{⋆★⋆} BG Scurry, William Read

William Read Scurry

Scurry.jpg
Born: February 10, 1821

Birthplace: Gallatin, Tennessee

Father: Thomas J. Scurry

Mother: Catherine Bledsoe Scurry

Wife: Janette B. Sutton Scurry 1829 – 1886
(Buried: Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas)​

Children (7):

Clara Scurry Rector 1852 – 1907​
(Buried: Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Texas)​

Occupation before War:

District Attorney for San Augustine Texas​
1842: Aide – de – camp to Thomas Jefferson Rusk​
1844 – 1845: Representative for the Republic of Texas​
Served in the Mexican War rising to the rank of Major​
Attorney in Clinton, Texas​
Owner and Editor of Austin State Gazette Newspaper​

Civil War Career:

1861: Delegate to Texas State Secession Convention​
Participated in the Confederate Invasion of New Mexico Territory​
1861 – 1862: Lt. Colonel of 4th Texas Cavalry Regiment​
1862: Colonel of 4th Texas Cavalry Regiment​
1862 – 1864: Brigadier General of Confederate Army Cavalry​
1864: Participated in the Battles of Mansfield & Pleasant Hill​
1864: Mortally Wounded in the leg during the Battle of Jenkins Ferry​

Died: April 30, 1864

Place of Death: Grant County, Arkansas

Age at time of Death: 43 years old

Burial Place: Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas
 
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William Read Scurry

View attachment 334504Born: February 10, 1821

Birthplace: Gallatin, Tennessee

Father: Thomas J. Scurry

Mother: Catherine Bledsoe Scurry

Wife: Janette B. Sutton Scurry 1829 – 1886
(Buried: Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas)​

Children (7):

Clara Scurry Rector 1852 – 1907​
(Buried: Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Texas)​

Occupation before War:

District Attorney for San Augustine Texas​
1842: Aide – de – camp to Thomas Jefferson Rusk​
1844 – 1845: Representative for the Republic of Texas​
Served in the Mexican War rising to the rank of Major​
Attorney in Clinton, Texas​
Owner and Editor of Austin State Gazette Newspaper​

Civil War Career:

1861: Delegate to Texas State Secession Convention​
Participated in the Confederate Invasion of New Mexico Territory​
1861 – 1862: Lt. Colonel of 4th Texas Cavalry Regiment​
1862: Colonel of 4th Texas Cavalry Regiment​
1862 – 1864: Brigadier General of Confederate Army Cavalry​
1864: Participated in the Battles of Mansfield & Pleasant Hill​
1864: Mortally Wounded in the leg during the Battle of Jenkins Ferry​

Died: April 30, 1864

Place of Death: Grant County, Arkansas

Age at time of Death: 43 years old

Burial Place: Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas
Scurry County in West Texas is named for him. It is most famous for the giant Kelly-Snyder oil field that has produced about 1.3 billion bbls. of oil since since 1950 from the Pennsylvanian aged Scurry Reef.
 
From the TSHA Handbook of Texas https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/scurry-william-read:
Scurry was wounded at the battle of Jenkins Ferry, on April 30, 1864, but refused to be carried to the rear. A federal attack overran the place where he lay, and for two hours his wound was unattended. When his brigade regained the field he asked, "Have we whipped them?" On being told that the battle was won, Scurry replied, "Now take me to a house where I can be made comfortable and die easy."​
 
After being promoted to brigadier Scurry was made commander of the Eastern Sub-District of Texas,District of Texas,New Mexico, and Arizona, of the Trans-Miss Dept.
 
When Scurry was mortally wounded at Jenkin's Ferry his brigade in Walker's division was commanded by Col. P.N.Luckett. Luckett should have been promoted to brigadier at least by Kirby Smith. He had been an "acting brigadier"earlier by Magruder.
 
1/6/63 Magruder to Sec Seddon-sending the recommended plan for the defense of Tex
- Recommendations for General officers in addition to Gen Bee already here:
B Gen Scurry to be made Maj Gen for meritorious action at Galveston
Meanwhile, I have ordered Gen Scurry to remain with me as a B Gen since Gen Sibley is to resume command of his Bgde

2/26/63 Magruder's report on recapture of Galveston- "I take this occasion to recommend to the special consideration of the president the conduct of Gov J R Baylor of Az., who though not in command of any troops nor attached to any staff was conspicuous for his gallant conduct as a private, serving the gun during the hottest of fire and with his coat off working to place them in position during the night
".... Thus, Galveston was recaptured in brilliant fashion (New Year's day 1863) Col Tom Green, Col Steel, Lt Col Scurry, Col Wm P. Hardeman & Col H.M. Elmore distinguished themselves in this expedition. Gen Magruder and all who took part in the exploit were specially thanked by President Davis for restoring Galveston to the Confederacy


