Captain of the Mississippi Rifles from 1845-1847.
First to mount the walls of Monterey, U.S. Consel to Mexico in 1849.
Signed orders of secession of Texasn on Feb. 1, 1861.
Col. in the 2nd Texas Infantry, brevet brigade commander.
Killed at Fort Robinette Oct. 4, 1862 during the Battle of Corinth.
Monument erected by the Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, the surviving members of the family and admiring friends on Aug. 15, 1912.
-------------------------
From Texas State History Archive
October 4th, 1862 -- Texas hero falls at Battery Robinett
On this day in 1862, on the second day of the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, Confederate general Earl Van Dorn called for a series of headlong frontal attacks against a heavily fortified federal position. Col. William Peleg Rogers of the Second Texas Infantry was ordered to lead the vanguard of the assault on Battery Robinett, a small fort anchoring the center of the Union line. After one bloody repulse, Rogers led a second desperate charge. Remaining on horseback in the face of a barrage of cannon and musket fire, and finally carrying the regimental colors himself, Rogers reached the deep trench fronting Battery Robinett, dismounted, and led several hundred Texans and Alabamans down into the trench, up the steep embankment, and into the fort. Suddenly federal reinforcements closed in from both flanks. Rogers shouted, "Men, save yourselves or sell your lives as dearly as possible." A few seconds later he was struck by multiple rifle shots and died instantly. Scores of others fell with him, and the battle soon ended. The Second Texas Infantry had lost more than half its numbers in casualties. The failure of Rogers's attack sealed Van Dorn's defeat at Corinth. In a remarkable tribute to Rogers's personal bravery, Union general William S. Rosecrans ordered his burial attended with full military honors, a ceremony normally reserved only for Confederate general officers.
Suggested edit: In Calvin Collier's 'The War Child's Children' he writes of the battle:
'In front of Battery Robinett Colonel William P. Rogers of the Second Texas led three separate assaults on this redan stumbling over his own dead each time. On the third try the works were carried and Rogers was shot dead while standing atop the parapet waving his battleflag and urging on his brave Texans. Colonel S. L. Ross and his Sixth Texas went into Robinett side by side with the Second and the gallant Ross fell within a few feet of Rogers, badly wounded.'
~
William P. Rogers, of Houston, who fell at the battle of Corinth while leading his regiment, was born in Georgia, Dec. 27, 1817. In early boyhood his father removed to north Mississippi and settled in Monroe county, where he was reared and educated. He inherited the military talent from his father who had served as captain with distinction in the Indian wars under Gen. Andrew Jackson. He was prepared for the medical profession, which he abandoned for that of the law. In the Mexican War he went out from Columbus as first lieutenant of the company of which Colonel A. K. McClung, the noted duellist, was captain. On the organization of the regiment at Vicksburg, before departing for Mexico, Jefferson Davis was elected colonel, McClung lieutenant-colonel and young Rogers succeeded McClung as captain of company K, 1st Mississippi Rifles regiment. He wan the second man to scale the walls at Monterey, and at Buena Vista was conspicuous for his courage and reckless daring. During President Taylor's administration he was consul at Vera Cruz, and then removing to Washington, Texas, he soon became a prominent lawyer. His name appears as counsel in many important cases in the Supreme Court reports. Having moved to the city of Houston in 1859, he was elected delegate from Harris county to the secession convention in January, 1861, and signed the ordinance. He was offered the command of a regiment in Virginia, but at the solicitation of his wife, accepted instead the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd Texas Infantry. In the spring of 1862 this command was sent east of the Mississippi, and Col. Rogers, detained by illness, joined the regiment on the eve of the battle of Shiloh, in which he participated with distinction. The retreat to Corinth, the defense of that fortified camp against the Federal army, and the retreat thence to Tupelo, followed, in which he faithfully performed his duties. In the fall of 1862, Gen. Bragg having moved into Kentucky with the main army, Generals Price and Van Dorn attacked Rosecrans in the old fortifications at Corinth. In the charge upon the inner works on the second day of the assault, Col. Rogers led his regiment directly against the front of Fort Robinette, and he had just climbed to the top of the parapet and planted the colors, when strong Federal forces were seen on the right, and then a volley from the enemy brought him down and nearly all the men with him.
