Winnie Davis Camp No. 108 UCV Records from Membership Register   B. F. Marchbanks Elected 1904 or 1905 Ent State Serv 1861 Pvt Co E, 4 Tex Cavalry; ent Conf Serv Oct 23, 1861, Pvt Co E, 12 Texas Cavalry; engagements: Battle with Porter's gunboats at Blair's Landing on Red River, April 12, 1864; Gen. Tom Green, commanding, killed here.  Continued in pursuit of Gen. Banks to close of Yellow Bayou fight at close of day May 18, 1864 - during which time from April 12 to May 18, inclusive, I was with my company all the times engaged with sharpshooters.  Detailed Duty: Disbanded by Col. W. H. Parsons - Why - Commanding Brigade; disch close of war May 23, 1865. " I was born Dec. 5, 1839 Dekalb Co. Tenn.  Was by reason of sickness of my brother Newton B., who died Sept. 1864 while at home on detail duty, and was sick with results of measles July 7, 1862 when Cotton Plant battle was fought and not in camp when Col. Parsons made attack and captured federal camp at --->>  I wish to say to him who may read this after my death, I have no reason to be ashamed of my record as a Confederate soldier." /s/ B. F. Marchbanks B. F. Marchbanks B. F. Marchbanks came to Ellis County in 1851.  The family sold their land on the Cumberland River in Tennessee and started for Texas.  The caravan was made up of relatives, neighbors, slaves, livestock with wagons, two carryalls and one barouche in which the grandmother rode They crossed the Trinity "at a little village called Dallas" and moved on to Red Oak Creek where some of the group decided to settle. Boling Marchbanks family established a homestead two and one-fourth miles east of Waxahachie and he attended the first school ever taughter in ellis County.  His mother died in 1859 - the same year he entered Austin College at Huntsville where he was at the head of his class.  When the South seceded from the Union and preparations fotr war were underway, he volunteered.  Excerpts from his memoirs describe the situation in Ellis County. "In 1861 Governor Clark authorized W. H. Parsons to organiza a cavalry regiment.  Ten companies were organized in August and non-commissioned officers were elected.  They had assembled at Cottonwoods Springs near the Tarrant's old homestead, just east of Waxahachie on the north side of Chambers Creek.  On September 11, in answer to a bugle call, the ten companies formed a hollow square of about twelve hundred men.  Colonel Parsons, mounted on a spirited horse, arrived and was unanimously elected Colonel of what became known as the Fourth Texas Cavalry.  The ten companies were sworn into service and officers were chosen. "The first from Ellis County to give their lives for the cause were Lieutenant Brown McDonald, a young Waxahachie lawyer and Gum Lowrey of the Ellis County Blues, known as 'Hell Roaring Blues." Major E. W. Rogers was in command of our charging column." After the war, B. F. was given the unofficial title of "Colonel." He married his sweetheart, Molly, the "girl who had waited for him," and moved to Chatfield where he served as County Surveyor of Navarro County.  They became the parents of three children, B. F. Jr., Will and Bess.  While the children were still small, Mollie died.  In 1884, B. F. was offered the position of principal of the Ennis School at a salary of $700 a year.  He was to keep the position for five years.  Mr. Hall was superintendent of the school and in 1886 his daughter, Lyda, and B F. were married.  The Halls were from Monroe, La., where Lyda was born in 1861.  In 1885 B. F. had joined the Ennis Masonic Lodge by affiliation and was immediately elected Master, a post he held for two years. He had received his law degree and been admitted to the Bar.  He practiced law and served as City Attorney of Ennis. The following letters were copied a number of years ago while in the possession of Mrs. J. R. McDonald, a desdendant of B. F. Marchbanks and Mollie Hodge] San Augustine August 16, 1864 Miss Mollie After the absence of near two months our little party of 40 men are again upon the march to rejoin our commander now in the field, La. Near over four months have past since I have heard from you but I hope you have been since that time born softly and sweetly unpon the wings of time, that each passing moment has brought to you increased happiness During my absence from the Command especially while near Moscow, I as well as the most of our boys enjoyed myself finely. I formed the acquaintance of several very nice and interesting young ladies, also that of a very dashing young widow - I have a young lady friend at Moscow with whom I became acquainted while at school I was received by her and her family with more than expected kindness....