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WILLIAM READ SCURRY
1821 – 1864
William Read Scurry was born in Gallatin, Tennessee, February 10, 1821. He went to Texas at the age of 16 and settled in San Augustine. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican War he enlisted as a private in the 2nd Texas Mounted Volunteers. After gallant service he was mustered out as major of that unit. In 1859 he was appointed commissioner from Texas to fix the Texas-New Mexico boundary and was then a member of the secession convention of 1861.
He entered Confederate service as colonel of the 4th Texas Cavalry, and the following year was with the Gen. H. H. Sibley’s attempted occupation of New Mexico Territory. He saw action at both Valverde and Glorieta when Sibley was absent, supposedly under a doctors care. Scurry was promoted to brigadier general, September 12, 1862. On January 1, 1863, Scurry commanded the land forces as Gen. Magruder successfully attacked and recaptured Galveston. In 1864 he participated with his brigade in the Red River campaign and was at the battles of both Mansfield and Pleasant Hill in Louisiana against Gen. Banks. Upon the retreat of Banks, Scurry’s command was immediately transferred to Arkansas to oppose the advance of Union Gen. Steele. At the battle of Jenkins’ Ferry, April 30, 1864, he was mortally wounded. Refusing to be taken to the rear where he might have received life saving medical attention, he bled to death on the battlefield. He is buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas.
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