The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 39, July 1935 - April, 1936 Page: 61

Diary of a Confederate Congressman, 1862-1868

the Speaker & some speeches made by 3 or 4 members & the
House adjourned in respect to his memory. Graham, Wright &
self spent an hour or two in conversation with Judge Gray at his
room. Prospects of the Country seem a little dark now. But
they will be better.
Saturday 25th In the House elected Mr. Lamar clerk. Her-
bert introduced a resolution of thanks to Maj. Watkins officers &
men etc. for the victory at Sabine Pass278 just as I was ready to
say the same thing. A quorum of the Naval Committee not be-
ing present I moved to refer it to Military Committee. Chambers
of Miss. from Military Committee reported a bill to provide for
payment of provost-marshalls taken from civil life & pending its
consideration the House adjourned. In the afternoon Graham &
I went down to Petersburg to see some exchanged prisoners,
friends of ours who were taken prisoners at Arkansas Post.
Sunday 26th Spent the day with our acquaintance & friends
who had been exchanged. They were all quite glad to see us.
Heard many interesting accounts of their adventures & some quite
melancholy recitals. Many of their comrades died while in prison
in Yankee-land.
April 1863
Monday 27th Returned by 7J o'clock this morning. Went to
see Secy of War with Col. Whitfield.274 Spoke to him also about
the peculiar condition of the 17th Texas Regt. More than half
its numbers & a large majority of its officers being on the West
side of the Miss. River. He said it certainly ought to be made
an exceptional case. Saw the Q.M. Genl. too about paying the
Ark. Post Prisoners as cavalry. He directed it to be done. In
the House several bills from Com. of W. & M. were passed. One
amending the funding bill so as to provide that bonds to pur-
"2"Victory at Sabine Pass--Federal commander-General Banks; Confed-
erate commander-Major-General Richard Taylor (1826-1879). "Taylor
retired before Banks, but, on April, turned on him suddenly when his
army was advancing in column march 20 miles long along a single road
that led through a pine barren region. Though the van deployed quickly
and fought well, it was driven back. Only the stanch resistance of
General William H. Emory's division prevented a disastrous rout by
an enemy whose total was only half as much as that of Banks. The
fight took place at Sabine Cross Roads." (The Pageant of America,
vol. 7.)
274Colonel Whitfield. Must be General Whitfield, commander of Whit-
field's Legion.