Prairie Blues
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The Prairie Blues was the first company of soldiers organized in Red River County for defense of the Confederate cause in the Civil War. On Saturday, June 8, 1861, a mass meeting was held in Everhart Grove in Becknall Prairie where thirty seven citizens volunteered for service under the name of "Prairie Blues" a company of mounted Rangers.
The following report was made by John Reece, elected Captain of "The Prairie Blues": "State of Texas, County of Red River I, Charles S. Reece, hereby certify that on Saturday the 8th day of June, 1861 at the Everhart Grovein Becknell's Prairie, in Red River County, there was organized a company of Mounted Rangers called the Prairie Blues, and the following are the officers and members of the same" Charles S. Reece, Captain W. A. Elliott, First Lieutenant G. W. Thompson, Second Lieutenant Virgil Baker, Third Lieutenant I. B. Reed, First Sergeant John Turnbull, Second Sergeant Boswell Baker, Third Sergeant Enos Johnson, Fourth Sergeant First Corporal, John Grant Third Corporal, William Waddell Fourth Corporal, John Rogers Ensign, John Duff Bugler, Allen Oliver King Baker Dan Davidson Thomas James Absalom James George Kuykendall Tom Oliver Wm. Reece Geo. Springer H. C. Thompson J. B. Waddle John Allison G. W. Scaff Marvin Scaff B. V. James G. C. Baker W. J. Mullins David Danison Robert Dyer Nick Davis Ed Baldridge Richard McCabe P. H. Randall On which is endorsed: Filed June the 10th, 1861 J. W. Bivins, Clerk Recorded June the 18th, A. D. 1861. John W. Bivins, Clerk |