Walker's Greyhounds facts for kids
Walker's Greyhounds was a famous group of soldiers during the American Civil War. They were a division, which is a large military unit, made up only of soldiers from Texas. Their leader was Major-General John George Walker. They got their nickname "Greyhounds" because they could march very fast over long distances.
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Forming the Division
Walker's Greyhounds, also known as Walker's Texas Division, started in July 1862. They gathered at Camp Nelson in Arkansas. In November 1862, John George Walker became their main leader. He led them until the war ended.
This division fought only in the Trans-Mississippi Department. This was a large area west of the Mississippi River during the Civil War. When General Walker got a new command in late 1864, Major-General John H. Forney took over the division.
How the Division Was Set Up
A division is made of smaller groups called brigades. Each brigade has several regiments, which are even smaller groups of soldiers. Walker's Greyhounds had several brigades, and each one was made up of different Texas regiments.
First Brigade
This brigade included:
- 12th Texas Infantry Regiment
- 18th Texas Infantry Regiment
- 22nd Texas Infantry Regiment
- 13th Texas Cavalry Regiment (Dismounted)
- 29th Texas Cavalry Regiment (Dismounted)
- Halderman's Texas Battery (a group with cannons)
Second Brigade
This brigade included:
- 11th Texas Infantry Regiment
- 14th Texas Infantry Regiment
- 28th Texas Cavalry Regiment (Dismounted)
- 6th (Gould's) Texas Cavalry Battalion (Dismounted)
- Daniel's Texas Battery
Third Brigade
This brigade included:
- 16th Texas Infantry Regiment
- 17th Texas Infantry Regiment
- 19th Texas Infantry Regiment
- 16th Texas Cavalry Regiment (Dismounted)
- 2nd Texas Partisan Rangers Regiment
- 3rd Texas Infantry Regiment
- 1st Texas Field Battery (Edgar's)
Fourth Brigade (1865)
This brigade was formed later in 1865 and included:
- 16th Texas Infantry Regiment
- 18th Texas Infantry Regiment
- 28th Texas Cavalry Regiment (Dismounted)
- 34th Texas Cavalry Regiment (Dismounted)
- Wells' Texas Cavalry Regiment
Important Battles
The Greyhounds took part in several key battles and campaigns. These were major military operations during the Civil War.
Vicksburg Campaign
In June 1863, the Greyhounds fought in battles near Vicksburg, Mississippi. These included the Battle of Milliken's Bend and the Battle of Young's Point. These fights were part of the larger Vicksburg Campaign. This campaign was very important because it helped the Union gain control of the Mississippi River. After these battles, the Greyhounds stayed in northern Louisiana for several months.
Red River Campaign
In April 1864, the Greyhounds were sent back to Louisiana. They joined Lieutenant General Richard Taylor's army. They played a big part in two important Confederate victories. These were the Battle of Mansfield on April 8, 1864, and the Battle of Pleasant Hill on April 9, 1864. These battles were crucial parts of the Red River campaign.
Camden Expedition
After the Red River Campaign, the Greyhounds were quickly sent back to Arkansas. There, they fought in the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry on April 30, 1864. This was the last major battle of the Camden Expedition.
The End of the War
In March 1865, the division was ordered to Hempstead, Texas. They were waiting for Confederate President Jefferson Davis to arrive. The plan was to make a "Last Stand" there. However, Davis never arrived.
With the Civil War ending and most Confederate armies surrendering, the soldiers of Walker's Greyhounds simply went home. About 8,000 soldiers, who were the remaining members of the division, left Hempstead, Texas, in late May 1865. This marked the end of Walker's Greyhounds.
