CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: Mr. Harriet M. Durst - A BIT OF TEXAS HISTORY. - Leon County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@home.com 27 October 2001 ***************************************************************** TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson Mrs. Harriet M. Durst - A BIT OF TEXAS HISTORY The author deems it proper to here inset some early history of Texas, because the descendents of the Durst family in Texas are numerous and the younger generation played a good part in the Confederate war. Blood will tell and the hero of one age transplants the love of country to posterity. Besides all this there are some things stated in the following that should be preserved in some historical form: In 1867 the writer first met Mrs. Harriet M. Durst at the old Durst homestead in Leon county. The house, built by Mexican labor, was of hewn stone, and originally two stories high. A third story of wood was afterwards added. The lower story rested on the earth, and the main entrance to this floor was at the end of the building by the chimney. Galleries extended the entire length of the building (about fifty feet) on the two lower stories, and a staircase from the ground to the second floor galary formed the front entrance. The massive building reminded one of the old feudal days. Around the very walls seemed to hang a history; a link connecting the past with the present. There were finely polished black walnut doors, window framings and mantels. There were the oil painted family portraits, the library, the old Spanish Bible, the antique silverware and, above all, the handsome, stately woman who presided with so much dignity and grace over this homestead. Mrs Durst was tall and stately, a fine specimen of an accomplished Southern woman, dispensing hospitality with a liberal hand. She was the grandmother of J. W. Blake of Mexia, Mrs. Maggie Scales of Corsicana and others. Her death occurred in 1885. Three sons survive her: Bruno and Horation Durst, residing in Leon county, and Elder John Durst of Junction City. The following recollections were written by Mrs. Durst at the writers request in 1884: "We came to Texas in 1837, just after the trouble known as the Fredonia war. We have lived here under four governments, the Province of Coahuila and Texas, the Republic of Texas, the United States, and the Confederate States Government. Mr. Durst and I were married in Louisiana, where my father, Colonel John Jamieson, was Indian agent. We lived there several years. We had three children when we moved to Texas. We settled in Nacogdoches, where we bought the old stone house, built by the missionaries in 1778. It was our home as long as we remained in Nacogdoches. In that house Beneiga, my daughter, who afterwards married Gen. T. W. Blake, was born. Very few white people lived in town at that time. Mrs. Dill whose husband had been commandant of Nacogdoches; Mrs. Thorne and myself were the only white ladies there for awhile. Then came Mrs. Sterne, and later many others. Of course we were put under catholic domination, and Mr. Durst and myself had to be remarried by a priest, and our children had to be baptized in that church. We had many Indians, Spaniards and native Mexicans around us. They always treated ladies with chivalrous politeness, and Mr. Durst always kept Spanish and Mexican servants. They set good examples to our negro servants, and we liked their tortillo bread and other cooking. The men were all trained to care for stock. Mr. Durst had been partly raised in Texas by Mr. Samuel Davenport. He was perfectly familiar with the Spanish tongue and was regarded more as a native than a foreigner. He began merchandizing. The Mexican troops under Piedras were at Nacogdoches, and as the government sold clothing and rations to its soldiers, he soon found himself with a large paying business on his hands, supplying them, as well as keeping a general stock for citizens. Piedras and his troops were placed there to stop immigration, and in course of time he established martial law. This was hard to bear, but the people tried to be patient. Immigrants continued to flock in. Exasperated at this, Piedras soon issued orders for every man to give up his arms. This caused the citizens to rise en masse. Most of the resident Mexicans joined our men, and as soon as possible they prepared to attack the troops in order to drive them away. An incident occurred just as our men were falling into line for the attack which shocked us all. Encarnation Chirino, a resident Mexican, commanded our men. Mr. Durst was second in command, and as the two rode side by side down the street in front of the line, Chirino, full of the tenderness of the husband and father, and bearing in his mind, no doubt, the sad parting at his gate, a mile from town, told Mr. Durst he wanted to request him to take charge of his business and look after his family if he should be killed. Scarcely had the words died on his lips and the promie given by Mr. Durst, when a bullet from an accidental discharge of a gun pierced his brain. He fell, the first martyr to history's cause. His frightened, riderless horse dashed off at full speed and ran to his master's gate. From that gate came the agonizing cries of stricken ones, and a gloom came over us all. We asked ourselves how many of us before nightfall, should feel that selfsame agony for our loved nd lost. Undaunted by this presage of ill, our men pushed on, and fought the Mexican soldiers, who had thrown up fortifications. All day the fight went stubbornly on. Many were killed and wounded, the Mexicans losing most heavily. Finding themselves attacked by such resolute enemies, the Mexicans on the next morning began a retreat. The Texans followed in pursuit, and the next day at the Angelina river they surrendored to our men. Piedras was conveyed to Colonel Austin. He agreed to all the propositions made to him, and on those terms was paroled. Great was our joy over this victory, and happy were we to be rid of the Mexican troops. Having to buy rations many of them preferred stealing them. Mr. Durst faithfully fulfilled his promise to his dead comrade." MARY R. LESESNE. Hennessy, Texas.