Copyright © 1998-2009, Scott McKay
Head Quarters Nelson's Regt. V.I.
Virginia Point Novr 20th 1861
Sir
I send you as per order a statement of arms of all description on hand
in the Regiment and the exception of a few repeating & revolving Pistols. Two Companies
of the Regt have to day been ordered to the Island end of the Bridge which of course will
take away with them their arms having a very few at this Post. I will possibly be ordered
to Hd Qrs again tomorrow when I can explain more fully.
I have the honor to be
Your obdt Svt
J. T. Hearne
1st Lieut. & Adjt. Nelson's Regt.
Maj
Samuel Roger Davis
A. A. A. Genl.
____________________
A Complete Statement of arms on hand in Nelsons Regiment Texas Volunteer Infantry
Recd Muskets & Bayonets with out Belts or fixtures 273
Shot Guns Rifle Double & Single Barreled 42
Colt's repeating Guns (Rifles) 2
317
No of Men at Va Pt belonging to the Regiment 497
No Muskets on hand 273
" Men without Muskets 224
" Arms of other description 44
" Men without arms atall 180
[Compiled Service Record of 1Lt. Joseph T. Hearne - Georgia Archives - Atlanta, Georgia]
Notes
The following letter excerpt, written by Pvt. Isaiah Harlan of Co. G, just four days after the date of the above report, not only sheds insight as to why the regiment was so disparaging as to weapons at hand, but also shows the awareness within the ranks for the urgency of additional arms. Pvt. Harlan had mustered in with Nelson's Regiment a.k.a. 10th Texas Infantry at Houston, Texas, on October 25, 1861.
"We are here at nothing. We have not yet received our arms and the Lord only knows when we will. We committed a great error in sending those back we had; but we were told that we would draw them. There is a lack of something somewhere. There is certainly a lack of efficiency amongst our superior officers. If the government can supply us with arms we ought to have them, if not we should know it so that we could get them ourselves.
We drill a little every day. That is we form, right and left flank and file, mark time, countermarch and right about a few times then dismiss. We are learning next to nothing . We are altogther unprepared for the yankeys. Should they make a demonstration in force against us it would be almost impossible for us to defend ourselves successfully. If we had those large canon even Galveston would not be secure from the from the fact that the enemy could land or if they prefer they could pass the batteries at the point in such numbers that they could not be very seriously damaged before reaching the bay and once there they would be safe. It is a general impression I believe that they will endeavor to get Virginia Point first and I think they will. For holding it they will be able to end all communication between the island and main land, when Galveston would necessarily go by the board."
[Confederate Research Center - Hill Jr. College - Hillsboro,
Texas]
Copyright © 1998-2009, Scott McKay