William Read Scurry
Encyclopedia
William Read Scurry was a general in the Confederate States Army
in the American Civil War
.
. He moved to Texas
in 1839 and became a lawyer and district attorney. Scurry was married to Janette (Jeannitte) B. Sutton on December 17, 1846 and had seven children. He represented Red River County in the Ninth Congress of the Republic of Texas
in 1844 and 1845 and served in the House of Representatives in 1845, promoting the annexation of Texas to the United States
. Enlisting as a private in the Mexican-American War, Scurry rose to the rank of major
by July 1846. Afterward, he practiced law in Clinton, Texas, and was co-owner and editor of the Austin State Gazette. In 1856 Scurry became a delegate to the state Democratic nominating convention, and in 1861 he was a delegate to the Secession Convention.
In July 1861, he became a lieutenant colonel
in the Fourth Texas Cavalry, part of the Sibley Brigade which launched the New Mexico Campaign
at the outset of 1862. He distinguished himself as an officer at the Battle of Valverde
, February 21–22, 1862, and as well by commanding the Confederate forces in the Battle of Glorieta Pass
, March 26–28, 1862. He was promoted to full colonel
on March 28, 1862, and subsequently played a key role in leading the Confederate retreat from New Mexico. He was promoted to brigadier general
on September 12, 1862. Along with fellow New Mexico Campaign veterans, he helped recapture Galveston, Texas
on January 1, 1863.
Scurry took command of the Third Brigade of Walker's Texas Division in October 1863 and led them into the Battle of Mansfield
and Pleasant Hill, April 1864. The Third then transferred to Arkansas
to fight against Gen. Frederick Steele
, who was about to invade Texas. Scurry was killed at the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry
on April 30, 1864, and was buried in the State Cemetery at Austin, Texas
in May 1864. Texas erected a thirteen-foot-high white marble shaft over his grave. Scurry County, Texas, is named in his honor.
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Scurry was born in Gallatin, TennesseeGallatin, Tennessee
Gallatin is a city in and the county seat of Sumner County, Tennessee, United States, along a navigable tributary of the Cumberland River. The population was 23,230 at the 2000 census. Named for U.S...
. He moved to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1839 and became a lawyer and district attorney. Scurry was married to Janette (Jeannitte) B. Sutton on December 17, 1846 and had seven children. He represented Red River County in the Ninth Congress of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
in 1844 and 1845 and served in the House of Representatives in 1845, promoting the annexation of Texas to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Enlisting as a private in the Mexican-American War, Scurry rose to the rank of major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
by July 1846. Afterward, he practiced law in Clinton, Texas, and was co-owner and editor of the Austin State Gazette. In 1856 Scurry became a delegate to the state Democratic nominating convention, and in 1861 he was a delegate to the Secession Convention.
In July 1861, he became a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in the Fourth Texas Cavalry, part of the Sibley Brigade which launched the New Mexico Campaign
New Mexico Campaign
The New Mexico Campaign was a military operation of the American Civil War from February to April 1862 in which Confederate Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley invaded the northern New Mexico Territory in an attempt to gain control of the Southwest, including the gold fields of Colorado and the...
at the outset of 1862. He distinguished himself as an officer at the Battle of Valverde
Battle of Valverde
The Battle of Valverde, or the Battle of Valverde Ford from February 20 to February 21, 1862, was fought near the town of Valverde at a ford of Valverde Creek in Confederate Arizona, in what is today the state of New Mexico. It was a major Confederate success in the New Mexico Campaign of the...
, February 21–22, 1862, and as well by commanding the Confederate forces in the Battle of Glorieta Pass
Battle of Glorieta Pass
The Battle of Glorieta Pass, fought from March 26 to 28, 1862 in northern New Mexico Territory, was the decisive battle of the New Mexico Campaign during the American Civil War. Dubbed the "Gettysburg of the West" by some historians, it was intended as the killer blow by Confederate forces to break...
, March 26–28, 1862. He was promoted to full colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
on March 28, 1862, and subsequently played a key role in leading the Confederate retreat from New Mexico. He was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
on September 12, 1862. Along with fellow New Mexico Campaign veterans, he helped recapture Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
on January 1, 1863.
Scurry took command of the Third Brigade of Walker's Texas Division in October 1863 and led them into the Battle of Mansfield
Battle of Mansfield
The Battle of Mansfield, also known as the Battle of Sabine Crossroads, occurred on April 8, 1864, in De Soto Parish, Louisiana. Confederate forces commanded by Richard Taylor attacked a Union army commanded by Nathaniel Banks a few miles outside the town of Mansfield, near Sabine Crossroads...
and Pleasant Hill, April 1864. The Third then transferred to Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
to fight against Gen. Frederick Steele
Frederick Steele
Frederick Steele was a career military officer in the United States Army, serving as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his successful campaign to retake much of secessionist Arkansas for the Union cause.-Early life:Steele was born in Delhi, New...
, who was about to invade Texas. Scurry was killed at the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry
Battle of Jenkins' Ferry
The Battle of Jenkins' Ferry was fought April 30, 1864, in Grant County, Arkansas during the American Civil War. It was the climactic battle of the Camden Expedition, which was a part of the Union Army’s failed Red River Campaign. Each side sustained a large number of casualties, especially...
on April 30, 1864, and was buried in the State Cemetery at Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in May 1864. Texas erected a thirteen-foot-high white marble shaft over his grave. Scurry County, Texas, is named in his honor.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals