10TH TEXAS INFANTRY

Col.Geo. W. Brent
A.A.G.

Sir:

We the undersigned Line officers of the Tenth (10th) Regiment of Texas Volunteers Infantry be leave most respectfully to call the attention of the Commanding General of the army of Tennessee to the present condition of said Regiment, to present before him fairly and candidly our grievances, and to ask his serious consideration and redress of the same. To this end we respectfully represent. That this Regiment was organized in the fall of 1861 to serve for the war and served the Trans Mississippi Department until the 11th day of January 1863, when with the forces under Brigadier General Churchill at Arkansas Post we were captured. After suffering imprisonment for several months we were exchanged at City Point on the 4th day of May 1863, and joined our command in Richmond being ordered to duty with our original companies and Regiment on the 6th May 1863. Thence we were ordered to the Army of Tennessee then under the command of Genl. Bragg at Tullahoma, where on the 22nd day of May 1863, by Special Order No. 136 of the Commanding General, a copy of which is herewith submitted, this Regiment was temporarily united with the (6th) Sixth Regiment of Texas Vol. Infantry and (15th) Fifteenth Regiment of Texas Cavalry (dismounted) by which a number of our officers were displaced from command. This order gave great dissatisfaction to the line officers as also to the men believing thereby injustice had been done to them, as our regiment then had east of the Mississippi more than an average number of men compared with Regiments of this army then not consolidated. But as we were told by our superior officers, as was justified by the language of said order, that the consolidation was only temporary, to meet the emergency of the Service and that in a few weeks our Regiment would be permitted to sever and resume its old organization - we submitted. We were soon ordered to the front and attached to Maj. Genl. Cleburne's Division in which we have ever since served. While in Siege of Chattanooga in October and November last, we in connection with the officers of the other Regiments with which we were united addressed a respectful memorial to the commanding General with the signatures and approval of the Field Officers present asking for a severance of the Regiments. This memorial was returned. The General declining to make the severance. Since our consolidation we have fought in the Battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Taylor's Ridge (Ringgold Gap) taking our position here on the 28th of November last. Through all these battles, the men have cheerfully and bravely fought yet in the meanwhile great dissatisfaction deepens and widens with time. The men are and have been more or less, in every company taken away from them and others substituted in their places by the uniting of the companies, thereby causing jealousies, bickerings and imputations of partiality. The officers are dissatisfied because of the dissatisfaction of the men, ever feeling the embarrassment consequent upon the knowledge that they are in command of men whom they were not the chosen leaders. The officers and men alike feel that the consolidation has operated unjustly to them in the matter of promotions, being almost and effectual check upon their laudable ambition. The officers displaced and relieved, or sent to the Trans Mississippi Department are in most cases safe from the casualties of war while their juniors are bearing the brunt of the service on the out post and in the battle and however meritorious and capable - their only hope is to serve, fight on - and remain at their present rank. This affects the men as well as the officers, for every promotion in the line makes way for another from the ranks - a vacancy to be filled by election, and stimulates a laudable emulation in the discharge of duty and the acquirement of military knowledge. In other cases where vacancies have occurred in the regiment, junior is promoted to the rank and command of the officers service in the same consolidated company who had been before the senior in rank and service. There has not been a field officer on duty in the consolidated regiment for two months, while a vacancy has existed for nine months in the office of Major in our (10th) Regiment. Another cause of dissatisfaction is the merger of our distinctive number. I f any notable or praise worthy result is achieved it does not attach to a regiment as isolated - our Flag is not the flag of the 10th but of the 6th, 10th and 15th and consequently that noble emulation of the field and battle for the separate and distinct honor of colors is impaired. The men had become attached to their old organization, their officers, their distinctive numbers and colors. With these they entered the lists to serve their country and to win a name in the history of our struggle for Independence. Men and officers have for nine months patiently borne and served under the consolidation which they have ever regarded as unjust. Their numbers have been thinned by disease and the casualties of battle, but notwithstanding, the present strength is as follows. Three hundred and twelve (312) enlisted men present for duty, sixty-four (64) absent sick of wounds and disease in this Department, making a total of three hundred and seventy-six (376) enlisted men. With the field officers and line officers twenty-six (26), and aggregate of four hundred (400), including one Col., and one Lt. Col., one Surgeon and one Asst. Surgeon, all in this Department. In addition to this there are fifteen (15) officers and one hundred sixty-nine (169) men of this regiment in the Trans Mississippi Department, making an aggregate of five hundred and eighty-four (584). But without these latter numbers we can cite instances of Regiments in this army much smaller retaining their original organizations intact. The 7th Texas Infantry serving with us in the same brigade has not half the number of men present for duty as that of our Regiment, yet its organization remains intact. Now we have stated that dissatisfaction exists and has existed from the time of this consolidation and was caused by it; that we have waited patiently for the removal of the cause, it has not been removed, and we are sorry to State that this dissatisfaction in the 10th Texas Infantry has begun to manifest itself in desertion. Wherefore in consideration of all the promises and conscientiously believing that thereby that full satisfaction would be restored to both officers and men, we most respectfully ask that said order No. 136 of May 22, 1863 be rescinded and revoked as to the 10th Regiment Vol. Infantry and said Regiment resume its organization at once with the officers and men in this Department. All of which is most respectfully submitted.