Matthew M. Norman,
2nd Lt., Company I,
15th Texas [Dismounted] Cavalry
and
6th/15th [Consolidated] Texas Volunteers
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My patrilineal great granduncle, Matthew M. Norman served in Company I, 15th Texas [Dismounted] Cavalry and the
6th/15th [Consolidated] Texas Volunteers Regiments more than 27 months; from his enlistment on 29 Mar 1862 to
30 June 1864 [and likely beyond].
Matthew M. Norman enlisted as a Second Lieutenant on 29 March 1862, at 24 years of age. He
was taken prison at the surrender of Fort Hindman, Arkansas Port, Arkansas, 11 Jan 1863
was held Prisoner of War at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, for 2+ months; Feb - Apr 1863
was exchanged on 02 May 1863 at City Point, Virginia
fought in / survived the battles of the Army of Tennessee from Sept 1863 - July 1864
was 'absent, sick in hospital at Atlanta, Georgia' per company report , 30 June 1864
likely rejoined the Army of Tennessee before the fall of Atlanta, 01 Sept 1864
survived the war and 'was at home on furlough at the time of [CSA] surrender'
Matthew M. Norman's soldier's story and some elements of his personal history are detailed below.
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2nd Lt. Matthew M. Norman, Co. I, 15 Texas [Dismounted] Cavalry, Soldier's Story
Matthew M. Norman enlisted as a Second Lieutenant in Company I, 15th Texas Cavalry [Sweet's] Regiment
on 29 Mar 1862. He was 24 years of age at enlistment. The company was organized by James E. Moore
in early 1862. The 15th Texas Cavalry was one of the regiments to later comprise Granbury's Texas Brigade,
CSA. [Eight of my ancestors served in regiments which were brigaded into Granbury's Texas Brigade for the
last 17 months of the American Civil War.]
Matthew M. Norman served more than 27 months in Company I, 15th Texas Cavalry, 29 Mar 1862 until at least
30 June 1864, the date of his last company record in he was 'absent, sick in hospital at Atlanta,
Georgia'.
Matthew M. Norman likely rejoined the Army of Tennessee before the fall of Atlanta, 01 Sept 1864.
The end date of his active service is not known; in his State of Texas Confederate Soldier's
Pension Application, Matthew M. Norman reported
he 'was at home on furlough at the time of [CSA] surrender' [Apr / May 1865]
'the date of enlistment and discharge: 1862 to close of war'
These two phrases are identical to those in my patrilineal great grandfather's pension application;
H.H. High was furloughed on 20 March 1865, nearly 07 months before the fall of Atlanta.
See Note_01.
Matthew M. Norman was captured on 11 January 1863 with the surrender of Fort Hindman, Arkansas Post,
Arkansas. The captured officers were sent to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, and later exchanged at
City Point, Virginia, on 02 May 1864. The regiment was reorganized and assigned to the Confederate
Army of Tennessee.
See Note_02.
While Matthew M. Norman was in service, the 15th Texas [Dismounted] Cavalry regiment
took part in the following skirmishes and battles in sequence:
Arkansas Post [Fort Hindman], Ark., 09 - 11 Jan 1863
Pollack's Mill Creek, Va., 29 April - 02 May 1863
McLemore Cove, Ga., 11 September 1863
Tunnel Hill, Ga., 11 September 1863
Ringgold Gap, Ga., 11 September 1863
Chickamauga, Ga., 19 - 20 September 1863
Missionary Ridge, Tenn., 24 - 25 November 1863
New Hope Church, Ga., 25 May - 05 June 1864
Kennesaw Mountain, Ga., 10 June 10 - July 2 1864
Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 20 July 1864
Decatur, Ga., 20 - 21 July 1864
Atlanta, Ga., 22 July 1864
Jonesboro, Ga., 31 August 1864
Franklin, Tenn., 30 November 1864
Nashville, Tenn., 15 - 16 December 1864
Of these skirmishes and battles, the following are regarded as significant because
they had a direct impact on the course of the war and / or a decisive influence on a campaign:
Chickamauga, Ga., 19-20 September 1863
Chattanooga_III, Tenn., 23-25 November 1863
Atlanta, Ga., 22 July 1864
Jonesborough, Ga., 31 August - 01 September 1864
Franklin_II, Tenn., 30 November 1864
Nashville, Tenn., 15 - 16 December 1864
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Matthew M. Norman's State of Texas Confederate Soldier's Pension Application
Matthew M. Norman applied for a State of Texas Confederate Soldier Pension on 05 July 1909.
The application was filed on 16 August and approved on 31 Aug 1909; Pension Number 16878.
In his application, Norman states / attests that he:
was at home on furlough at the time of the surrender
was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee
had resided in Texas 50 years [arrived Texas in 1858 per widow's pension application]
resided in Van Zandt County continually for 50 years in Stone Point, Texas, Post Office address
was a farmer by occupation
served in Company I, 15th Texas Cavalry, CSA, from 1862 to the close of the War
was never transferred to another command
Henry H. High, my patrilineal great grandfather, bore witness to Norman
being a bona fide resident of State of Texas since prior to 01 Jan 1880
having served in the same company and regiment until the close of the war
H.H. High's signature is affixed; see attached image.
