The following information was taken from biographical sketches of the units from Shelby County send to the United States – Mexican War (1846-1848). This information was compiled by Bennie E. Nix, 1964.

Having been a Republic since winning her independence from Mexico in 1836, Texas on October 13, 1845 voted to accept the new state constitution, which would make Texas a part of the United States. On December 29, 1845, the U.S. Congress voted to accept Texas as a state in the Union. On February 19, 1846, the United States Flag replaced the Lone Star Flag.

Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the U.S. In the spring of 1846, General Zachery Taylor advanced to the Rio Grande River with a small U.S. Army. A Mexican force crossed the river, and two battles were actually fought on Texas soil before the United States declared war on Mexico, May 13, 1846.

On May 18, 1846, General Taylor crossed the Rio Grande River and captured Matamoros. Later his army captured Monterrey after a fierce battle.

Gen. Winfield Scott, with a force of 10,000 U.S. soldiers, landed at Vera Cruz in March 1847, captured that city, and marched to Mexico City. In September 1847, Mexico City surrendered to Gen. Scott. The war ended, and a peace treaty was signed by the U.S. and Mexico on February 2, 1838.

The two compiled lists are listed separately: A) 1st Texas Mounted Volunteers B) 2nd Texas Mounted Volunteers. Shelby County, Texas had a company in each regiment. These two companies were organized under Captain A.M. Truitt and Captain M.T. Johnson. Both of these officers rose to higher rank in this war. It will be noted that some of Captain Truit’s company appears in both regiments. This was, perhaps, due to transfer or re-organization of the units.

These Shelby County, Texas soldiers were only a part of the 1st Texas Mounted Volunteers. Several men in this list were very prominent in early Texas history. Some of them will be mentioned here; others in the writer’s booklet on Shelby County Officials from 1832 forward to the turn of the century. (Note: This is by no means a complete list of all the men who served in the army during the Mexican War. I will not include all the information listed by Bennie Nix in this article. I will randomly select a person to be included.  There is a total of 135 names on the list for Company A. The complete booklet prepared by Mr. Nix is at the museum if anyone would review it. The V.C in the list stands for Vera Cruz, Mexico.)

John English had been a delegate from the District of Tenaha (Shelby County, in 1833. He was also a member of the Second Congress of the Republic of Texas from this county.

William English was a delegate to the Convention of 1832 and again to the Convention of 1833. The William T. English in this list at age 28 could possibly be that person.

William M. Hewett was a member of the Sixth and Seventh congress of the Republic of Texas from Shelby County.

D.M. Short was later a Captain in the Confederate Army; he was a lawyer, and at different times was a law-partner of two men (Roberts and Henderson; who became governor of Texas. He was also a member of 8th, 11th, and 13th Legislature of the State of Texas.

1. Applegate, James PVT Co E value of horse and equip $110. Remarks: he served until Sept. 21, 1847.

2. Beck, John PVT Co E, age 23 value of horse and equip $120. Remarks: Mus. Out Vera Cruz, Mex., May 23, 1848

3. Chandler, James H. PVT Truit Company age 32 value of horse and equip $110. Remarks: absent on detached duty since 28 May 1847; 1 six shooter lost in service, in battle Feb 25 at Quackalpin and accouter.

4. Davis, Harris 3 Lt/Brev. Lt. Truit Company, age 35 Value of horse and equip $125 sev. Wounded in battle 25 Feb 1848; mus. Out near V.C. May 3, 1848.

5. English, John D., PVT. /1st Lt Truit Co. age 20 Value of horse and equip $160. Remarks:  joined by transfer from Capt. Gillet’s Co. July 31, 1847; elected 1 Lt. 28 Dec; 1 six shooter lost $30; mus. Out near V.C.

6. English, Wm.T PVT Truit Co. age 28; value of horse and equip $165. Remarks: horse died Dec 6; remounted same day; died in City of Mexico Jan 23, 1848.

7. Graves, Joseph PVT Truit Co. age 21 Value of horse and equip. $125. Remarks: horse died Aug 9; remounted the same day; mus. Out near V.C. May 3, 1848.

8. Graves, Wm. PVT Truit Co. age 24 Value of horse and equip $165. Remarks:  joined by transfer from Capt. Gillet’s Co. July 1857; died Dec 26, 1847 at City of Mexico.

9. Hawes, Prince B. PVT Co. E age 27 Value of horse and equip $155. Remarks:  joined Camargo, Mex Apr 1, 1847; 1 six shooter lost $30 and accoutrements; died Dec 15, 1847 at city of Mexico.

10. Hewett, James J. PVT Truit Co. Remarks:  disc. For disability Aug 12.

11. Hewett, Wm. M PVT/2 Sgt Truit Co. Value of horse and equip $170. Remarks: Appt. Sgt Major Oct 2, 1847 at Brazos Island; pt. Q.M. Sgt. Feb 17; mus. Out V.C. Apr 30, 1848.

12. Latham, Lewis PVT Truit Co. age 42 Value of horse and equip $140. Remarks:  mus. Out near V.C. May 3.

13. Mahoney, John Private Company E. age 28.

14. Morris, Elisha, PVT Handley’s Co. Age 23 Value of horse and equip. $120. Remarks:  mus. Out May 3, near V.C.

15. Nail, Abner PVT Truit Co. age 24. Value of horse and equip $150. Remarks:  dangerously wounded in Battle 25 Feb. 1848 at Quactalpan; died Jan. (? Must be June) from the effects of this wound.

16. Ratcliff, John PVT Truit Co. Value of horse and equip $130.  Remarks: horse rendered unfit for service Dec. 25, 1847.

17. Robertson, James M. PVT Truit Co. age 36 Value of horse and equip. $140. Remarks:  1 six shooter lost unavoidably in battle; 1 horse lost at same time; mus. out near Vera Cruz May 3.

18. Sessum, Jacob 3 Corp Truit Co. Remarks:  Co. Muster in roll dated Cartwright’s Mill, Shelby Co., May 12, 1847; period 12 mo.; left in Gen’l Hos. At Jalapa, Nov 24, 1847; died Jalapa, Jan 1, 1848; 2 six-shooters lost $30 each and accoutrements.

19. Sisk, Alfred, PVT Co. E 1 Tex. Mtd. Vols. Value of horse and equip $100. Remarks: mustered in May 12, Shelbyville; enrolled Sept 1, 1847 at Camargo, Mex. For 12 mos.; died at City of Mexico Jan 30, 1848.

20. Strickland, Amos 1st Lt. Co. E., 1 Texas Cav. Value of horse and equip $150. Remarks:  joined may 12, 1847 at Shelbyville, Texas for 12 mos.; resigned Nov 30, 1847 at Jalapa, Mex. ; 2 six-shooters unavoidably exploded and accoutrements lost.

21. Todd, Wm. PVT Truit Co., age 23 Value of horse and equip $165. Remarks:  left Matamoras on detached service Sept 21, 1847, sent by express to frontier of Texas by order of Col. Hays, Apr 25, 1848.