Source: Texans Who Wore the Gray, Volume I, by Sid S. Johnson,
First to mount the walls of Monterey, U.S. Consel to Mexico in 1849.
Signed orders of secession of Texasn on Feb. 1, 1861.
Col. in the 2nd Texas Infantry, brevet brigade commander.
Killed at Fort Robinette Oct. 4, 1862 during the Battle of Corinth.
Monument erected by the Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, the surviving members of the family and admiring friends on Aug. 15, 1912.
-------------------------
From Texas State History Archive
October 4th, 1862 -- Texas hero falls at Battery Robinett
On this day in 1862, on the second day of the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, Confederate general Earl Van Dorn called for a series of headlong frontal attacks against a heavily fortified federal position. Col. William Peleg Rogers of the Second Texas Infantry was ordered to lead the vanguard of the assault on Battery Robinett, a small fort anchoring the center of the Union line. After one bloody repulse, Rogers led a second desperate charge. Remaining on horseback in the face of a barrage of cannon and musket fire, and finally carrying the regimental colors himself, Rogers reached the deep trench fronting Battery Robinett, dismounted, and led several hundred Texans and Alabamans down into the trench, up the steep embankment, and into the fort. Suddenly federal reinforcements closed in from both flanks. Rogers shouted, "Men, save yourselves or sell your lives as dearly as possible." A few seconds later he was struck by multiple rifle shots and died instantly. Scores of others fell with him, and the battle soon ended. The Second Texas Infantry had lost more than half its numbers in casualties. The failure of Rogers's attack sealed Van Dorn's defeat at Corinth. In a remarkable tribute to Rogers's personal bravery, Union general William S. Rosecrans ordered his burial attended with full military honors, a ceremony normally reserved only for Confederate general officers.
Suggested edit: In Calvin Collier's 'The War Child's Children' he writes of the battle:
'In front of Battery Robinett Colonel William P. Rogers of the Second Texas led three separate assaults on this redan stumbling over his own dead each time. On the third try the works were carried and Rogers was shot dead while standing atop the parapet waving his battleflag and urging on his brave Texans. Colonel S. L. Ross and his Sixth Texas went into Robinett side by side with the Second and the gallant Ross fell within a few feet of Rogers, badly wounded.'
~
William P. Rogers, of Houston, who fell at the battle of Corinth while leading his regiment, was born in Georgia, Dec. 27, 1817. In early boyhood his father removed to north Mississippi and settled in Monroe county, where he was reared and educated. He inherited the military talent from his father who had served as captain with distinction in the Indian wars under Gen. Andrew Jackson. He was prepared for the medical profession, which he abandoned for that of the law. In the Mexican War he went out from Columbus as first lieutenant of the company of which Colonel A. K. McClung, the noted duellist, was captain. On the organization of the regiment at Vicksburg, before departing for Mexico, Jefferson Davis was elected colonel, McClung lieutenant-colonel and young Rogers succeeded McClung as captain of company K, 1st Mississippi Rifles regiment. He wan the second man to scale the walls at Monterey, and at Buena Vista was conspicuous for his courage and reckless daring. During President Taylor's administration he was consul at Vera Cruz, and then removing to Washington, Texas, he soon became a prominent lawyer. His name appears as counsel in many important cases in the Supreme Court reports. Having moved to the city of Houston in 1859, he was elected delegate from Harris county to the secession convention in January, 1861, and signed the ordinance. He was offered the command of a regiment in Virginia, but at the solicitation of his wife, accepted instead the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd Texas Infantry. In the spring of 1862 this command was sent east of the Mississippi, and Col. Rogers, detained by illness, joined the regiment on the eve of the battle of Shiloh, in which he participated with distinction. The retreat to Corinth, the defense of that fortified camp against the Federal army, and the retreat thence to Tupelo, followed, in which he faithfully performed his duties. In the fall of 1862, Gen. Bragg having moved into Kentucky with the main army, Generals Price and Van Dorn attacked Rosecrans in the old fortifications at Corinth. In the charge upon the inner works on the second day of the assault, Col. Rogers led his regiment directly against the front of Fort Robinette, and he had just climbed to the top of the parapet and planted the colors, when strong Federal forces were seen on the right, and then a volley from the enemy brought him down and nearly all the men with him.
Source: Texans Who Wore the Gray, Volume I, by Sid S. Johnson,
Captain of the Mississippi Rifles from 1845-1847.
