family of Priscilla Williams and green berry Hardwick

LEONARD HOUSTON WILLIAMS, JR. was born October 10, 1828 in Coahuila, Texas, Mexico (Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas), and died March 22, 1920 in Mt. Calm, Hill County, Texas. He is buried at the Old Mt. Calm Cemetery, Mt. Calm, Hill/Limestone County, Texas. He married NARCISSUS JANE (PUSS) ESTES October 26, 1854 in Waco, McLennan County, Texas, daughter of AARON ESTES and ELIZABETH WILSON. She was born August 16, 1840 in Newton County, Missouri-1900 census gives birthdate as Aug 1839, and died November 12, 1916 in Mt. Calm, Hill County, Texas. She is buried at the Old Mt. Calm Cemetery, Mt. Calm, Hill/Limestone County, Texas.

Notes for LEONARD HOUSTON WILLIAMS, JR.:

TAKEN FROM OLD NORTHWEST TEXAS-HISTORICAL-STATISTICAL-BIOGRAPHICAL, VOL I-B NAVARRO COUNTY TEXAS 1846-1860 COMPILED BY NANCY SAMUELS AND BARBARA KNOX

Leonard Houston Williams, Jr. was the son of Leonard Houston Williams and Nancy Isaacks, who was 1/2 Cherokee. See parents for detailed explanation of this Williams family.

"They lived in Hill County 1860 and 1870 and in Eastland County in 1880 (Precinct 2). Also in the same Precinct of 1880 Eastland County were William and Cinderella Williams (ages 75 and 72) and grandson Russell B. Williams (age 11)."

Leonard Houston Williams also served in the Civil War. He is buried in the Old Town Cemetery, Mt. Calm, Hill County, Texas.

TAKEN FROM A HANDBOOK OF WACO AND McLENNAN COUNTY, TEXAS EDITED BY DAYTON KELLEY, PUBLISHED IN 1972 BY TEXIAN PRESS IN WACO

"Leonard Houston Williams, son of Leonard and Nancy (Isaacs) Williams, was born near Nacogdoches, Texas, in 1828. He came to Torrey's Post No. 2 in the spring of 1844 and worked as a teamster for his father's ox wagon line to Houston. The next year, Williams operated a private mail route to Little Rock, Arkansas, from Torrey's through East Texas, riding a mule. In the fall of 1846, he homesteaded 320 acres of land on the headwaters of Williams Creek. He helped his father move George Barnard's post up the Brazos River, across from Comanche Peak in 1849.

During the organization of Hill County in 1852, he held the first election in the southwestern part of the county in his home. Although he had voted against secession, he joined the Confederate Army in 1861 and participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Pleasant Hill. After the war, he began branding and driving stray cattle to the nearest market at New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1873, he took the oath of allegiance and was allowed to vote again.

Williams married Narcissus Jane Estes of Sardis in 1854 at Waco; they were the parents of six children. He died in 1912 near Mount Calm and was buried in the "Old Town" Cemetery in Hill/Limestone County.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bounty Records (M.S., General Land Office); A.Y. Kirkpatrick, EARLY SETTLERS LIFE IN TEXAS AND THE ORGANIZATION OF HILL COUNTY (1909); Mexican Census of Texas, 1829-1835 (M.S., Spanish Archives, General Land Office); Service Records of Leonard Houston Williams, Jr. (National Archives, Washington, D.C.); John K. Strecker, CHRONICLES OF GEORGE BARNARD (Baylor University BULLETIN, September, 1923) by Dan Williams."

His service in the Civil War was with Company I, 19th Regiment of the Texas Cavalry under Col. N.M. Burford.

FROM THE CONFEDERATE GUNS OF NAVARRO COUNTY BY JOHN W. SPENCER, 1986, THE TEXAS PRESS, CORSICANA, TEXAS

CHAPTER VI - DRESDEN'S TEXAS CAVALRY COMPANY - COMPANY I, 19TH TEXAS CAVALRY REGIMENT

Company I of the 19th Texas Cavalry Regiment enlisted at Dresden, Texas on April 2, 1862, with Samuel Wright as Captain, Robert A. Younger as first lieutenant, and four second lieutenants: Nicholas T. Sneed, Robert J. Wright, Robert D. Bills, and T.M. Williams. Captain Wright resigned in March 1863, and was succeeded by Nicholas Sneed as captain. Lieutenant Robert Younger also resigned in 1863.

This company of Navarro County horsemen served with one of Texas's most famous cavalry organizations-Parson's Texas Cavalry Brigade. It was composed of the 19th Texas Cavalry, the 12th Texas Cavalry, the 21st Texas Cavalry, and Morgan's Texas Cavalry Battalion. Morgan's outfit included Captain B.D. McKie's company of cavalrymen from Navarro County.

