[227] December 5th of the same year he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of a battalion of cavalry. With this command he was very active in scouting, reporting movements of the enemy, attacking their forces whenever it was advisable, and useful in every way to the commanding general. In the attack upon the Federals at Galveston on January 1, 1863, he was notably active, so that General Magruder in his official report gives special commendation to him in connection with other officers for efficiency and gallantry. Early in 1864 he was ordered to march with his Texans to join Gen. Richard Taylor in the campaign against Banks. The regiment which he was leading had never before been in action, but, under his guidance, behaved with such coolness and bravery as to win the approval of General Taylor in his reports. In the reports of this campaign, including the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, his name frequently appears, always in connection with honorable service. In the pursuit of Banks, Debray commanded a cavalry brigade under General Bee, and kept up the good work he had begun on his first encounter with the enemy. On May 18th the Federals ambuscaded him; but, said General Taylor, ‘Debray opened, enfilading their line. Many were killed and wounded, and Wharton's charge captured a good many prisoners.’ After the termination of the Red river campaign, Colonel Debray was appointed a brigadier-general by Gen. Kirby Smith; he had worthily won this rank. After the peace he returned to Texas and made his home in Austin, where he died on January 9, 1895.
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[227] December 5th of the same year he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of a battalion of cavalry. With this command he was very active in scouting, reporting movements of the enemy, attacking their forces whenever it was advisable, and useful in every way to the commanding general. In the attack upon the Federals at Galveston on January 1, 1863, he was notably active, so that General Magruder in his official report gives special commendation to him in connection with other officers for efficiency and gallantry. Early in 1864 he was ordered to march with his Texans to join Gen. Richard Taylor in the campaign against Banks. The regiment which he was leading had never before been in action, but, under his guidance, behaved with such coolness and bravery as to win the approval of General Taylor in his reports. In the reports of this campaign, including the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, his name frequently appears, always in connection with honorable service. In the pursuit of Banks, Debray commanded a cavalry brigade under General Bee, and kept up the good work he had begun on his first encounter with the enemy. On May 18th the Federals ambuscaded him; but, said General Taylor, ‘Debray opened, enfilading their line. Many were killed and wounded, and Wharton's charge captured a good many prisoners.’ After the termination of the Red river campaign, Colonel Debray was appointed a brigadier-general by Gen. Kirby Smith; he had worthily won this rank. After the peace he returned to Texas and made his home in Austin, where he died on January 9, 1895.
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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