First to mount the walls of Monterey, U.S. Consel to Mexico in 1849.
Signed orders of secession of Texasn on Feb. 1, 1861.
Col. in the 2nd Texas Infantry, brevet brigade commander.
Killed at Fort Robinette Oct. 4, 1862 during the Battle of Corinth.
Monument erected by the Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, the surviving members of the family and admiring friends on Aug. 15, 1912.
-------------------------
From Texas State History Archive
October 4th, 1862 -- Texas hero falls at Battery Robinett
On this day in 1862, on the second day of the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, Confederate general Earl Van Dorn called for a series of headlong frontal attacks against a heavily fortified federal position. Col. William Peleg Rogers of the Second Texas Infantry was ordered to lead the vanguard of the assault on Battery Robinett, a small fort anchoring the center of the Union line. After one bloody repulse, Rogers led a second desperate charge. Remaining on horseback in the face of a barrage of cannon and musket fire, and finally carrying the regimental colors himself, Rogers reached the deep trench fronting Battery Robinett, dismounted, and led several hundred Texans and Alabamans down into the trench, up the steep embankment, and into the fort. Suddenly federal reinforcements closed in from both flanks. Rogers shouted, "Men, save yourselves or sell your lives as dearly as possible." A few seconds later he was struck by multiple rifle shots and died instantly. Scores of others fell with him, and the battle soon ended. The Second Texas Infantry had lost more than half its numbers in casualties. The failure of Rogers's attack sealed Van Dorn's defeat at Corinth. In a remarkable tribute to Rogers's personal bravery, Union general William S. Rosecrans ordered his burial attended with full military honors, a ceremony normally reserved only for Confederate general officers.
Suggested edit: In Calvin Collier's 'The War Child's Children' he writes of the battle:
'In front of Battery Robinett Colonel William P. Rogers of the Second Texas led three separate assaults on this redan stumbling over his own dead each time. On the third try the works were carried and Rogers was shot dead while standing atop the parapet waving his battleflag and urging on his brave Texans. Colonel S. L. Ross and his Sixth Texas went into Robinett side by side with the Second and the gallant Ross fell within a few feet of Rogers, badly wounded.'
~
William P. Rogers, of Houston, who fell at the battle of Corinth while leading his regiment, was born in Georgia, Dec. 27, 1817. In early boyhood his father removed to north Mississippi and settled in Monroe county, where he was reared and educated. He inherited the military talent from his father who had served as captain with distinction in the Indian wars under Gen. Andrew Jackson. He was prepared for the medical profession, which he abandoned for that of the law. In the Mexican War he went out from Columbus as first lieutenant of the company of which Colonel A. K. McClung, the noted duellist, was captain. On the organization of the regiment at Vicksburg, before departing for Mexico, Jefferson Davis was elected colonel, McClung lieutenant-colonel and young Rogers succeeded McClung as captain of company K, 1st Mississippi Rifles regiment. He wan the second man to scale the walls at Monterey, and at Buena Vista was conspicuous for his courage and reckless daring. During President Taylor's administration he was consul at Vera Cruz, and then removing to Washington, Texas, he soon became a prominent lawyer. His name appears as counsel in many important cases in the Supreme Court reports. Having moved to the city of Houston in 1859, he was elected delegate from Harris county to the secession convention in January, 1861, and signed the ordinance. He was offered the command of a regiment in Virginia, but at the solicitation of his wife, accepted instead the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd Texas Infantry. In the spring of 1862 this command was sent east of the Mississippi, and Col. Rogers, detained by illness, joined the regiment on the eve of the battle of Shiloh, in which he participated with distinction. The retreat to Corinth, the defense of that fortified camp against the Federal army, and the retreat thence to Tupelo, followed, in which he faithfully performed his duties. In the fall of 1862, Gen. Bragg having moved into Kentucky with the main army, Generals Price and Van Dorn attacked Rosecrans in the old fortifications at Corinth. In the charge upon the inner works on the second day of the assault, Col. Rogers led his regiment directly against the front of Fort Robinette, and he had just climbed to the top of the parapet and planted the colors, when strong Federal forces were seen on the right, and then a volley from the enemy brought him down and nearly all the men with him.
