A short history of Robert Arthur Nolan and James Tyre Nolan

Company K, 6^th Texas Cavalry Regiment, CSA

Robert and James were born to Mary Nolin (b. abt 1803, SC; d. 1851, TN), in Wilson County, Tennessee. They had an older brother, William (b. 1822, South Carolina, died 1862 TN) who was listed by the census as deaf and dumb. Their sisters were Temperance (b. aft 1822, SC or TN; Patience C.,( b 1833, TN) and Lydia A.,( b. 1838, TN). Their father was probably James D. Nolin who listed all the above in his will in 1844. They were in Wilson County for the 1850 Census with the family above living with Mary except Temperance who had married a Rutledge. After their mother died in 1851 not much is known of who they lived with or where, but they probably helped their brother William until they went to Texas before 1860. They were 19 and 18 years old in 1860.

Robert Nolan (b. April 1841 in Wilson County TN), was in McKinney, Texas during the 1860 census, and was living in the Josiah Willson home as a field worker. James Tyre (b. Sep.1, 1842, TN; d. Sep. 25, 1906, GA) was living in the home of David C. Wilson, Josiah’s brother, and both Wilsons came from Tennessee. This data is found in the 1860 census. To find them in McKinney came from Robert’s “Request for Pension” in the State of Florida. It stated he had joined the 6^th Texas Cavary Regiment.

In June of 1861, Robert joined, Company “K”, 3^rd Texas Cavalry, Texas State Troops (also known as 11^th TST), under Captain James W. Throckmorton, a future Governor of Texas. The State Troops at that time considered by historians as Texas Rangers. Records were found at both the Ranger museum and at Hill Junior College. The unit was part of a Border Regiment commanded by Col. William C. Young and established for general protection from Indians. The Company was stationed at forts Cobb, and Arbuckle in the Indian Territory. After two months of service along the North Texas Border, on August 31, 1861 the company was disbanded due to a lack of funds in the Texas Treasury. This data comes from military records and the Handbook of Texas Online. A James T. Nowlin was enlisted in a Ranger Company in McKinney in Feb. 1861. He served for three months and was released. It is possible that both Robert and James were in both of these Ranger units but records are not complete.

On September 12th, 1861, Robert and his unit turn up in North Dallas, Texas and are mustered into the Confederate Army as Company K, 6^th Texas Cavalry Regiment, commanded by Capt. Throckmorton. Robert’s brother, James joins Company “B” of the 6^th the same day. These companies start training at Camp Bartow in south Dallas. The units move north of McKinney and then into the I. T. After fighting in the Indian Territories in 1861 and Elkhorn Tavern, AK, James transfers to Company “K”.

Companies I and K’s, first field location was in the Indian Territory from north Texas traveling toward Fort Smith, Arkansas. Along the way a detachment, led by Lt. Col, John Griffith was re-directed to fight Union led Indian units. In December 1861, they were at Fort Gibson in the Cherokee Nation. Many of the troops were sick from measles, but nothing is known of the brothers. A detachment of the regiment fought at the Battles of Chusto Talasah and Chustenahlah and on operations against Chief Hopo-eith-le-yo-ho-la and his Union force of Creeks and Seminole Indians. And won a decisive battle.

The 6^th then begin to travel East across North Arkansas, and was in the Battles at Bentonville, Leetown and Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge), Arkansas between March 6^th and 8^th, but engaged the Union forces only for spirited charge and regroup, because two of the major commanders were killed in the first few minutes of the battle on the 7th.

Companies I and K stayed together in March, April, May, June and July and were

at Camp McIntosh, Camp Murry, and Camp Rogers, Mississippi. The regiment’s horses were shipped back to Texas and the unit went by train and boat to Corinth, Mississippi. The arrival of a large Union force caused the Confederate force to retreat south. In May the whole Army reorganized and a new type of company was established.

