Capt. Edward Thomas Broughton and the Johnson Guards

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Captain Edward Thomas Broughton and the Johnson Guards. Now, some men just seem to collect hardship the way others collect land. Edward Thomas Broughton, Jr. was one of those men, and what's remarkable is what he kept doing in spite of it.

Broughton was born in 1834, an Alabama native, and his family brought him to Jasper, Texas, in 1847. He grew up, put down roots, and in 1856 married Mary Elizabeth Douglas. He wasn't a man to stand still, either, he studied law over in Smith County and was admitted to the bar in 1857.

By 1860, the Broughtons had settled in Kaufman, Texas, and Edward had gotten himself elected district attorney in 1861. Then the war came calling. In early 1861, Broughton and other men in the area formed the Kaufman Light Infantry.

That September, the company mustered in Prairieville with Edward T. Broughton in command as Captain. They renamed themselves the Johnson Guards, after prominent local merchants John H. and Jasper W.

Johnson, and in late 1861 they joined Confederate Colonel John Gregg's 7th Regiment of Texas Volunteers in Marshall, Texas, as part of Company C. Now. Here is where the road gets rough.

In February of 1862, Broughton was captured at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. He was later released in a prisoner exchange, rejoined the fight, and was taken prisoner again in 1863. Two captures.

Most men might've considered that a message from the universe. Broughton did not. Before his release in May of 1864, he suffered a debilitating illness.

And yet, in poor health, diminished, a man who'd already given more than most, he rejoined the 7th Texas Regiment and for a brief period became its acting commander. After the war, Broughton moved to Sherman, up in Grayson County, and later served in the Texas Senate. He died on February 12, 1874.

Two captures. One debilitating illness. A command held together by sheer stubbornness.

Edward Thomas Broughton spent the better part of his life proving that a man's circumstances don't always get the final say, though sometimes, in the end, they do.

What the marker says

Alabama native Edward Thomas Broughton, Jr. (b. 1834) came to Jasper, Texas, with his family in 1847. Broughton married Mary Elizabeth Douglas in 1856. He studied law in Smith County and was admitted to the bar in 1857. By 1860 the Broughtons were living in Kaufman, Texas, where Edward was elected district attorney in 1861. In early 1861 Broughton and other men in the area formed the Kaufman Light Infantry. The company mustered in Prairieville in Sept. 1861 with Captain Edward T. Broughton in command. After renaming their company the Johnson Guards for prominent local merchants John H. and Jasper W. Johnson, they joined Confederate Colonel John Gregg's 7th regiment of Texas Volunteers in Marshall, Texas, as part of Company C in late 1861. Broughton was captured at Ft. Donelson, Tennessee, in February 1862. Later released in a prisoner exchange, he returned to the war and was again taken prisoner in 1863. Before his release in May 1864 Broughton suffered a debilitating illness. Although in poor health he rejoined the 7th Texas Regiment and for a brief period became acting commander. Broughton moved to Sherman, Grayson County, Texas, shortly after the war, and later served in the Texas Senate. He died on February 12, 1874. Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845 - 1995