Most populous county in state during Civil War. Center for production, warehousing, transportation, communications. Had large quartermaster depot. Its wartime factories made spinning jennies, lumber, pots, kettles, wagons, army ambulances. Government cotton was held in Brenham, one of 4 state depots. From here wagons and carts hauled it to Mexico to exchange for vital military and civilian supplies. Brenham, terminus of rail connections to Houston, was alive with troops, stagecoaches, freighters. Here early morning train was met by a pony express that took the Houston Telegraph at speeds of 8 to 10 miles an hour into Austin so that Gazette there might publish latest war news in State Capitol. Confederate paper shortage forced Brenham Banner to suspend publication. But in Washington, Mrs. Eva Lancaster did not skip an issue getting out The Texas Ranger while her husband and two sons spent four years fighting for the South. Cavalry, infantry and artillery units from here fought on all fronts. Waul's Legion was organized and trained in county. Brenham was headquarters for Reserve Corps of Texas. General Jerome Robertson, of Independence, led Hood's Texas Brigade for 17 months.
This page last updated: 7/15/2008 |
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