Jefferson C. S. A.

Duane's take

Here's what the official marker has to say, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, if you wanted to find the beating heart of Confederate East Texas, you didn't have to look far. You looked to Jefferson.

The marker calls it the metropolis of commerce and culture for East Texas, and during the war years, that reputation got put to work in a serious way. Jefferson became an important center for Confederate activity, and the details of what happened here are worth slowing down for. In 1862, a major quartermaster depot for northern Texas was established here.

Think about what that meant on the ground: clothing and camp equipment, moving out of Jefferson and into the hands of men who needed it. That depot wasn't decoration. It was a lifeline.

And right alongside it, a Cotton Bureau Station was set up to buy cotton. The marker uses a phrase that ought to stop you cold: cotton was called the life blood of the Confederacy. That station was here to keep that blood moving.

But Jefferson didn't stop there. Two iron works right here in Marion County were turning out plows, kettles, skillets, and cannon balls. The same county making your cookware was making your ammunition.

Thousands of cattle and sheep were driven to a slaughterhouse for processing and shipment, feeding a war that was always hungry. A boot and shoe factory helped outfit the army, one pair at a time. And when troops were leaving Texas altogether, Jefferson served as the debarkation center.

The last Texas soil some of those men stood on may well have been right here. The state of Texas erected this marker in 1963 as a memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy. Jefferson carried a heavy load during those years.

This marker makes sure that load isn't forgotten.

What the marker says

(Star and Wreath) Metropolis of commerce and culture for East Texas, Jefferson became important center for Confederate activity. Major quartermaster depot for northern Texas established 1862 supplied clothing and camp equipment. Cotton Bureau Station set up to buy cotton, "life blood of the Confederacy." Two iron works in county made plows, kettles, skillets and cannon balls. Thousands of cattle and sheep were driven to slaughter house for processing and shipment. Boot and shoe factory helped outfit army. Debarkation center for troops leaving Texas. A memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy. Erected by the state of Texas 1963.