Source: Texans Who Wore the Gray, Volume I, by Sid S. Johnson,
First to mount the walls of Monterey, U.S. Consel to Mexico in 1849.
Signed orders of secession of Texasn on Feb. 1, 1861.
Col. in the 2nd Texas Infantry, brevet brigade commander.
Killed at Fort Robinette Oct. 4, 1862 during the Battle of Corinth.
Monument erected by the Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, the surviving members of the family and admiring friends on Aug. 15, 1912.
-------------------------
From Texas State History Archive
October 4th, 1862 -- Texas hero falls at Battery Robinett
On this day in 1862, on the second day of the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, Confederate general Earl Van Dorn called for a series of headlong frontal attacks against a heavily fortified federal position. Col. William Peleg Rogers of the Second Texas Infantry was ordered to lead the vanguard of the assault on Battery Robinett, a small fort anchoring the center of the Union line. After one bloody repulse, Rogers led a second desperate charge. Remaining on horseback in the face of a barrage of cannon and musket fire, and finally carrying the regimental colors himself, Rogers reached the deep trench fronting Battery Robinett, dismounted, and led several hundred Texans and Alabamans down into the trench, up the steep embankment, and into the fort. Suddenly federal reinforcements closed in from both flanks. Rogers shouted, "Men, save yourselves or sell your lives as dearly as possible." A few seconds later he was struck by multiple rifle shots and died instantly. Scores of others fell with him, and the battle soon ended. The Second Texas Infantry had lost more than half its numbers in casualties. The failure of Rogers's attack sealed Van Dorn's defeat at Corinth. In a remarkable tribute to Rogers's personal bravery, Union general William S. Rosecrans ordered his burial attended with full military honors, a ceremony normally reserved only for Confederate general officers.
Suggested edit: In Calvin Collier's 'The War Child's Children' he writes of the battle:
'In front of Battery Robinett Colonel William P. Rogers of the Second Texas led three separate assaults on this redan stumbling over his own dead each time. On the third try the works were carried and Rogers was shot dead while standing atop the parapet waving his battleflag and urging on his brave Texans. Colonel S. L. Ross and his Sixth Texas went into Robinett side by side with the Second and the gallant Ross fell within a few feet of Rogers, badly wounded.'
~
William P. Rogers, of Houston, who fell at the battle of Corinth while leading his regiment, was born in Georgia, Dec. 27, 1817. In early boyhood his father removed to north Mississippi and settled in Monroe county, where he was reared and educated. He inherited the military talent from his father who had served as captain with distinction in the Indian wars under Gen. Andrew Jackson. He was prepared for the medical profession, which he abandoned for that of the law. In the Mexican War he went out from Columbus as first lieutenant of the company of which Colonel A. K. McClung, the noted duellist, was captain. On the organization of the regiment at Vicksburg, before departing for Mexico, Jefferson Davis was elected colonel, McClung lieutenant-colonel and young Rogers succeeded McClung as captain of company K, 1st Mississippi Rifles regiment. He wan the second man to scale the walls at Monterey, and at Buena Vista was conspicuous for his courage and reckless daring. During President Taylor's administration he was consul at Vera Cruz, and then removing to Washington, Texas, he soon became a prominent lawyer. His name appears as counsel in many important cases in the Supreme Court reports. Having moved to the city of Houston in 1859, he was elected delegate from Harris county to the secession convention in January, 1861, and signed the ordinance. He was offered the command of a regiment in Virginia, but at the solicitation of his wife, accepted instead the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd Texas Infantry. In the spring of 1862 this command was sent east of the Mississippi, and Col. Rogers, detained by illness, joined the regiment on the eve of the battle of Shiloh, in which he participated with distinction. The retreat to Corinth, the defense of that fortified camp against the Federal army, and the retreat thence to Tupelo, followed, in which he faithfully performed his duties. In the fall of 1862, Gen. Bragg having moved into Kentucky with the main army, Generals Price and Van Dorn attacked Rosecrans in the old fortifications at Corinth. In the charge upon the inner works on the second day of the assault, Col. Rogers led his regiment directly against the front of Fort Robinette, and he had just climbed to the top of the parapet and planted the colors, when strong Federal forces were seen on the right, and then a volley from the enemy brought him down and nearly all the men with him.
Source: Texans Who Wore the Gray, Volume I, by Sid S. Johnson,
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