Fairfield in Freestone County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Val Verde Battery

C.S.A.

Photographed by Mansfieldphoto.com, January 18, 2026

1. Val Verde Battery Marker

Inscription. Six brass field guns taken by Lt. Joseph D. Sayers' Company in Civil War Battle of Val Verde, N. Mex., 1862, and brought back to Texas with incredible difficulty, armed a new unit of hand-picked men. Sound of the Val Verde guns in action set pace for other outfits, helped secure such victories as the recapture of Galveston, 1863.

At Mansfield, La., April 1864, captured new, longer-range guns.

Unwilling to lose their guns when the war ended, the men buried four. The last commander, T.D. Nettles, brought this one home to Freestone County.

Erected 1964 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 9909.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1864.

Location. 31° 43.533′ N, 96° 9.594′ W. Marker is in Fairfield, Texas, in Freestone County. It is at the intersection of East Commerce Street (U.S. 84) and North Keechi Street, on the left when traveling east on East Commerce Street. In the courthouse square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 East Commerce Street, Fairfield TX 75840, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Captain L.D. Bradley (a few steps from this marker); Freestone County (a few steps from this marker); Site of Law Office General John Gregg

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(about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rev. George Washington Baines (about 600 feet away); Butler Church Bell (about 600 feet away); 1881 Freestone County Jail (about 700 feet away); Potter-Watson Log Cabin (about 700 feet away); Carter Log House (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfield.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Old Freestone Jail (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Val Verde Battery - The Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) (Submitted on August 16, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.)

Val Verde Battery Field Gun image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Gustafson, October 10, 2010

2. Val Verde Battery Field Gun

The marker can be seen in the background.

Val Verde Cannon image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jim Evans

3. Val Verde Cannon

Photographed by Jim Evans

4. Val Verde Battery Marker

Photographed by Steve Gustafson, October 10, 2010

5. Val Verde Battery Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,556 times since then and 52 times this year. Last updated on August 16, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. Photos: 1. submitted on March 4, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 2. submitted on October 17, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. 3, 4. submitted on July 5, 2015, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 5. submitted on October 17, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.