DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker says about Major James P. Douglas, out of Smith County, Texas. Now settle in, because this man lived what sounds like about four different lives packed into one.
Born in South Carolina in 1836, he came to Texas in 1848, and from that point on, Smith County had itself a character. When 1861 rolled around and the war came calling, Douglas did not ease into it quietly. He led fifty men out of Tyler — fifty — marched them all the way to Dallas, where another fifty were waiting, and together they formed what became known as the Good-Douglas Battery.
Now here's the part worth leaning in for: that Battery was the only Texas artillery serving east of the Mississippi. The only one. They marched out of Texas on July 9, 1861, after what the marker calls — and I love this — much romantic fanfare in Dallas.
You can almost hear the cheering from here. Then came Chickamauga. At Chickamauga, that Battery shoved its big guns right to the edge of the Federal rifle pits.
The edge. The marker says the gallantry of Douglas was praised, and I imagine that is about the driest way you could describe what happened at the lip of those rifle pits. Come 1865, Douglas returned to Tyler and went back to editing the Reporter newspaper.
And then — because apparently that wasn't enough — he became a lawyer. Served in the Texas Senate from 1876 to 1880. Joined the leadership of the Tyler Tap Railway.
Became president of the Cotton Belt Railroad. Led efforts in Tyler's fruit and vegetable growing and canning industry. And he was an organizer and trustee of East Texas University in Tyler.
A school would later be named for him. Douglas died in 1901. Fifty men from Tyler, a cannonade at Chickamauga, a railroad presidency, a canning industry, a university — some men, when they finally put down their guns, just find bigger ones.
What the marker says
(Star and Wreath) (1836-1901) School named for Texas Confederate. Born in South Carolina. Came to Texas 1848. Led 50 Tyler men, 1861, to join 50 in Dallas to form Good-Douglas Battery - only Texas artillery serving east of the Mississippi. At Chickamauga, Battery shoved its big guns to edge of Federal rifle pits. Gallantry of Douglas was praised. In 1865 he returned to editing Tyler "Reporter." Became a lawyer. Was in Texas Senate, 1876-80. Joined leadership of Tyler Tap Railway. Was president of Cotton Belt Railroad. Led in Tyler's fruit and vegetable growing, canning industry. Was an organizer and trustee of East Texas University, Tyler. Good-Douglas Texas Battery - marched out of Texas July 9, 1861, after much romantic fanfare in Dallas.