The service of Parson's Texas Cavalry Brigade consisted mainly in scouting, advanced picket duty for the army behind it, and in being the eyes of the Trans-Mississippi Department. The regiments and companies of the brigade were sometimes stretched out as much as one hundred miles, where they were further divided into squads of two to five men.

Commander of the 19th Texas was Colonel Nathaniel M. Burford, who had come to Texas in 1846. Burford had been in a law partnership in Dallas with John H. Reagan, served as district attorney of Dallas County, and was appointed district judge in 1856. The brigade fought in 48 distinct engagements, mostly independent and unsupported, never sustaining a defeat, except with the ironclads on the Red River, and in the last battle of the Red River Campaign, the Battle of Yellow Bayou in Louisiana. The brigade operated from Cape Girardeau in southeast Missouri southward to the mouth of the Red River. One of the highlights of the brigade was the capture of the entire First Wisconsin Cavalry Battalion of about 600 men.

FORMATION OF COMPANY I

The Navarro County men enlisted in Company I of the 19th Texas Cavalry in April 1862. By June 20 the graybacks were on the march to Dallas where they began regimental drill at Camp Stonewall Jackson. From Dallas, they went to Plano, and left that area on July 13, 1862 towards Paris, camping on Pine Creek near that city. Remaining in that area until about the first part of August, they then marched to the Red River. Later, they went on to a point a few miles northeast of Clarkesville, Texas, where they camped until August 27, 1862.

THE COTTON PLANT FIGHT

The Texans now move on into Arkansas, passing through Camden, Pine Bluff, Little Rock, and, then in late 1862, they fight in their first battle. It happens near a small town in Arkansas called Cotton Plant. Parson's Texas Cavalry Brigade consists at this time of the 19th Texas Cavalry, the 12th Texas Cavalry, the 21st Texas Cavalry, Morgan's Battalion and Pratt's battery.

The brigade is on guard at this little town, located just below the east border of White River bottom, about 60 miles northeast of Little Rock, on Cache River. Federal soldiers are moving down from Missouri to form a junction with their forces already on the Mississippi River. But Parson's brigade of cavalry stands smack in the line of their march.

The Texans form a line of battle on both sides of the road leading into Cotton Plant, and the battle opens with charges and countercharges by both sides. Finally the Federals began to slowly give way, and then started to make a hasty retreat. During the battle, Lieutenant Tom Curington of Ellis County is shot through the heart. D.H. Richardson of Kemp, Texas, jumps from his own horse as Curington is falling, rushing to him. But nothing can be done for him, and he died on the battlefield. Richardson took a pistol from the clenched fingers of Curington and later sent it to his widow at home in Ellis County. Twenty-one of the Texas cavalrymen are killed and many are wounded. They capture many horses, mules, and wagons loaded with commissary. Richardson said that the Texans were hungry for what the wagons contained.

INTO MISSOURI

The Navarro Countians continued duty in and around Cotton Plant and Des Arc, Arkansas for two or three months, and then on April 18, 1863, they crossed the border into Missouri. They reached Bloomfield about midnight on April 23, after having swam their horses across the river.

But they stayed in Bloomfield only about two hours before crossing the White Water River about 3:00 in the afternoon on April 24, 1863. After passing through Spring Hill, they arrived at a battlefield where a fight had just occurred, and the dead were being buried and the wounded cared for. On April 25, the company of Navarro Countians camped with the rest of the brigade five miles below Cape Girardeau, and on April 26, they had an engagement with Federal soldiers.

The Confederates were repulsed in this fight, and on the retreat they passed through Jackson, Missouri after marching all night. On April 27, they recrossed the White Water River and camped eight miles south. Then on April 28, 1863, they camped about eight miles north of Bloomfield, Missouri, all this time on the retreat.

Though they were on the retreat, it was orderly and slow, and an attempt was made every day to check the Federals. Most of the time the Navarro County men were in the rear, and were always in the skirmishes. But the Missouri expedition cost the 19th Texas in casualties - five killed, nineteen wounded, and nine missing.

On April 29, the brigade lined up in line of battle on the heights near Bloomfield and stayed until April 30, when they moved to Chalk Bluff, Missouri. On May 2, 1863, the Navarro Countians were again the rear guard of the division, along with the rest of the 19th Texas Cavalry. A Federal cavalry charge was made on them, but they received it in gallant style, and then counterattacked with the rear guard of the rear guard, including the men of B.D. McKie's company in Morgan's battalion. The 19th Texas had one man killed, ten wounded and eight missing. They captured a number of prisoners, including one captain, and killed the lieutenant colonel who was leading the federal charge.

On May 2, 1863, the brigade took up a position in the rear of the line of battle, with the 19th Teas being sent to the extreme right of the line. The Federals opened fire on the 19th Texas with cannons, shot and shell. Between midnight and daybreak the Texas brigade was quietly withdrawn across the river.

