35th Texas Cavalry (Likens')

older brother of my g-grandfather. Please e-mail if you have any info. He was from Polk County.

Enlisted in Company A in Crockett, Texas on September 12, 1863. Discharged on May 24, 1865.

Entered J. R. Burns Cavalry Battalion in the Summer of 1863 which merged with James B. Likens' Battalion to form James B. Likens' 35th Texas Cavalry. There are TWO Texas cavalry regiments with the number '35' so often in the Official Records my ancestor's unit is called 'Likens' Regiment'. No muster rolls exist, so I am looking for information anywhere to form a roster of the men who served. I am also writing a book on this regiment.

He was a nurse in a company hospital

Two days after his 17th birthday, young John became a substitute for his father Squire Stevens (probably a local militia company at the time). When Capt Gus Warren's company was called to Tyler in Sept 1863 to organize into Likens' Battalion CSA, Squire took his son's place and sent him home. John sold his father's best mule, bought a horse, returned to the company and enlisted under his own name in October 1863. Likens and Burns Battalions were consolidated at Houston in November 1863 and 3 independent companies from Terrell's Regiment were added to form Likens' 35th Texas Cavalry. The regiment served on the Texas Gulf Coast until March 1864 when they were ordered to support Gen Richard Taylor in the Red River Campaign. After Gen Banks' Federal army was driven back to the Mississippi River, the 35th served along the upper Atchafalaya River until February 1865. The regiment was dismounted and stationed at Galveston until the end of the war. Private John A. Stevens was given a Soldier's Discharge on May 25, 1865 which is still in possession of the family along with 22 confederate bills he brought home after the war.

Joseph Shockler, an immigrant from Germany, was born in 1798, came to the US in 1812 and had been part of the Texas Army of the Republic. He was granted property in Cherokee County Texas along the Neches River. His son, Thomas, was enlisted in the 7th Texas Infantry, was captured at Ft. Donelson, held in Chicago as prisoner and was exchanged at Vicksburg. After the Battle of Raymond this boy died in hospital, cause unknown. His father, Joseph, then joined the 35th and was a blacksmith in Company I. He was mustered out after the war and died in 1902 at age 104. His youngest son, James, joined Borders Cavalry Brigade(dismounted) and served at the Union Prison Camp in Tyler Tx.