The brothers were transferred from Company K to Company I, as sharpshooters on July 17, 1862. Company I then trained as part of Col. Stirman's Sharpshooter Regiment assigned to Col Phiffer's Brigade for the Iuka and Corinth, Mississippi battles in September and October, 1862. The 6^th Texas Cavalry was also assigned to Phifer’s Brigade and fought as Infantry in these battles. Sharpshooter’s were trained as skirmishers and should have been employed across the front of the brigade as shock troops in these battles.

On September 11^th the company forced marched from Saltillo, Mississippi south of Corinth toward Iuka, which is east of Corinth. Their route was circuitous and took 60 miles to get there. The 6^th Cavalry Regiment contained about 800 men at this time and Company I about 100. The battle of Corinth began on the 3^rd. On the 5^th of October 1862, Robert’s arm was broken. How we do not know, but he listed it as one of the reasons for the request for pension. Wounded, he is captured at Hatchie Bridge Tennessee. In a few days he is paroled and returns to Company I.

The 6^th Cavalry reported 143 men wounded or missing after these battles.
The Confederate force, Commanded by Major General Earl Van Dorn, had attacked directly into the Union defenders and drove through the outer works, killing, wounding and taking many prisoners. They made it to the center of the Corinth, but were unable to exploit the situation due to a lack of troops and ammunition; as the attacking units were down to a few men, and failure of reinforcing forces to arrive. As darkness fell the Confederates had to retreat. The Union was unable to exploit the retreat. The next morning as the Confederates left they were able to find a way around the Union blocking force at Hatchie Bridge and were able to escape. An Infantry Division, and the 27^th Texas Cavalry Regiment were decimated after crossing the bridge. The 6^th had just crossed the bridge when the Union opened up on the forward forces in front of them. Only a strong defense by the 6^th and reinforcement from the rear allowed any men to escape. Robert probably broke his arm jumping from the bridge or the embankment near by or was hit by a passing cannon ball. A large number of men were killed and captured by Union forces and more escaped by swimming down stream or racing back across the bridge. All the captured and wounded were taken to Iuka, Mississippi with the wounded and captured from Corinth and were paroled when they were able to travel. General Rosecran even sent word that he had buried the dead and was taking care of the wounded and captured, out of respect for their courage, shown at Corinth.

In December the regimental horses were brought back from Texas and the 6^th was the first regiment remounted. Now they are ready for a raid in which they captured a Union depot at Holly Springs, Mississippi. This raid was the first for the soon to be famous Whitfield / Ross Texas Cavalry Brigade, of which the 6^th is a part.

In January, February, March and April 1863 their camp was at or near Spring Hill, Tennessee, south of Nashville and north of Elkton, Giles County, Tennessee. They had been raised near Nashville and were later married and lived in Elkton. The 6^th fought in two large battles and daily skirmishes. At Thompson’s Station they won a major victory capturing a Union cavalry regiment. In May and June the unit was camped at Birdsong, Mississippi and in July and August at Richland. On July 14^th they left Jackson to scout the rear of the enemy at Clinton, Mississippi. They continued on to Clinton and on September 16^th they encountered the enemy and during the skirmish neither Companies G or I, who were together, lost any men. Shortly after this a detachment of the 6^th raced to the east 200 miles to stop a Union raid into Alabama. They were so successful, the Union thought they were a division. They immediately returned to the defense of Vicksburg, but it was too late.

Robert was listed on detached service in October 1863, with Major White and

again on May 10^th, 1864, but these operations are not explained. Major White was actually killed in a battle at Duck River, Tennessee on April 26, 1863. The detachment engaged Union troops on barges and proceeded to shoot them down. In the early afternoon, Major White was killed. It is likely, but not confirmed that Robert was probably at this fight. Other detached duty after April 1863 may have been named for Major White.