INTO LOUISIANA

After the Missouri expedition, the Navarro County graybacks move with the rest of the 19th Texas into Louisiana. On June 29, 1863, they had another fight in the Mississippi River bottom below Lake Providence. They continued duty in Louisiana until late 1863 or early 1864 when they were ordered to Hempstead, Texas. This order was countermanded, however, and the brigade was ordered back into Louisiana.

BATTLES IN LOUISIANA IN 1864

The Navarro Countians' brigade was ordered toward Mansfield, Louisiana, in April 1864, but they arrived too late to fight in the Battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, arriving in the battle area about Tuesday, April 12, 1864. They were described in a diary as being "all fresh and full of vigor". Actually, a part of the brigade reached Mansfield on the evening of April 9, and were rushed to General Thomas Green on April 10 and April 11, participating in the Battle of Blair's Landing on April 12, 1864.

SKIRMISHES

After the affair at Blair's Landing, the graybacks from Texas were ordered to a position near Grand Ecore, Louisiana, and occupied a position at the forks of the road leading to Grand Ecore and Natchitoches. While here, they received orders from General Taylor to attack the Federals at daylight on April 23. The Texans were to push forward until they could drive no further. At this time, the regiment of the Navarro Countians was the only one available for such duty, and they saddled their horses and moved out on the morning of April 23, 1864.

The bluecoat pickets, however, had been withdrawn, and as the Texans marched into Grand Ecore, they found it had been evacuated. Driving on toward Natchitoches, they clashed with the rear guard of the Federal army and drove it rapidly through Natchitoches. The other regiments of the brigade soon joined the 19th Texas at Natchitoches, and occupied the ground around Sibley's Lake, having driven the Federals about seven miles below Natchitoches.

The brigade is soon ordered to McNutt's Hill, and assigned the duty of occupying the roads to Alexandria. Skirmishing was constant from April 29 to May 7, and several times the Federals came out in large force and hammered the brigade back. On May 5, a large force attacked the Texans, and again on May 6 they were attacked with strength. On May 7, the 19th Texas was withdrawn, and the brigade was forced to retreat over the Bayou Bouef because of the superior Federal forces.

The 19th Texas, the 12th Texas and Morgan's Battalion proceeded on May 8 to a position on the Bayou Bouef, arriving on May 9. Here they relieved the troops that had been occupying that position, covering the road leading south to Cheneyville. During the days from May 9 to May 14, skirmishing was constant, and attack was made daily with sufficient vigor to bring out the Federal line of infantry. The pursuit continued to May 15, 1864, when the brigade engaged the Federals rear guard again near Marksville, capturing a wagon and 30 prisoners. They also left several Federal dead on the field.

On May 17, Parson's brigade was put in the advance in pursuit of the Federals again, and they skirmished and fought with them until almost dark, when the Federals brought out their heavy artillery and opened up on the graybacks. The position the Federals occupied at this time would become better known the following day as the battlefield of the Battle of the Yellow Bayou.

THE BATTLE OF YELLOW BAYOU

The following day, on May 18, 1864, the Battle of Yellow Bayou was fought. The 19th Texas Cavalry charged in two columns, but were repulsed with heavy loss. No figures are available for the Navarro Countians, but their brigade had about 200 killed and wounded in this last engagement.

RETURN TO TEXAS

The remaining duty of the Navarro Countians in Louisiana was in doing picket duty on the various bayous, until they were returned to Texas some time late in 1864 or early 1865. A general reorganization of Texas troops took place in February 1865, and the 19th Texas Cavalry, along with Morgan's Texas Cavalry, became a part of a new cavalry division known as the Second Texas Cavalry Division.

DISCHARGE

On May 25, 1865, at Hempstead, Texas, the Navarro Countians were discharged. They returned to their homes after 38 months of arduous service with the knowledge that they had done their duty.

DRESDEN'S TEXAS CAVALRY COMPANY - COMPANY I, 19TH TEXAS CAVALRY REGIMENT

Williams, Leonard H., private, age 31. He was 5'9" tall, had gray eyes, and brown hair. He was discharged August 13, 1862.

Notes for NARCISSUS JANE (PUSS) ESTES:

TAKEN FROM OLD NORTHWEST TEXAS-HISTORICAL-STATISTICAL-BIOGRAPHICAL VOL. I-B 1846-1860 NAVARRO COUNTY COMPILED BY NANCY SAMUELS AND BARBARA KNOX, PUBLISHED BY FORT WORTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

"We note the eldest child, Narcissa Jane, was some 10 years older than the eldest of the other children, this leads to speculation that she was a daughter by a first wife and not Elizabeth Wilson.

Lived in Hill County in 1860; were in Eastland County by 1880 (Precinct 2). Also in the same Precinct in 1880 Eastland County were William Williams and Cinderella Williams (ages 75 and 72) and grandson Russell B. Willams (age 11)."

CHILDREN OF LEONARD HOUSTON WILLIAMS, JUNIOR AND NARCISSUS JANE (PUSS) ESTES