HistoricSiteMarkers
Civil War

Home Town of Texas Confederate General H.P. Mabry

Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas

Marker Inscription

A Georgian. Came to Texas 1851. Admitted to bar. Texas Legislator 1856-60. With Confederate expedition capturing Forts Washita and Arbuckle, Indian Territory, April-May 1861. June 1861 joined 3rd Tex. Cav. Helped win Wilson's Creek battle, in campaign to keep Missouri in Confederate fold. Late 1861 scouted U.S. Gen. Fremont's Army, Springfield, Mo. Had arm shattered in Bowie knife fray with 7 out to take him as spy. Led regiment at Pea Ridge, Ark., March 1862. At Luka, Miss., Sept. 1862, lost a third of unit, was shot 3 times and was taken captive. BACK OF MARKER: Exchanged at Vicksburg late 1862, Mabry refused to sign parole until slur on Confederacy was removed. In command of Mississippi Cavalry, led patrols repulsing Federals from rich Yazoo Valley breadbasket 1863-64. Guarded food, forage for supplying Confederacy. Commanded Calvary that took, dismantled, burned U.S. Gunboat "Petrel" on Yazoo River. Attached to Gen. Forrest's Division, helped bottle enemy in Memphis, formed rear guard for offensives, destroyed Sherman communications, fought pitched battles. Spies would report Mabry's horsemen in 3 different spots hundreds of miles apart on same day. Assigned to move Texas cattle, men, supplies across tightly guarded Mississippi River. 1866 was elected District Judge, but removed by Radical Reconstruction authorities. 1879-1885 practiced law Fort Worth. Buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Jefferson. Erected by the State of Texas 1964

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

Hinchie Parham Mabry, a Georgia-born lawyer and Texas legislator, became one of the state's hard-fighting Confederate cavalry commanders. With the 3rd Texas Cavalry he fought at Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge, and Iuka—where he was wounded three times and captured—then rode with Nathan Bedford Forrest's command, raiding Union communications across Mississippi. After the war he was elected a district judge, only to be removed by Reconstruction authorities, and later practiced law in Fort Worth.

Why it matters

Mabry's career traces the arc of many Confederate officers—from battlefield to the bitter politics of Reconstruction—and marks Fort Worth's ties to the Civil War generation that shaped postwar Texas.

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Related people

  • · H. P. Mabry

Related events

  • · Battle of Wilson's Creek
  • · Battle of Pea Ridge
  • · Battle of Iuka

Themes & tags

Civil WarLandmark

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