DUANE
Duane's take
Here's the official marker's account, the way Duane tells it. Now, some men fill up a life so full it barely fits on a bronze plaque — and Tom Green was one of those men. Born in 1814, he came to Texas from Tennessee in 1833, when this land was still a republic waiting to happen.
Three years later, he was at San Jacinto, manning the Twin Sisters — those famed cannons that helped decide a nation's fate in a single afternoon. That is not a bad start for a young man barely getting acquainted with the territory. But Tom Green was just getting warmed up.
He served as a Fayette County representative to the 4th Congress, then as Secretary of the Senate for the 6th and 8th congresses, then as Clerk of the Supreme Court from 1841 all the way to 1861. In between, he rode out on the frontier in Indian campaigns, joined the Somervell Expedition, and served as an officer in the Mexican War. The man was constitutionally incapable of sitting still.
Then 1861 arrived, and Tom Green rode into the biggest storm of his life. He led the 5th Texas Cavalry in the Arizona-New Mexico Campaign of 1861 and 1862, fighting at the Battle of Val Verde. And if that wasn't enough, in January of 1863, he commanded a force of cavalrymen so audacious they earned a name that still makes you grin — the Horse Marines.
They came aboard cotton-clad vessels, mounted cavalry on boats, and recaptured Galveston. Think about that image for a second. Then in the 1863 campaign to save Louisiana, he led Green's Cavalry division and was made brigadier general in the field.
An ardent Texan, the marker says, a brave leader who constantly sought the heat of battle. Well. In 1864, during the Red River Campaign to prevent the Federal invasion of Texas, Tom Green was leading an attack at Blair's Landing, Louisiana — and he was killed.
He gave everything he had, and he gave it at the front. This county bears his name, Tom Green, 1814 to 1864, and that is exactly as it should be.
What the marker says
(Star and Wreath) Led 5th Texas Cavalry, Battle Val Verde in Arizona-New Mexico Campaign, 1861-1862. Commanded "cotton clad" carrying Cavalrymen dubbed "Horse Marines" in recapture Galvston, January 1863. Made brigadier general while leading Green's Cavalry division 1863 campaign to save Louisiana. Killed 1864 leading attack at Blair's Landing, Louisiana in Red River Campaign to prevent the Federal invasion of Texas. An ardent Texan, a brave leader, he constantly sought the heat of battle. A memorial to Texas who served the Confederacy. This county was named in honor of Tom Green, 1814-1864. Came to Texas from Tennessee, 1833. Veteran Battle of San Jacinto 1836 manning famed "Twin Sisters" cannons. Fayette County representative 4th Congress. Secretary of Senate, 6th and 8th congresses. Clerk of Supreme Court, 1841-1861. Participated frontier Indian campaigns. Member Somervell Expedition. Officer in Mexican War. Confederate general in the Civil War.