DUANE
Duane's take
The way the marker tells it, and I'm takin' this straight from the official record, Upton County carries two names on its shoulders — brothers, both born in Tennessee, both drawn to Texas, and both shaped by the same war in very different ways. Colonel John Cunningham Upton came into this world in 1828. He made his way to Texas in 1859, and when the Civil War broke out, he raised a company — pulled men together right at the outbreak.
That company attached to the 5th Texas Infantry, part of Hood's famed Texas Brigade, and they went to fight in the campaigns in and around Virginia. John Upton rose to Lieutenant Colonel of his regiment. Now here is where the story gets its weight.
The day before his death at the Battle of Second Manassas, he led a charge upon the enemy rear guard — a move the marker calls seldom seen, yet brilliantly executed. The very next day, he was gone. Born 1828, died 1862.
His brother, Colonel William F. Upton, came into the world in 1832. He arrived in Texas earlier than John — 1853.
When the Civil War broke, William went a different direction. He enlisted in Texas state troops mustered in for Texas frontier protection. Two thousand miles of frontier and coastline, open to Union or Indian attack — and William helped guard it.
He served in various military units across Texas, eventually promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of Mann's regiment, stationed in the Galveston area along with other Texas troops to prevent an expected mass Union invasion in 1865. William outlived the war and kept movin'. He served as a member of the State Legislature in 1866, and again from 1876 to 1882.
He lived until 1887. One brother led a charge that history called brilliantly executed and was dead before the sun rose twice. The other spent the war holding a two-thousand-mile line and then held a seat in the legislature.
Same blood, same Tennessee roots, same adopted Texas soil — and this county carries both of them, right there in its name.
What the marker says
County named for Texas Confederates (Star and Wreath). Colonel John Cunningham Upton (1828-1862) Born Tennessee. Came to Texas 1859. Raised company outbreak of Civil War. Attached to 5th Texas Infantry, Hood's famed Texas Brigade, fighting in the campaigns in and around Virginia. Rose to Lt. Colonel of his regiment. The day before his death at the Battle of Second Manassas, led charge upon the enemy rear guard which was a seldom seen, yet brilliantly executed move. Colonel William F. Upton (1832-1887) Born Tennessee. Came to Texas 1853. When Civil War broke, enlisted Texas state troops mustered in for Texas frontier protection. He served in various military units in Texas, helping to successfully guard the 2000 miles of frontier and coastline open to Union or Indian attack. Promoted to Lt. Colonel of Mann's regiment, stationed in Galveston area along with other Texas troops to prevent expected mass Union invasion in 1865. Member of State Legislature 1866, 1876-82.