Texans “Lee’s favorite shock-troops”
“There never were such men in an army before. They will go anywhere and do anything if properly led.” - ( General Robert E. Lee in a letter to General John Bell Hood, May 21, 1863)
One of his aides approached him and saluted, and Lee asked if all the commands were ready for the advance. “none but the Texas Brigade, General.” said the aide. “The Texas Brigade is ALWAYS ready,” commented Lee.
The Texas Brigade was to Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) what the Old Guard was to Napoleon and the Imperial Army of France. First in advance. Shock troops in battle. The rear guard in retreat.
And John Bell Hood was the worst general in the Confederacy.
He single handed destroyed a large portion of the Confederacy’s Armies.
I think Nathan Bedford Forrest said something like he would have killed Hood if he knew what he was going to do at Nashville.