The regiment continued to fight in Tennessee, Alabama. Mississippi, and Georgia. They were part of Brigadier General Lawrence Sullivan “Sul” Ross’s Brigade. Sul Ross was also a future Governor of Texas. At one point the unit was in continuous contact for 100 days. They were known as fierce fighters but lacking the true discipline of the military. They fought all the way through the Atlanta campaign and then with Hood’s Army when it went to re-capture Nashville, Tennessee. This battle was not successful and the Army returned to Northern Alabama and Mississippi.

Both brothers remained in Company I throughout the war and were paroled in May 1865. James last record in 1864, said he was a deserter, but he was paroled with his unit. When Robert was paroled he said his home town was Athens, Texas. A few months after this he married Sarah a Creek or Cherokee Indian girl from Mississippi, maybe Winona? This is an area where the 6^th operated during the war. She and Robert have two children in Mississippi, Oceola (Otis, Asa, Ose) and Argozona (Ida, Anna, Onna) and Sarah disappears about 1870/71. James marries in Giles County, Tennessee in 1865. Both brothers are found in the 1870 census for Elkton, Giles County, TN, as Robbert Noland on page 41, entry 347, Town Section 2. John T. Nolin is listed on page 48, entry 48, District 3.
Robert then marries again in 1871 in Elkton, Giles County Tennessee. His wife is Lucy Francis Newman, b 1856 in Elkton who is also part Cherokee. Robert is found in the 1880 census for Elkton, Giles County, TN as R.A. Nolan with Lucy Frances and 5 children, two being from his first wife. Edmond or Edward Arnold Nolan b 1874 was the grandfather of the author. Edward was probably the first born son of Robert. James is listed in 1880 as James W. Nolan with wife Lucy Ann and four children.

Shortly after 1880 Robert moves his family to Winona, Mississippi and in 1882 then on to Little Lake Weir, Marion County, Florida in the Orange Business. At times Robert lives in Bartow, Tampa, Ocala and near Lake Weir in Orange growing or in construction and has two more children. The big freeze of 1898, wipes out his orange growing interest and takes all his money. In 1902 Robert submits a request for pension from Florida in Ocala, Marion County for Civil War Action. This was granted in 1903. Some time after 1903 he dies. It is said that he is buried in the Micanopy or Redrick, Florida area at a Baptist cemetery, but when and actual location is not known. These are small towns in northwest Marion County, Florida. Lucy Francis is found in Tampa, Florida in 1910 married to Lawrence Noble with her youngest child William Francis and her other child Harold living next door with his wife Alpine (Prevatt). Living in Tampa at that time is a Collie Nolan and his wife Lulu. This was probably Robert’s second son. His daughter Eunice had died as a teenager of typhoid in the 1890's.

Not much is known yet of James Nolan after 1880 until September 25, 1906,

when he dies in Georgia near Cave Springs his daughter’s home. Mary E. A. Nolan had married a doctor named Carr. They lived in an area where Robert and James had fought on two occasions. James’ children have not shown up on the computer horizon, but one, Lawrence “Baird” Nolan is known to be buried in Giles County, Tennessee in the Cate’s Cemetery. He is also listed in some Cate’s documents. Lucy Cates Nolan, his mother is buried in the same cemetery.

This narrative was developed from fact found on the internet and historical documents.

The search continues for more data on their mother, Mary. Their father, James D. Nolin? And other family members of that time. William died in 1862. The author would like to know why or how. Robert died after 1903, but when and where, and why are these facts not known by the family. The search led to the grand children of Robert Harold Sr., Robert’s son born in 1886 and of one of his sons, Heston, who died in 2008. They also knew nothing of Robert.

From the lives of these two soldiers, came a lot of data, which was scattered over the internet. As it grew, the idea of a Brigade site was developed. These two helped bring it all together, under the Whitfield / Ross umbrella. But the data here belongs to the children of these soldiers. Several people provided rosters as did the National Archives. They are credited with the data they developed. I gladly give them credit for their efforts.