By Joyce Chiles Hines
In 1862 Jesse, along with many Missouri Confederates, left
Jackson County Missouri for Bonham, Fannin Co. Texas. On
March 1, 1862 Jesse enlisted in the 34th Texas Cavalry. He
served under Captain J. R. Russel, originally as a 2nd
Lieutenant and later was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He was
stationed at Camp Alliston near Shreveport, Louisana. On May
18, 1864, Jesse Russell Youree was captured at Yellow Bayou
and transported to New Orleans where he was held as a
prisoner of war. On July 31, 1864, Jesse was transferred to Red
River Landing, where he was exchanged for a Union soldier of
equal rank. Jesse was in poor health as a result of his captivity
but returned to his unit where he continued to fight for the
Confederacy until it lay down its arms. On June 19, 1865, Jesse
signed a pledge never again to bear arms against the United
States of America. He returned to his home in Oak Grove,
Missouri where, according to the 1880 census, he was
employed as a livery man.
The Youree Family had a long history of being horsemen and raised and raced horses back in
Murfreesboro, Rutherford Co., Tennessee where Jesse was born. Jesse was the youngest of 15
children born to William Hart Youree and Mary Carnahan of Murfreesboro Tennessee and later
Jackson County Missouri.
According to the Youree Family Bible, registered on May 19, 1870 with the Jackson County
Missouri Clerk, Jesse's Family are as follows:
William H. Youree b. July 26, 1789
Mary Carnahan Youree b. January 3, 1795
Elizabeth Youree b. April 18, 1814
Francis Youree b. December 15, 1815
Andrew Youree b. December 15, 1815 twin of the above
John Youree b. December 01, 1817
James Youree b. March 12, 1819
David Youree b. March 14, 1821
William Youree b. August 13, 1823
Joseph Youree b. July 10, 1825
Ann Youree b. May 21, 1827
Thomas Youree b. April 01, 1829
Robert Youree b. March 14, 1831
Mary Youree b. February 25, 1833
Martha Youree b. April 01, 1835
Athaliah Youree b. January 26, 1838
Jesse Russell Youree b. November 26, 1840
Jesse enlisted with his Missouri cousins. These may have been nephews. As you can see there
was considerable differences in the ages of his siblings. These Yourees returned to Shreveport
after the War and became prominent bankers there. There is a Youree Ave. in Shreveport. A.J.
Adair visited the area in the 1920's and wrote an article in his newspaper about it.
Jesse married Frances in 1862 in Jackson County Missouri. He left almost immediately for Texas.
His wife Frances Wallen Youree, was listed in the 1880 census and being a milliner. It was by
making hats that Frances held her family together during Jesse's frequent bouts with ill health and
later after his death. Five children were born to Jesse and Frances:
1. Albert born 1863
2. John Robert born 1878
3. Oda born 1873
4. George born 1775
5. Lillian Mae born 1877
Jesse died at the age of 40 (1881), having never fully recovered from his
war and capture experience. He is buried in the Oak Grove Missouri
Jesse's daughter Oda Youree married Abner John (A. J.) Adair,
Missouri and Civil War Historian. Abner was the owner and editor of
the Oak Grove Banner and later the Odessa Democrat. He interviewed
many Civil War Veterans and wrote numerous articles for the
"Confederate Soldier Magazine." A. J. planned to write a book about
the Civil War but died suddenly and did not complete this task.
Sue Ellis Adair, (my mother) daughter of Oda Youree, third child of
Jesse and A. J. Adair represented the Daughters of the Confederacy for
the State of Missouri in Richmond, Virginia in 1932. Sue was 18 years old at the time and is seen
here in a Civil War Era dress worn at that time by Julia Jane Perrin, the grandmother of her future
husband, Morton Perrin Chiles, Jr. of Jackson County, Missouri.
If you would like some really good reading which helps explain the background of the Jackson
County boys, I recommend Tears and Turmoil: Order Number 11 by Joanne Chiles Eakin. It is
a short but powerful book about what happened to those left behind.
Confederate Service Record
J. R. Youree, 2nd Lt., Co. E, 34th Texas Cavalry, is found in the National Archives Microfilm
34th Cavalry Texas, J. R. Youree, 2nd Lt., Co. E, "3-" (sic) Regiment Texas Cavalry, appears on a Register containing Rosters of Commissioned Officers, Provisional Army Confederate States. Date of appointment: 1 Mar 1862.
