company B, 6th Texas Cavalry also, Charles Williamson and Solomon S. Fletcher.
I hope this helps you in some way,
Gary D. Bray
I also had two family members in the 6th, Robert and James Nolan of Company I. Robert is listed on detached service with Major White on two occasions. I like to think he was there when Major White died and helped him in his last hours.
William K. Nolan, site owner.
Bob White's Ranger Company.-Under authority of Governor Sam Houston a number of
Companies of twenty-five men, commanded by a First Lieutenant, were organized
early in 1860, to guard the frontier. These formed a cordon across the western
border to prevent the incursions of the hostile Indians into the settlements.
In February, 1860, Dr. John W. EMBREE received a commission to organize such a
company to be known as the "Texas Mounted Rangers from Bell County," and on
February 20, 1860, the men were sworn in at Belton for a twelve months service,
by Capt. J. M. W. HALL, representing Governor Houston. They were mustered out,
however, in July 1860. The following enlisted, with the rank given:\par
Officers:\line
WHITE, Robert M., First Lieut.\line
WHITE, Wilson, H. (Piper) First Sargeant.\line
WHITE, W. Alex., Second Sargeant, Belton\line
BLAIR, Albert S., First Corporal\line
BIGHAM, James Swan, Second Corporal, Belton\par
Privates:\par
BLAIR Jesse\line
BLAIR, Joel D.\line
BOWLES, David C. (served last two months) Nolanville\line
CHAMBERLIN, Don A.\line
CHAPMAN, John D.\line
CLARK, Edward M.\line
CLARY, Stephen P., Rogers\line
COOP, James P.\line
FLEMING, Andrew J.\line
FRY, George W.\line
HALPAIN, Joseph\line
HEISE, August J.\line
HODGE, Milton\line
KINGSBURY, Charles H.\line
LUDLOW, Henry, Sumner, Washington\line
MURRELL, Joseph W.\line
NEWMAN, Paul \line
NICHOLS, Robert\line
PERKINS, Wm., Uvalde County]\line
VENABLE, Wm. J.\line
WARREN, Geo. W.\line
Total 26 men.\par
On Information that the Company was in trouble with the Indians a party went
from Belton to their relief, composed of:\par
EMBREE, Dr. John W., in command\line
BAKER, John\line
BURROWSN, Pastor\line
COX, Ed Tom\line
FERGUSON, John F.\line
FERGUSON, Joseph G., Belton\line
GARNER, William\line
HIRSH, David\line
KINNAN, E.W.\line
SMITH, John F., Galveston\line
TOWNSEND, Joseph\line
Total relief party 11 men (and perhaps others).\par
Captain Robert M. WHITE'S Company. Company H., 6th Texas Cavalry. Enlisted
August, 1861. (Roll compiled by W. Scott GOODALL and Lieutenant Wm. S. RIGGS).
\par
Officers:\line
WHITE, Robert M., Captain, killed in battle.\line
RATHER, Wm. S., 1st Lieutenant resigned\line
WHITTINGTON, Wm. B., 2nd Lieutenant promoted Captain.\line
BAKER, R.H. Lieutenant\line
CLARK, E.D. Lieutenant\line
COLLARD, E. Rusk, Lieutenant\line
RIGGS, Wm. S., Lieut., Belton.\par
Privates:\line
ARTHUR, Giles\line
ARNOLD, James\line
ARMSTRONG, Matthias\line
ASHLEY, Alvis\line
BIGHAM, Oliver H.\line
BROOKMAN, John\line
BRADFORD, Benj.\line
BIGELOW, James W.\line
BEEMAN, Nal (Ronaldo)\line
BRAMLET, S. Guffin, Austin\line
BRAMLET, Ambrose\line
BLACKWELL, Mathew\line
BEENE, Thomas\line
BRUCE, William E.\line
BAKER, John\line
BLAIR, John L.\line
BLAIR, A.S. (Trigg)\line
COOTS, George\line
CHRISTIAN, Jno W.\line
CHURCH, John \line
COX, James\line
CRAWFORD, Henry\line
CARL, William\line
CAWLEY, Nat\line
CLARK, E. ?\line
CLARY, John \line
DANLEY, C.W. Belton\line
DUMAS, Alonzo A.\line
DAY, J.M.\line
FREEMAN,_______\line
GRAVES, R.N.\line
GRAVES, Thomas\line
GOODSELL, W. Scott\line
GASSAWAY, B.F.\line ____
WAY, Wilburn\line
_____James W.\line
GRAHAM, William\line
HUGHES, Haywood\line
HACKELTON, Henry\line
HANNA, Andrew J.\line
HOLT, John T\line
HAMILTON, James\line
HAGGARD, M.M.\line
HALL, Boykin\line
HEISE, Augustus\line
HELLERMAN, Henry\line
KEYS, Mathew\line
KUYKENDALL, William\line
KELLER, A.M., Temple\line
KINGSBURY, Chas. H.\line
KELLEY, John\line
LAMBERT, John\line
LOCK, Larkin C.\line
MILLER, James H.\line
MILLER, John\line
MILLER, Lank\line
MUSIC, John\line
McCORCLE, James\line
McGILL, William\line
McNEIL, Artemus T.\line
McDONALD, John Tommy\line
MIDDLETON, Branick\line
NICKOLS, Robert\line
NICKOLS, William H.\line
NEIBLING, Washington\line
NEIBLING, Frederick\line
OLDEN, William\line
PERKINS, W.J.\line
PERKINS, Jacob\line
RIGGS, Lyon\line
ROSBOROUGH, Cyrus A.\line
ROBERTS, Abe\line
SHANKLIN, John W.\line
STACY, Lewis\line
SMITH, Edward\line
SMITH, James\line
STEEPLES, John\line
STEVENSON,_________\line
TUCKER, Thos. C.\line
TUCKER, John\line
TEAGARDEN, Thomas\line
TEAGARDEN, Albert\line
VENABLE, Wm. J.\line
VANNESS, J. Almstead\line
VOND, Henry\line
WADE, Geo. W.\line
WHITE, Nim S.\line
WHTIE, Sterling B.\line
WATTE, Geo. W.\line
WARREN, Peter\line
WARREN, A.J.\line
WINN, Peter\line
WILLINGHAM, Wilson\line
WILLIAMS, Jesse\line
WESTBROOK, W.\line
WHITE, Wm. Alexander, Belton\line
WRIGHT, Robert N.\line
WRIGHT, Richard\line
WALKER, Robert\line
WALKER, Martin L.\line
Total 107 men.\par
