December 16, 1863---"Sul" Ross takes command in south Texas

DECEMBER 16, 1863:        

Lawrence Sullivan Ross, the future Governor of Texas and eventual President of Texas A & M, is promoted to Brigadier General (C.S.A.) after taking command of the South Texas Brigade (afterward known as “Ross’ Brigade”). Ross’ Brigade fought with distinction during the Atlanta Campaign in 1864. “Sul” Ross is probably best remembered as the man who captured Cynthia Parker. Parker, a Euro-American, had been captured (at age 9) by the Comanche Indians under Chief Niconah, with whom she had a son, the famous scout Quanah Parker, who eventually became a Chief of the Comanches in his own right. There is no evidence that Cynthia Parker ever chose to leave her Comanche husband and child.