CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: BEN McCULLOCH - Smith County, TX

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
7 September 2001
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson

BEN McCULLOCH.

Ben McCulloch, of Gonzales, was born in Tennessee, Nov.11, 1811, 
in company with his neighbor and friend, CoL. Davy Crockett, he came 
to Texas in 1835 to join her forces in the struggles against Mexican 
despotism.  He serv­ed as lieutenant of artillery under Gen Sam Houston 
in the battle of San Jacinto. 

He followed the profession of a land surveyor for several years, and 
in 1839 he was elected to congress of the Texas Republic. In the Indian 
raid of 1840 he led a company in the skirmish near Victoria, and in the 
fight at Plum Creek near Lockhart. In 1845 he was elected to the first 
State iegislature of Texas which assembled Feb., 16, 1846, and while 
thus serving was chosen Major-General of the Texas miiitia.  When in a 
few months there came the war with Mexico he became captain of a company 
in Col. John C. Hay's famous regiment, but constantly served a detached 
duty under Gen. Zachary Taylor.  He won laurels in the bat­Urn of 
Monterey and Buena Vista.  In 1853 President Pierce appointed him 
of Texas, holding the office nearly eight years. And he was, at different times, offered the governorship of two territories but declined. He accepted the position of commissioner to Utah during the time of the Mormon troubles, rendering the U. S. government great'aid, and later served as commission­er to visit and report on the condition of Arizona. The era of secession found him in Washington, D. C. Declining a corn-mission in the U.S. army he hastened to his beloved Texas and offered his hand and heart to the secession conventio~' He was at once appointed colonel, asked to recruit troops. and compel the surrender of the garrison and arsenal at San An­tonio and dependent posts. These matters he promptly ~e complished. On May 14; 1861 he was commissioned briga~ dier-general in the Confederate army. We have not the, space to enumerate the battles this great general fought, n~ the victories he won. Suffice it to say he linked his name t( glery and died a hero at the battle of Elkhorn. He is buri~ in the State Cemetery at Austin.