Confederate Archives, Chapter 1, File No. 92, page 494.
Jesse R. Youree, 2nd Lt., Co. E, 2nd Regiment Texas Dismounted Partisans, appears on a copy
of a Roster of the organization named above. Roster dated Camp Allston near Shreveport, LA,
May 23, 1863. Date of appointment 27 Jun 1862. Remarks: Absent without leave.
Muster roll dated Feb. 28 - June 30, 1863, J. R. Youree, 2nd Lt., Co. E, 34th Texas Cavalry, (2nd
Regiment Texas Partisan Rangers, enlisted March 1, 1861 at Bonham, TX, by Capt. J. R. Russell
for 3 years. Present, remarks: commutation for transportation from Bonham to Washita. Due
amount for use of private arms for 4 months as a private.
Voucher No. 62, paid 8 Jul 1863 from Dec. 1862 to 20 Apr 1863, pay $360, signed J. R. Youree,
Roll dated Jan. - Feb. 1864, Jesse R. Youree, 1st Lt., Co. E, remarks: signed roll as commanding
J. R. Youree, 1st Lt., Co. E, Alexander's Regiment, appears on a List of Prisoners of War
captured by Brigadier General Jos. A. Mower near Yellow Bayou LA, 18 May 1864.
J. R. Youree, 1st Lt., Co. E, Alexander's Regiment, appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War
received at New Orleans, LA, from Brigadier General Jos. A. Mower, 21 May 1864. Roll dated
New Orleans, 21 May 1864. Captured at Yellow Bayou, LA, 18 May 1864.
J. R. Youree, 1st Lt., Alexander's Texas Regiment, appears on a register of Prisoners of War at
New Orleans, LA. When captured: 18 May 1864. Where captured: Near Yellow Bayou.
Exchanged 22 Jul 1864.
J. R. Youree, 1st Lt., Alexander's Texas Regiment appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War
transferred from New Orleans, LA and exchanged at Red River Landing 22 Jul 1864. Roll dated
Office Commissary of Prisoners, Dept. of the Gulf, N. Orleans, LA, 31 Jul 1864. Where
captured: Yellow Bayou. When captured: 18 May 1864.
J. R. Youree, 1st Lt., Co. E, Alexander's Regiment Dismounted Cavalry, 34th Texas Cavalry,
appears on a copy of a Roster dated Near Monroe, LA, 5 Sep 1864. Date of appointment 22 Aug
1863. Remarks: Absent with leave since July 25.
Roll dated Apr. 1865, absent, leave received 60 days leave absence ____ [unreadable] by
authority of Dept. Head Quarters. J. R. Youree, 2nd Lt., Co. E, Alexander's Regiment appears
on a copy of a List of commissioned officers elected and those relieved at the re-organization of
Colonel Alexander's Regiment, June 27, 1862 in accordance with the provisions of an Act of
Congress, approved April 16, 1862 and G. O. No. -- of Date June 26, 1862. List dated
Headquarters, Dept. Indian Territory, Ft. McCulloch, June 30, 1862. [He] Enlisted in place of C.
I the undersigned, Prisoner of War, belonging to the Army of the Trans-Mississippi Department, having been surrendered by General E. Kirby Smith, C. S. A., Commanding said Department to Major General E. R. S. Canby, U. S. A., Commanding Army and Division of West Mississippi, do hereby give my solemn PAROLE OF HONOR, that I will not hereafter serve in the Armies of the Confederate States, or any military whatever, against the United States of America, or render aid to the enemies of the latter, until properly exchanged in such manner as shall be mutually approved by the respective authorities.
Residence: Jackson Co., MO.
Done at Shreveport, LA this 19th day of June 1865.
Signed J. R. Youree, 1st Lt., Co. E, 34 Regiment Texas
Note: Robert S. Weddle, Plow-Horse Cavalry: The Caney Creek Boys of the 34th Cavalry,
(Austin, TX: Madrona Press, 1976.) mentions a William Youree several times. There is no
Confederate service record for an individual of this name. It must be assumed that the author had
William Youree as an incorrect name instead of Jesse R. Youree.
©Ron Brothers and Joyce Chiles Hines, All Rights Reserved, 1999.
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July 13, 1999