DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker for William Steele is the one doing the talking here, and I'm just the voice carrying it down the road. Now, if you were designing a man for the sheer variety of American conflict, you might end up with something like William Steele. Born in New York.
Trained at West Point. And from there, the map of his life just keeps expanding. He saw action in the Seminole Wars.
Then the Mexican War. By the time that chapter closed, Steele had already accumulated more hard experience than most soldiers collect in a full career. But he wasn't finished — not by a long shot.
When the Confederacy called, Steele resigned his commission in the United States Army and crossed over. He took command of the 7th Texas Cavalry as a Colonel, and that outfit rode into the New Mexico campaign. Somewhere in that fire, a Colonel became a General.
And then they kept moving him where the need was greatest. Commander of Indian Territory in 1863. Commander of the Galveston defenses in 1864.
He led a cavalry division in the Red River campaign. He gave what the marker itself calls distinguished service in various Louisiana actions against the invasion of Texas. One theater, then another, then another.
The man was everywhere the storm was. But here's where the story turns — because after the war, after Reconstruction had run its long, grinding course, Texas handed Steele one more hard job. He became Texas Adjutant General, and in that role he did something that would echo long after his name faded from the headlines.
He rebuilt the Texas Rangers. Rebuilt them from scratch, to restore order and control the Indian situation on the frontier. Born in New York.
Trained at the Point. Fought under two flags. And in the end, he put the Rangers back on their feet.
William Steele. The State of Texas saw fit to erect this marker in 1963, and you have to figure they knew what they were commemorating — a man who spent a lifetime showing up wherever the work was hardest.
What the marker says
Born New York. Graduate West Point. In Seminole and Mexican Wars. Resigned U.S. Army to serve Confederacy. Colonel 7th Texas Cavalry. In New Mexico campaign General. Commander Indian Territory 1863 and Galveston defenses 1864. Led cavalry division Red River campaign. Gave distinguished service various Louisiana actions against invasion of Texas. As Texas Adjutant General after reconstruction rebuilt Texas Rangers to restore order and control Indians. Erected by the State of Texas, 1963