8th Texas Roster

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2020

War-date Manuscript Document, 1p. quarto, titled "List of Killed, Wounded, Discharged, & c, in Co. (D) 8th Texas Cav.", with four columns headed "Killed", "Wounded", "Died", and "Discharged/Resigned &c." Listing a total of ninety-one enlisted men by name. This scarce document is addressed on verso "Mr. Geo. R. Allen Co. 'D' 8th Texas Cav. (Terry's Texas Rangers)" with the return portion marked "Decherd". George R. Allen (1841-1924) enlisted with Terry's Texas Rangers, 8th Texas Cavalry, Harrison's Brigade, Wharton's Division, Wheeler's Corps, Army of Tennessee, at Bastrop, Tex., in August, 1861, was mustered into service at Houston, Tex., September 5, 1861, for the period of the war, served without transfer or furlough, and answered to its last roll call May 9, 1865. He was in the first engagement of the regiment at Woodsonville, Ky., where Colonel Terry was killed, and also participated in the battles of Shiloh, Munfordsville, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Fort Donelson, Shelbyville, Chickamauga, and other engagements around Knoxville, Tenn., under Longstreet; Ringgold, Dalton, Dug Gap, Resaca, Cass Station, New Hope church, Newman, Waynesboro, Aiken, Bentonville, and many other engagements with the regiment. After the war Allen became the regimental historian and most likely recruited Decherd, the adjutant, to help him compile a list such as this roster. This roster is the most complete record of members of the 8th Texas Cavalry, known to exist. One other less complete roster was compiled by Johnathan M. Claiborne at a reunion held in Galveston, Texas on February 20, 1882. The roster, offered here, most assuredly pre-dates the roster compiled by Clairborne. Document has a short poem on verso that was added later, tape repair at center fold, else VG. The 8th Texas Cavalry, usually called Terry's Texas Rangers, was organized with 1,170 men at Houston, Texas, in September 1861. This regiment was one of the hardest fighting cavalry units in the war. On April 26, 1865, it surrendered in North Carolina, with only 30 men.

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