Henry A. Cotton

COTTON, HENRY A. (1838 ~ 1905). Henry A. Cotton, Confederate veteran, was born in Arkansas in 1838. Cotton moved to Texas in 1856 and settled in the San Antonio area.

It is unclear when Cotton joined the Confederate Army, but according to Compiled Military Service Records he was promoted to First Lieutenant in January 1864. Cotton was enrolled in the Fourth Regiment of the Arizona Brigade, Baird's Regiment of the Texas Cavalry which was organized in February 1863. The unit was supposed to be comprised of New Mexico and Arizona residents, but most of the unit was comprised of Texans and was organized in Eagle Lake, Texas. The Fourth Regiment, Arizona Brigade, which served throughout Texas, mostly on the northwest frontier, fought small skirmishes with hostile Indians, but did participate in the retaking of Brownsville from Union Forces.

According to Compiled Military Service Records, Cotton served with the Fourth until April 1864 where he deserted the army at Camp Ford, Texas. He worked as a "dancing master" after the war according to Confederate Home Roster records and joined the home in Austin in February 1897. Cotton died on May 1, 1905 and was buried in the Texas State cemetery shortly after his death.

Biographical information taken from Texas State Cemetery file materials.