Captain E. T. Broughton
7th Texas Infantry


LETTERS TO MOLLIE

The Letters of Edward Thomas Broughton to Mary Elizabeth Douglas Broughton (1861-1864)
Compiled by Mary Lee Anderson Barnes, Great Granddaughter, 1989




Copy of handwritten letter #4, courtesy of Athens Genealogical Organization, Athens, Texas

 


Edward Thomas Broughton

Edward Thomas Broughton II was born in Monroe County, Alabama, on April 13, 1834. He was the son of Edward T. Broughton and Rachel Winborne Walker. E. T. Broughton was described as a man of fine appearance, nearly six-feet tall, erect and commanding.

Broughton studied to become a lawyer and after passing the Texas bar, established himself in the legal profession. On July 2, 1856, at the age 22, he married Mary Elizabeth (Mollie) Douglas, daughter of Alexander Douglas of Smith County. During the course of their marriage, they had seven children.

In 1857, Broughton and Mollie moved to Athens, Texas where he entered a law practice with his brother, Dempsey W. Broughton and T. B. Greenwood. In 1861, records show he was in Kaufman County, Texas, in a law firm with his brother and R. B. English. By this time, he and Mollie had given birth to their first two children, Prentiss and Margaret Tomie.

In July, 1861, Broughton volunteered for service in the Confederate army. He was elected captain of Company C, Seventh Texas Infantry. During the war, Broughton was captured twice - at Fort Donelson, Kentucky, February 16, 1862, and at Raymond, Mississippi, May 12, 1863. Each time, he was imprisoned at Johnson's Island Prison, Ohio. During his second time in prison where he remained for almost a year, he contracted smallpox that impaired his vision for life.


Mary (Mollie) Elizabeth Douglas

After his 1864 release from prison, Broughton traveled to Georgia where his regiment was engaged in the Campaign for Atlanta. Prior to rejoining the army, he spent some time in Newnan, Georgia, convalescing. After the fall of Atlanta, Broughton continued with General Hood's army into Tennessee. On November 30, 1864, after Granbury was killed during the Battle of Franklin, Broughton took command of Granbury's Brigade for the remainder of the engagement.

The fate of the Confederacy was sealed after the loss of the battles of Franklin and Nashville.

After the Tennessee Campaign, Broughton returned to Kaufman and his law practice. In 1868, he moved to Sherman (Grayson County) and, in 1870, was elected state senator from the 22nd District. He served two terms but was forced to retire due to the decline of his health. Brought died in February of 1874 and is buried in Sherman, Texas. He was not quite 40 years of age at the time of his death.

Historic notes by Mary Lee Barnes, great granddaughter.



LETTERS TO MOLLIE


Relevant Links

E. T. Broughton, "Among the Missing"
The Exploits of Patrick Griffin: "Finding A Gold Mine"
Texas Monument Dedicated
Researching The 7th Texas Infantry
General John Gregg: The End Of The Story
Seventh Texas Infantry: Generals John Gregg And Hiram Granbury

 


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