DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells it this way, and I'm just the one passing it along. Now, Texas has always had a talent for producing outsized men, but every now and then a single family comes along that makes you stop and reconsider what you thought you knew about odds. The Harrison brothers — all three of them — rose to the rank of general in the Confederate Army.
Three brothers. One family. All generals.
The marker calls Thomas Harrison the youngest of that trio, and if that detail doesn't make you sit up a little straighter, well, keep listening. Thomas Harrison was born in 1823 and spent time in Falls County in the 1850s. Before the Civil War ever found him, he'd already been tested.
He was a veteran of the Mexican War and had served in the defense of the Texas frontier — not exactly a quiet résumé to bring into the fight. When the Civil War came, Harrison rose to command of Terry's Texas Rangers. He rode with the cavalry of General N.
B. Forrest — the very man the marker quotes as getting "thar fustest with the mostest." That's the kind of outfit you either kept up with or you didn't. And Thomas Harrison kept up.
He fought at Shiloh. At Murfreesboro. At Fort Donelson.
At Knoxville. At Atlanta. He was wounded three times.
He had five horses shot from under him. Five. At some point that stops being bad luck and starts being a testament to the man still standing after each one.
When the war ended, the people of his district elected him judge in 1866. The Reconstruction regime removed him from that position. He went on to serve as a trustee of Waco University.
Thomas Harrison died in 1891. Youngest of three brothers who all made general. Five horses.
Three wounds. One removed judgeship. One marker in Falls County trying to hold all of it.
What the marker says
C.S.A. (1823 - 1891) Youngest only trio of Texas Brothers who all gained rank of general in Confederate Army. Lived in Falls County in 1850s. Veteran of Mexican War and of Texas frontier defense. Rose in Civil War to command of Terry's Texas Rangers. Rode with Cavalry of Gen. N. B. Forrest who got "Thar Fustest with the mostest". Fought at Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Ft. Donelson, Knoxville, Atlanta, was wounded 3 times and had 5 horses shot from under him. Elected district judge in 1866, was removed by reconstruction regime. Served as trustee of Waco University,