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Amanda [nee Park] Norman's State of Texas Confederate Widow's Pension Application
Amanda Jane [nee Park] Norman, Matthew M. Norman's widow, applied for a State of Texas Confederate Widow's Pension
on 05 April 1921. The application was filed and approved on 13 April 1921; Pension Number 16878.
Amanda Norman's application iterates the information on Matthew Norman's application with the addition that:
she was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee
she had resided in Texas since 1858
Matthew M. Norman was 'afterward made Captain of same Company'
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Brief Chronology of Matthew M. Norman
born 11 Aug 1836 in Lincoln County, Tenn.
married Amanda Jane Park on 24 Dec 1854 in Lawrence County, Tenn.; 8 known children
arrived Van Zandt County, Texas in 1858
occupation reported as farmer
known as 'Mack' in Van Zandt County, Texas
enlisted in CSA Army on 29 Mar 1862
commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Co. I, 15th Texas Cavalry, CSA
the 15th Texas Cavalry was 'Dismounted' in April 1862
the 15th Texas [Dismounted] Cavalry was field consolidated with the 6th Texas Infantry regiment from July 1863 to 09 Apr 1865
reported absent, sick in hospital, at Atlanta, Georgia, on 30 June 1864 company roll; no later record found.
was at home on furlough at the time of surrender
in Aug 1909, applied for and received a State of Texas Confederate Soldier's Pension; No.16878
died 05 Mar 1921 in Canton, Van Zandt County, Texas
buried in High Family Cemetery, near Canton, Van Zandt County, Texas
in April 1921, his widow applied for and received a State of Texas Confederate Widow's Pension; No. 37246
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| Notes
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Note_01: Beyond 30 June 1864
After the fall of Atlanta, the Army of Tennessee regrouped south of Atlanta for several weeks; Granbury's Brigade camped at Palmetto. On 29 September 1864, the Army of Tennessee started north beginning General John Bell Hood's disastrous
1864 Invasion of Tennessee [and destruction of the CSA's Army of Tennessee].
My patrilineal great grandfather, Henry Harrison High, served in the company commanded by Matthew M. Norman, and
reported identically in his State of Texas Confederate Soldier's Pension Application that
he 'was at home on furlough at the time of surrender'
his 'date of enlistment and discharge: 1862 to close of war'
More specifically, after thedefence of Atlanta, Henry H. High
was reported wounded at the battle of Nashville, December 1864, and treated at hospital in Mobile,
was sent home on furlough 20 March 1865
never returned to duty.
It is likely that Matthew Norman remained with his unit, engaged in battles in Tennessee, if fit, and
was not furloughed until March 1865, Henry High's furlough date
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Note_02: Camp Chase Arkansas Post Prisoners of War
Matthew M. Norman was captured on 11 January 1863 with the surrender of Fort Hindman, Arkansas Post,
Arkansas.
the Confederate soldiers were held near Fort Hindman for several days after the surrender
on 11 January 1863. On 13 January, the prisoner began the journey to St. Louis, Missouri, on
Union river boats [steamers] via the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers. They arrived St. Louis on
24 January and were held for several days on Arsenal Island below the city.
the Confederate officers were transported by train to Columbus, Ohio, and imprisoned at
Camp Chase; arriving the morning of 01 February 1863. The Confederate enlisted [rank and file]
were transported to and imprisioned at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and/or Camp Butler,
Springfield, Ill.
in early April, prisoners were informed they were to be exchanged. The officers from Camp
Chase were transported, by train, to Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island 30 miles below
Philadelphia, Penn., on the Delaware River, where they were held about two and a half weeks
the officer were transported to City Point, Virginia, aboard the State of Maine; departing 29 Apr
and arriving 01 May 1863
the officer were exchanged and released on 02 May 1863
Meanwhile, the rank and file of the regiment arrived separately and on 30 April wwere
pressed into service to defend Richmond, Virginia, in the event that Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker's
Army of The Potomac defeated Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at the battle of
Chancellorsville, Va. The Confederate Army prevailed and the reorganized 15 Texas Cavalry was
entrained for transport to Jackson, Miss., to bolster CSA General Joseph E. Johnston's
Army of Relief [intended to extricate Vicksburg from Union seize].
On arrival in Chattanooga, the regiment was diverted and re-assigned to Major General
Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee and the campaign for Chattanooga.
The regiments captured at Arkansas Post were depleted in ranks and were consolidated
into brigades. On 25 May 1863, the 6th and 10th Texas Infantries and the 15 Texas
[Dismounted] Cavalry regiments were consolidated under Colonel Roger O. Mills in General
Churchill's Brigade. The brigade reported to camp in Tullahoma, Tennessee, on 30 June 1863.
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