Lt Col William R. Scurry

"Dirty Shirt" Scurry

William Read "Dirty Shirt" Scurry was a lawyer by profession and had served as aide-de-camp to Gen Thomas J. Rusk in the Republic of Texas Army. During the War with Mexico he fought at Monterry. After the war he practiced law in several Texas counties and eventually serving as a delegate to the Texas state secession convention in 1861. An orator and poet, Scurry campaigned hard for secession, riding through dozens of Texas towns, haranguing crowds, and earning his sobriquet, "Dirty Shirt" because of his road-grimed garmets. He was commissioned as lieutenant colonel of the 4th Texas Mounted Volunteers on August 23, 1861.

After the New Mexico campaign Lt Col Scurry became a brigadier general in the Confederate Army and was killed in combat in 1864. Scurry County Texas is named for him.

To learn more about General Scurry -- click here.