Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-03-18
VISITOR
RECALLS DAYS
OF CIVIL War
Father of Thompson,
Undertaken in Har-
lingen Sees Valley;
Tells of Battles

~
HARLINGEN. March 17.-"They
we're coming down the Mississippi in
boats. and they decided TO get off
and see what We were doing around
In that part OF the country. We en-
tertained them for a while. and they
got back on the boat and went on"
In this manner II. r. Thompson de-
scribes one Of the "littlc scraps Of
personal hand, in talking over old
times.
He is the father Of John r. Thomp-
son. local undertaken, and the grand
father Of NJ. A. Thompson, under
taker az San Benito- And the grand
father himself was an undertaken
until he retired. while another son
was an undertaken At Houston until
he was killed in the negro uprisings
there. A third son Is mayor Of the
city Of Beeville.
Mr.. Thompson Is now SO years old,
and is spending a few days here with
his son. He lives at Hampstead,
Texas. the old family home. and is
n native Texan, having known Gen.
cral Sam Houston and some Of the
founders OF the state.
FObU scarce
"When the war broke out we went
out TO New Mexico. The mar who
formed the company decided he want
ed to be governor of the territory,
and we started out with about 5000
men. After the first encounter the
command was turned over to Tom
Green, who. led our brigade until he
was killed, IN a battle with a federal
gunboat on the Mississippi.
"We got the best OF the firsti SCRAP
out in New Mexico" he said. "but
later we fought a pretty bloody en-
counter, and lost a lot Of men. We
ran so short Of food that there was
practically nothing TO eat The few
cattle we drove aloRnsg Get 10 skinny
that they were NOT fit TO eat, and
the sheep we would run across were
also too skinny to eat. We roasted
the liver, and threw the rest Of them
away.
"Once in a while the boys raided n
federal commissary, and then we
had food. but the raids weren't regu-
lar enough, and We had 70 come
back"
Go To Louisiana
Upon the return of the little band
TO Texas, they were given 60-day
furlourhs to 20 home and fatten up.
and get some horses. Mr.. Thompson
said. They assembled again in San
Antonio, and in 1868 they marched
upon Galveston and captured the
city for the Confedcracy. after the
Union soldiers had captured it once
before.
Then the little command. still IN
der General Tom Green. moved Up
into Louisiana. "We had about
1000 rcn. most of them cavalry
men," air. Thompson said. Banks
was marching south with about &c.
600 men. We entertained him for q
while. but had to drop back. But
later, with more men. we got the bet
ter or the Fcderals. and Banks was
relieved Of command.
Then We marched north. and en-
%countered Steele. who was moving
down with a pretty good army, and
we halted him.
The Federal general had said that
they we're going TO skim the milk Of
Mississippi and louisiana. and churn
u In Texas Well. they never got as
far as the churning.'
He mentioned n lifelong friendship
with a nan named Van Naxon, one
Of the band Of Texas soldiers cap
tured nca the city Of Reynosa,
Mexico. when they were on a fill
clustering expedition. The party
wen into Mexico without orders. and
were captured. The history Of their
drawing from n jar OF black and
white beans 20 determine who should
be executed, and who should be freed
Ia well known in the state.
Cameron in Group
Cameron, after whom the county
Of Cameron was named. was in the
group. He drew a white bean. but
was executed. Van Naxon drew a
white bean. and had better luck. for
he lived to a ripe old age near Mr..
Thompson at Hampstead.
Coming from a point no farther
away than Hampstead. Texas. Mr..
Thompson says he marvels on every
trip TO the Valley at the mild winter
climate, and the early crops. "Why.
l saw tomatoes a foot and n half out
Of the ground" he said, "when we
haven't started planting yet. And
except when you have northcrs for
a few days. it's just like summer
down here az all times Of the year.
He heard Friday that there is an
other Confederate veteran in Har-
linFen. and the two are going 10 get
together. and fight over the Civil
war again