TIPTON, JACOB CAROLL (1834 ~ 1917). Jacob Caroll Tipton, Confederate veteran, was born in Alabama in 1834. After moving to Texas in 1850, he settled in Rusk County near the community of New Salem.
Following the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in Captain James F. Wiggins' Company of Cavalry, which was also called the New Salem Invincibles, on September 21, 1861. After being transferred to Camp Pickett, near San Antonio, the Invincibles were mustered into Confederate service on October 26, 1861, as Company F of the 7th Texas Cavalry.
In December 1861, the 7th Cavalry was assigned to General Henry H. Sibley's Brigade in the Army of New Mexico. Soon after, a battalion of five companies, A, B, F, H and I, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Sutton, moved west. Tipton was likely in company with the battalion, as he was a member of Company F.
Once Tipton and the 7th Cavalry arrived in New Mexico, in February 1862, the men fought in the Battles of Valverde, Glorieta Pass, and Peralta. After the disastrous New Mexico Campaign, Sibley and the Army of New Mexico returned to San Antonio in August 1862.
The 7th was reassigned to Colonel Thomas Green's Brigade, and, on January 1, 1863, fought in the Confederate retaking of Galveston. Tipton was admitted to the General Hospital in Houston after the battle on January 11, suffering from an intestinal illness. His hospital record states that he was furloughed from service on January 12 and was transferred to a military hospital in Hempstead. Tipton rejoined his regiment before it moved into western Louisiana in April.
Once in Louisiana, the 7th Cavalry took part in the Battle of Fort Bisland at Bayou Teche. Tipton fought at Fort Bisland and was captured on April 14, 1863. While held prisoner in New Orleans, he was admitted to the St. James Hospital on May 8, suffering from the same illness that hospitalized him earlier in the year in Houston. He was released from the hospital twenty days later and was transported to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, where he was to have been part of a soldier exchange. No information about the exchange or his release has been located. However, his records indicate he was back with his regiment by January of 1864.
Tipton likely participated in the Red River Campaign and the ensuing battles, which included Many, on April 2, 1864; Mansfield, on April 8, 1864; Pleasant Hill, on April 9, 1864; Monett's Ferry, on April 23, 1864; the skirmish at Bayou Cotile, on April 25, 1864; McNutt's Hill, on April 26, 1864; and Mansura, on May 16, 1864. The regiment was ultimately surrendered by General Kirby Smith on June 2, 1865.
After the War, returned to his home in Rusk County, where he worked as a farmer. In 1903, he moved to Comanche County, Texas and worked as a farmer. However, he suffered from numerous health problems and applied for a Confederate Pension from the State of Texas in January 1904. Tipton drew his pension in Comanche for some time, but eventually moved to Brownwood, Texas, where he lived with his son, a W. L. Tipton. No record has been found of his wife's name and he was a widower by the time he moved into the Confederate Men's Home in Austin.
Tipton moved into the Home on September 30, 1910. He was released at his own request on August 20, 1916, but returned to the Home on December 30 of that same year. Tipton remained in the Home until his death on December 17, 1917. He was buried in the Texas State Cemetery three days later.
Information taken from: Compiled Military Service Records; National Park Service website, http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss; the 7th Texas Mounted Volunteers website, http://gosanantonio.com/pages/members/7texascav/regimental_history.htm#13; Application for a Confederate Pension; Confederate Home Roster; Death Certificate; and information supplied by descendant, Carolyn Tipton.
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