Louis Trezevant Wigfall

Duane's take

The way the official marker tells it, here's the story of Louis Trezevant Wigfall. Born April 21, 1816, in South Carolina, this man lived a life that seemed almost too large and too combustible to fit inside a single century. He came to Texas carrying a résumé already packed with experience, having served as a Sergeant in the Seminole War and practiced law before he ever set foot in the Texas Legislature.

Now, some men run for office to serve. Wigfall ran for office the way a storm rolls in off the Gulf, loud and with purpose. He was, by every account the marker gives us, an ardent secessionist.

That word, ardent, is doing a lot of work there. It means he wasn't quietly persuaded. He was convinced, committed, and vocal about it, right there in the United States Senate, where he served from 1859 to 1861.

Think about that for a moment. A sitting United States Senator, and among the most passionate voices for tearing the Union apart. Then came April of 1861, and the place was Fort Sumter.

Wigfall was there, serving as aide to General Beauregard, and he personally visited Fort Sumter with a surrender demand. He rowed out to that fort in the middle of a bombardment, and he delivered the message. Whatever you think of the cause he served, that is not a small thing to do.

After that, the Confederacy claimed him fully. He joined the Confederate States Provisional Congress, commanded as Colonel of the 1st Texas Confederate Infantry, rose to Brigadier-General in the Confederate Infantry, and then to Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army, before taking his seat in the Confederate States Senate. A lawmaker, a soldier, and an ideologue, all wrapped into one man.

Louis Trezevant Wigfall died February 18, 1874. The marker was erected by the State of Texas in 1963. He left behind a record that history has looked at hard and long, and probably will keep on looking at.

Some legacies ask easy questions. This one doesn't.

What the marker says

(April 21, 1816 - February 18, 1874) Native South Carolinian, Sergeant in Seminole War, lawyer, member Texas Legislature, an ardent secessionist as United States Senator from 1859 to 1861, visited Fort Sumter with surrender demand as aide to General Beauregard, member Confederate States Provisional Congress, Colonel of 1st Texas Confederate Infantry, Brigadier-General in Confederate Infantry, Brigadier-General in Confederate Army, member Confederate States Senate. Erected by the State of Texas, 1963