As the War Between the States wore on and many of the Texas units organized early in the conflict were east of the Mississippi, more men were needed to defend Texas from expected invasions by Federal forces. The draft age was expanded and the call went out for all able bodied men to report. Men from around Upshur and adjoining counties were assembled in Gilmer. George E. Warren, the Upshur County Clerk, became their captain.

In September and October 1863, the scattered companies of Liken’s and Burns’ Battalions were ordered to report to Houston. They were combined and given the numerical designation as the 35th Texas Cavalry Regiment with Colonel James Likens in command. Communication and record keeping being what it was in 1863, another new regiment was also given the same number and commanded by Colonel Brown. Captain Warren’s company was identified as “G”. By late November Liken’s Regiment was assembled together and stationed near Houston, Texas.

During the winter of 1863-4, Liken’s Regiment was stationed at various camps along the Gulf coast. They were attached to General Bee’s Division and performed reconnaissance of Federal troops who were landed to make demonstrations near the mouth of Caney Creek and along Matagorda Peninsula. In March, Liken’s and five other regiments were ordered to Louisiana to repel General Banks’ army and Admiral Porter’s navy of gunboats moving up the Red River towards Shreveport and ultimately, east Texas.

General Richard Taylor, CSA, conducted a delaying withdrawal until his forces were large enough to make a stand. On April 9, 1865 the Confederate forces dealt the invading army a decisive defeat at battle of Mansfield. General Banks was forced to retreat and his army began moving back down the Red River to safety. For six weeks, the men in gray tried to stop, capture, or destroy an army 5 times their size. Banks finally reached safety and the 35th spent the next several months skirmishing Federal forces in the swamps and bayous of southern Louisiana. Disease, sickness, hunger, and the poorest of living conditions took a toll on the men of Texas. Most of their mounts were unfit for service and there were few replacements. In February of 1865, Liken’s Regiment was dismounted and sent back to Texas.

In May of 1865, 322 men and officers of the 35th were in Galveston, Texas. The struggle for Southern Independence was over and the remnants of the Confederate army were discharged and told to go home. The Upshur County men received their discharges in Navasota, Texas in late May. General Kirby Smith of the Trans-Mississippi Department, CSA, surrendered all remaining forces west of the Mississippi on June 2. As an officer Captain Warren was required to sign a parole in July at Marshall, Texas. A complete roster of Company “G” does not exist. The men below are the only ones known who served with the “Wild Riders of Texas” as members of Company “G”, Liken’s 35th Texas Cavalry Regiment.

George E. Warren - Captain
R. W. Ford - 1st Lt
E. W. McGraw - 2nd Lt
A. T. Gillespie - 2nd Lt (resigned)
W. R. Johnson - 2nd Lt
John Benton
David Dickson
Ephrain Hicks
D. H. Hoover
S. P. Morgan
J. M. Todd
W. R. Wright
W. P. Earp
Henry Grogan
W. A. Grogan
D. H. Hoover
O. B. Moore
J. A. Stevens
R. L. Suggs
J. M. Morgan
A. M. Phillips

Sources for this article:
• Letters from members of Liken’s Regiment on file at the Confederate Research Center (CRC) in Hillsboro, Texas.
• Terrell’s Texas Cavalry by John W. Spencer
• History of Liken’s 35th Texas Cavalry on file at the CRC, by William Bozic
• Texas in the Confederacy, Military Installations, Economy, and People
• Texas Historical Association Quarterly, Volume XI, 1907-1908
• Discharge of John A. Stevens found on file in the Texas State Archives
• Microfilm files at CRC
• War of the Rebellion, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies

Information for this article assembled and written by John D. Stevens