2/13/63 Gen Scurry replaces Debray cdg Eastern Sub Dist of Tex

5/18/63 Hqs TM Dept, Shreveport, Boggs, Brig-Gen, & Chief of Staff to Gen Scurry, Cdg Eastern Sub-Dist of Tex, Houston: Your letter of the 11th has been received. Lt-Gen Smith directs that you make such disposition of Gould's Regt as you think best. It is very important that you should organize a force near the Upper Red River, to resist any raid the enemy may undertake through the Indian Terr. The Indian Terr. is at present entirely destitute of troops. As soon as a Regt of Cav can be spared from Gen Taylor's command, it will be sent there. The people should be called upon to organize themselves into Co's of minute-men, arm, & hold themselves in readiness to be called into service for a limited period.
Lt Wharton, of the C. S. Navy, was sent to take charge of the guns of the Harriet Lane, & transport them to the Red River. Your plan of sending them by road & water to Logansport meets the approval of the Lt-Gen cdg. Someone should be sent ahead to make the necessary arrangements for the transportation from Logansport
Lt-Gen Smith desires me to return you his thanks for your promptness in anticipating the wants of the Dept here, as well as for the efficient manner with which you have executed your plans & instructions.

9/1/63 Gen Scurry relieved

10/15/63 Magruder to Boggs-It having been reported to me by Gen McCulloch that there was some dissatisfaction among the officers & men of Bankhead's command with Gen Bankhead, although the most of them are willing to support him, I have taken the responsibility to order Gen Gano, now at Bonham, to relieve Gen Bankhead, & to order Gen Bankhead to proceed to these Hqs, to assume command of the Eastern Sub-District in place of Gen Scurry, who has left for La under orders from the Dept, for the reason, in my opinion, that Gen Bankhead is much better suited for this command than the officer who relieved Gen Scurry under my orders. I hope the Gen cdg will approve of the course I have taken in this matter.

3/1/64 Norwood's Plantation, Gen Scurry to Gen Walker-The unsettled state of affairs on the river & the other side will delay for a brief period my sending an officer over the river to take up the arms.

4/15/64 The 3rd​ Tex is to join Walker's Div as it passes through Shreveport. It will be assigned to Scurry's Bgde [3rd​ Bgde]

5/24/64 Houston-Ref to Maj Wells cdg City Bn [3 Co's] to provide escort for the remains of Gen Scurry [mortally wounded in La campaign]

6/1/64 Post of Austin-regarding order of march for parade of Gen Scurry's funeral
On April 30, 1864, William Read Scurry was mortally wounded while leading his men at the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry. During the battle, Scurry refused to be taken to the rear and treated for his wound, leading to his eventual death on the battlefield.
 
The article is very interesting but I'm a bit puzzled about the mention of Gen. Bankhead. I am not familiar with this person. That was probably the incident where Scurry's 3rd Texas Infantry almost rioted and mutinied over bad food while stationed in Houston.
 
The article is very interesting but I'm a bit puzzled about the mention of Gen. Bankhead. I am not familiar with this person. That was probably the incident where Scurry's 3rd Texas Infantry almost rioted and mutinied over bad food while stationed in Houston.
Colonel Smith P. Bankhead served briefly as an acting brigadier general in Texas. He was first cousin to MG John Bankhead Magruder.
 
I should have guessed with a name like that.Was he on Magruder's staff?
Started the War as an Artillery battery commander. Promoted after Shiloh and assigned as J. B. Magruder's chief of Artillery in the Trans-Mississippi. A pretty detailed biography appears in the link. It seems he was part of the Reconstruction government in Memphis and was murdered there in 1867.
 
Earlier a Gen.Gano is mentioned in one of danny's posts. It mentioned that Gano was to replace Bankhead who was going to replace Scurry. I think there might be a possible future connection, Scurry's nephew, Thomas, married Gano's daughter, Emma. But this was years following the Civil War.
 
Forrest had his Emma Samson and it seems Scurry also had a female informant. In a book titled "The Campaigns of Walker's Texas Division" by J.P. Blessington there is this passage "General Scurry was not a commander to be daunted;neither he nor his troops feared to meet the enemy, whatever might be their numbers--however tried their bravery. From information received afterwards, it seems that General Scurry was aware of the approach of the enemy: he was informed a few days previous, by a young lady living across the Atchafalaya Bayou. The heroism of this young lady, riding several miles throughout woods, showed what Southern women would do for their country. It is to be regretted that her name was not jotted down to adorn the pages of this history. Yet she is not forgotten in the minds of Scurry's Brigade."
 
Scurry, despite being only a Lt. Colonel, commanded the Confederate troops engaged at Glorietta Pass, where he won a tactical victory, only for the loss of his wagon train to a cavalry raid in his rear forcing him and the "army" to retreat. He would then be promoted to Brigadier and fight at the Battle of Galveston, helping Magruder secure the town with the heavy assistance of the two gunboats.
 
I found another Scurry "story"while reading about Walker's Texas Division last night.He is presently buried in the State Cemetary in Austin, Texas.Lt. Gov. Stockdale gave the oration then. Scurry was reinterred from his original burial spot. He was buried up in Tulip, Arkansas on May 2, following his mortal wounding at Jenkin's Ferry.A military funeral was held there with Generals Kirby Smith, Price, Walker, Churchill, Parsons, Hawthorn, and Tappan attending.
 
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