Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - 1st Texas Infantry Regiment

 

 Over the past several weeks, I've been working on another Confederate infantry regiment. This time it's the 1st Texas, part of the Texas Brigade, which I have already finshed the regiments of the 5th Texas and 3rd Arkansas. 

The 1st Texas Infantry Regiment 

 I do enjoy working on regiments but when I embark on one, I know I'm in for at least six weeks of hard slog. Plus there's a lot of careful figure selection from the wonderful Dixon range to go through first. 

 Assembled in Richmond, VA in August 1861, the 1st Texas consisted of 10 companies with 2 added subsequently. As part of the Texas Brigade, it fought under the Army of Northern Virginia from Seven Pines to Cold Harbor before latterly, the Siege of Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign. 

 The regiment was known for its high casualty rate (82.3%) at the battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg); the highest suffered by any regiment, North or South, on a single day during the entire war.

 At Gettysburg, they achieved much for fighting with lesser numbers than the enemy, successfully taking the major objectives they were assigned to. Under heavy fire from their position at Seminary Ridge, the order to take the heights was finally issued with Lieutenant Colonel Work yelling "Follow the Lone Star Flag to the top of the mountain!" The 1st Texas subsequently played a significant part in causing the Union troops to withdraw from their position on Devil's Den. 

  Mrs. Louis T. Wigfall, wife of the 1st Texas Regiment’s Colonel, gave her wedding dress to be made into a Lone Star Flag for the Regiment.

–The flag of the Texas camp, at Camp Wigfall, near Dumfries, Va., is made of the bridal dress of Mrs. Wigfall. Says the correspondent of the Austin Gazette:

It bears the emblem of the “Lone Star,” and this is of pure white silk, set in blue ground; the fold are purple and white. The hearts of all are riveted to it. It never will be given up. An old war-worn warrior approached it, and as his eyes gazed steadily upon the banner, he said: “That star was made of the bridal dress of the lady of our gallant colonel. She worked it with her fair hands, and gave it to us to carry through the battles of our country. How could we fall to protect. How could we fall to protect it with our lives? No, Sir! I never failed to meet the enemy when that star was our watchword, and now when our whole South is in danger, I feel that my poor life can be given up easily upon that flag as my shroud.” The old fellow with his grey heirs, still stands before my memory. Such is the feeling of every Texan.

 There will be more Dixon ACW to come soon; I'm currently working on an artillery piece plus a few Confederate cavalry.