Downtown El Paso in El Paso County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Nine of Primitive El Paso's Patriotic Heroes

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 3, 2010

1. To the Memory of Nine of Primitive El Paso's Patriotic Heroes Marker

Front of marker.

Inscription.

Nine of Primitive El Paso's Patriotic Heroes. . To the memory of nine of primitive El Paso's patriotic heroes, Emmett Mills Aged 19 Freeman Thomas - Joe Poacher M. Champion - John Pontel Bob Avlin - John Wilson Who in July 1861 were loyal citizens of El Paso, Texas and Loyal employees of the Butterfield Overland Mail Co.. When all Federal troops in Texas had been surrendered by General Twiggs to the Confederacy, when the war department had withdrawn all the Federal troops from west of the Rio Grande in Arizona, now New Mexico, and when Major Lynde and other Federal commanders had determined to surrender their troops to the Confederacy, these seven patriots courageously removed most of their company's property from Texas, and on July 20, 1861, they seized one of the stages at El Paso, intending to join the California Column and return with it, in order to save El Paso to the Union and restore the mail company's property to it's owners., (Back): The next day they were intercepted at Cook's Springs, near Deming, by a large force of hostile Indians under Chief Mangas Coloradas. Hastily building a small fort of stone they defended themselves until the night of the second day. Two weeks later their mutilated bodies were discovered with a note under a stone stating that on July 23rd all had been killed, save two, who planned escape that night. Later they, too, had fallen with their comrades. , The perilous situation and heroic defense of these heroes are described fully in Volume IV Records of the Rebellion, and in correspondence in the El Paso Public Library., Colonel W. R. Scurry Fourth Texan Cavalry and Colonel P. T. Herbert Seventh Texan Cavalry Who were called into the service of the state, by its governor, in 1861, both obeyed the call when their state was practically at war with the Federal government and heroically performed all the duties required of them until their regiments were engaged in the battles of Jenkin's Ferry, Ark, April 20, 1863, and Mansfield, La. April 3, 1864 respectively where they gave the last full measure of devotion by laying down their lives for that which from their viewpoint, was a righteous cause., Authorized by the Mayor and City Council to be erected by their mutual townsman and friend, Anson Mills.

To the memory of
nine of primitive El Paso's
patriotic heroes

Emmett Mills
Aged 19
Freeman Thomas - Joe Poacher
M. Champion - John Pontel
Bob Avlin - John Wilson
Who in July 1861
were loyal citizens
of El Paso, Texas
and Loyal employees
of the Butterfield Overland Mail Co. When all Federal troops in Texas had been surrendered by General Twiggs to the Confederacy, when the war department had withdrawn all the Federal troops from west of the Rio Grande in Arizona, now New Mexico, and when Major Lynde and other Federal commanders had determined to surrender their troops to the Confederacy, these seven patriots courageously removed most of their company's property from Texas, and on July 20, 1861, they seized one of the stages at El Paso, intending to join the California Column and return with it, in order to save El Paso to the Union and restore the mail company's property to it's owners.

(Back):
The next day they were intercepted at Cook's Springs, near Deming, by a large force of hostile Indians under Chief Mangas Coloradas. Hastily building a small fort of stone they defended themselves until the night of the second day. Two weeks later their mutilated bodies were discovered with a note under a stone stating that on July 23rd all had been killed,

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save two, who planned escape that night. Later they, too, had fallen with their comrades.

The perilous situation and heroic defense of these heroes are described fully in Volume IV Records of the Rebellion, and in correspondence in the El Paso Public Library.

Colonel W. R. Scurry
Fourth Texan Cavalry
and
Colonel P. T. Herbert
Seventh Texan Cavalry
Who were called into the service of the state, by its governor, in 1861, both obeyed the call when their state was practically at war with the Federal government and heroically performed all the duties required of them until their regiments were engaged in the battles of Jenkin's Ferry, Ark, April 20, 1863, and Mansfield, La. April 3, 1864 respectively where they gave the last full measure of devotion by laying down their lives for that which from their viewpoint, was a righteous cause.

Authorized by the Mayor and City Council to be erected by their mutual townsman and friend, Anson Mills.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1888.

Location. 31° 45.528′ N, 106° 29.151′ W. Marker is in El Paso, Texas, in El Paso County. It is in Downtown El Paso. It is at the intersection of North Stanton Street and Myrtle Avenue, on the right when traveling north on North Stanton

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 3, 2010

2. To the Memory of Nine of Primitive El Paso's Patriotic Heroes Marker

Rear of marker.

Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 321 E San Antonio Ave, El Paso TX 79901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Texas’ Trans-Pecos & Big Bend Region.

It is also in the American Southwest.

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,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Singer Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Caples Building / Torre Caples (about 400 feet away); The Martin Building (about 400 feet away); John Wesley Hardin (about 500 feet away); Elite Confectionary (about 500 feet away); Votes for Women (about 500 feet away); Robert Ewing Thomason (about 500 feet away); El Paso's Chinese Community (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Paso.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 3, 2010

3. To the Memory of Nine of Primitive El Paso's Patriotic Heroes Marker

Front of Marker.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 3, 2010

4. To the Memory of Nine of Primitive El Paso's Patriotic Heroes Marker

Rear of marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,400 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 13, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A clear, readable photo of the marker's reverse. • Can you help?