George R. Reeves

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about George R. Reeves. Now, the county you're driving through right now, Reeves County, that name is no small thing to carry.

And this marker gives you a sense of the man behind it. George R. Reeves organized a company and captained it in the 11th Texas Cavalry right at the start of the Civil War.

From Texas, he took those men to Arkansas, then into Indian Territory, then all the way to the Kentucky invasion of 1862. That is a long road from home. He was then assigned to Wheeler's Cavalry in Tennessee, and in 1863 he was promoted to colonel and given command of the entire 11th Cavalry.

Colonel Reeves led that regiment at Chickamauga, one of the bloodiest fights the war produced. Then came 1864, and if you thought Chickamauga was a trial, the Atlanta campaign stretched on for a hundred days. A hundred days of fighting.

And when that was done, Reeves and his men were turned loose into guerrilla warfare against Sherman's march to the sea, and then into the battle at Savannah. By 1865 he was still in it, participating in the Carolinas campaign, the war grinding toward its end. The marker calls this a memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy, and George R.

Reeves, from the opening guns to the final campaigns, served just about every mile of it. The state of Texas erected this marker in 1963.

What the marker says

Organized, captained company in 11th Texas Cavalry at start Civil War. Served in Arkansas, Indian Territory, Kentucky invasion of 1862. Assigned to Wheeler's Cavalry in Tennessee. Promoted colonel and command of 11th Cavalry, 1863. Led regiment Chickamauga. In 1864 fought in 100-day Atlanta campaign, guerilla warfare against Sherman's march to the sea, in battle at Savannah. In 1865 participated Carolinas campaign. A memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy. Erected by the state of Texas 1963.