Texas Genealogical Records, Ellis County, Volume 7, 1800-1955 Page: 156

                                
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"PAR XN S BRIGADE"
Parson Cavalry
Copied from Waxahachie Daily Light of 1927
Written by Paxton  lith
Copied by irs. A.L. eltenberger
July, 1955
The men of Texas generally were fro  fighting stock and
naturally of a hard lineage and next to the Comanches probably
among the best riders in the continent.
These"natural" cavalrymen organized a cavalry regiment in
Ellis County Aug. 1861 which was known as 12th Texas Cavalry
Parsons Brigade. Three companies Z,F,.
Sept. 11, 1861 - by order of Gov. Edward Clark there as*
sembled at Rocket Spring ( 7 miles N.E. of Waxahaohie) men
who composed the regiment (about 1200 men) to elect officers.
W.H. Parsons was unaniAously elected Gol,Jno. W. ullens,
Lt. Col; Emory W. Rogers, Maj.(founder of Waahaohie). The
appointment of John Hogan as surgeon; Dr. Embree, assistant
sargeon; T G.A. Willis, quartermaster; Frank Ayera, ooiissary;
A.B. Burleson, adj; RevJ. . Fred Cox, Chaplain.
The command was mustered in to State service for one year,
theaein 08t. 28, 1861, at Camp Grace near Hespstead the term
was also for one year.
The winter of 1861-82 was spent in Camp at Lms Bayou
eight miles from Houston.
Early in 162 the 12th Tex. Ca, was ordered East, The
route taken being through Ark. altho eager to cross the ~iss.
the regiment was retained west of the river.
May 25th 1862 they were organized under the first Con-
script Act passed by the Confederate Sates, at which time a
number of officers and men availed themselves of the opportun-
ity left the command and returned home.
However prior to this event a detachment from the regi-
ment under the command of aJ. E.W. Rogers had met Federal t
troops at  sarcy Lane (Ark.) May 17, 1862 in which the Confed-
erates were victorious. N.B. McDonald a rising young lawyer
of Waxahachie was killed in the fight.
Sbon after, Col Carters 21st, ol. Burford's 19th, Col.
Fithugh's 17th, Col. Taylor, Darnel andGarley and Pratt's
Battery reached Ark. On the 7th of July 1862 the Cotton tant
fight took place under Brig. Gean. Rust.
At this time all regiment except the 12th, 19th, 21st
were ordered discounted.
The history of Parsons Brigade from this time was quite
variable. Success attending them at L'Anguile and other Ark.
points. They were for the most part kept on out post duty.
Let us return to Texas and attempt to ascertain the affect
of the Civil War upon Waxahahi. tc   me of the ablest had re-
mained behind to "keep things straight at home" aong these
prominent citizens were Judge J.W. Ferris, lion Thos. G. Nel,
B.F. Hawkins, G.E. Iarchbanks and others.