Reminiscences of the Boys in Gray
--- Yeary
1861-1865
T.A. Neace, Keller, Texas. Born November 19, 1843 near Jefferson
City, Missouri, enlisted in the
Confederate Army in March, 1862 at Trinity Mills, Dallas County, Texas
as Corporal in Company B, Darnell’s Regiment, Albert Pikes Brigade. William Jackson, first Captain and N. H.
Darnell, first Colonel. We were the
eleventh company in Darnell’s Regiment and formed Scatlin’s Squadron.
Was never captured or wounded.
While at Fort
Gibson, we had a fight with the Pin
Indians in which Frank West of Tarrant
County, Texas was
killed.
Was in the battles of Fort Wayne, Cherokee Nation, Prairie Grove, Arkansas,
and Honey Springs Indian Territory. I
have lived in Tarrant
County ever since
November 1847.
While under General Pike, we were
stationed at Camp McCulloch; from there we were ordered to report to
General Cooper, at Fort Davis, ten miles southwest of Fort Gibson. The Federal forces were then at Fort Gibson,
three miles from the Arkansas River, on Grand River. Our squadron was stationed at the forks of
the river, together with Captain Howell’s battery of artillery. After the Federals evacuated Fort Gibson
in October 1862, we, with Alexander’s and Bass’ regiments of infantry from Texas, occupied Fort Gibson
for a while.
In October, we fought the Federals
at old Fort Wayne, in Cherokee Nation, in which
we lost Howell’s Battery. The Indian brigade fled at the first charge
of the enemy.
In November 1862, we saw hard
service under General Marmaduke. From Fort Smith and Van
Buren, Arkansas, we
were under the rear guard of General Hindman’s Army as we marched on the enemy
at Prairie Grove, where we fought them on the 7th day of November
1862 and where we left many of our brave boys dead.
In the summer of 1863, we fought at
Honey Springs and again at Perryville, in the Choctaw Nation.