[she] has one of the most beautiful and accomplished ladies I ever met for a sister....I saw John Landingham on his way to Texas he gave us the latest reliable news from La he reports our Brigade on the march to Black river to join the greater part of Genl wharton's Corps occasional skirmishing with the enemy talk in camp of crossing ten thousand Infantry to the East - no ordered to that effect, boys in good health and in fine spirits. I hope when I reach Camp I shall find a letter from you in reply to mine wrote in L. I am most respectfully your friend, /s/ Boling Marchbanks Sep 18th 1864 Mr Boling Marchbanks My Friend, I received your last letter soon after I answered your second letter. I was very glad to hear that you had spent a portion of your time so pleasantly. I hope you will continue to be so fortunate. When I wrote you last my Mother and Father [Robert and Elizabeth Hodge] were both ill. I am very sorry to say that is the case yet. My Father is quite sick this evening. I am almost worn out waiting on the sick if I was not so uneasy I should get sick my self I steal a few moments from the sick room to write....Mrs. Neel is hear Miss Mattie was married on last friday I have just heard from Mrs. Neel that Mr. Heper is at home and it is reported that he is to be married also that your brother Nute is very ill. Your Sister Anna has been sick also but is better. There is to be a weding in Waxahachie on monday night I have forgoten the ladys name. some old maid I believe. I have not received a letter from Mag since I wrote you last I do not know what to think of her. My brother [James Hodge] is at home still but will leave next week. I am somewhat surprised that Mr. Heper did not call to see us. he passed within three miles of us but I suppose he is excusable as he was anxious to see his Lady Love and had no moments to wait on friends. I suppose you have received my letter sent my Mr. Robert Cooksey. I was very much surprised to receive your last letter but was glad to find you so cleaver a correspondent it is the kind I like. I saw Robert Baird last evening. I hope you will read this with patience. I remain as ever Your Friend /s/ Mollie January 27th 1865 Mr Boling Marchbanks My Friend I received your last letter sometime ago and have also answered it by mail but fearint that you will never receive it I will write again, my last letter was written at Waxahachie. I spent several days there and one at your father's house. I had quite a pleasant visit. I received a letter from Mag day before yesterday, she and Bettie were both sick she wrote in her letter that the news they had from you was that you were at Viana? with your relatives. I hope you have had a pleasant visit, my brother is now with us he is looking badly. My mothers health is improving. I have just returned from a visit to Corsicana. I had a lively time while there formed the acquaintance of half a dozen young men but did not fall in love. I also attended a consert while there every thing went off very nicely. I enjoyed it finely. I have visited a good deal lately as my mother is now able for me to heave her and I have been confined at home very close for several months I have passed my time more pleasantly than I anticipated we have not had a single young man home for several months not since Robert Baird left we have been hourly expecting some but as yet have been disappointed. mr. Jo Cooksey I understand got home a few days ago. he has been very fortunate Mag had the blues when she wrote because Mr. H. is not coming home this winter. I am very sorry for it on Mag's account. Your father was looking for you home when I last saw him. I made the acquaintance of your brother while in town. I like him very much and think he is very good looking he is quite bashfull. I must tell you I heard that you and Miss Lizzie McDaniel (I believe that is her name) were engaged and would marry the first time you came home. As I am a good friend of yours I am anxious to see what kind of a young lady you intend marrying I had never heard you speak of Miss Lizzie I had a very nice sweetheart given me not long ago from Ellis County perhaps you have seen him. I never have myself it is Mr Davis he has been badly wounded and cant return [to the army]. I am expecting to see him soom. I can't imagine how it is that soldiers from every Reg are at home and none from Parsons' or at least from Brown's company....near two thirds of Hervey;s company are at home but most are married men and of course they have more to bring them home. There is an old gentleman living at Fairfield that says this war will end in six months. he gets all his proof from the bible. I hope he may be correct although I have no confidence in what he says....It has been near a year since I made your acquaintance and a year the 29th day of next March since I saw you. I fear it will be a long while before I have the pleasure of seeing as many of my friends together as I did last spring. they were pleasant times for me. What has become of Mr. R. Cooksey and T. F. Litton? I was very sorry to hear of the death of Mr. Bonner. There has been no wedings lately that I know of nor any deaths. I hope I shall hear from you very soon, give my respects to Mr. Heper I remain as ever your friend /s/ Mollie   Copyright © 2002-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:19:04 MDT