BRANCH, CLARK E. (1836~1893) Clark E. Branch, Confederate veteran, was born in Vermont in 1836, and moved to Texas in 1859.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, Branch enlisted in the Confederate Army and served as a musician in Company C or F of Santos Benavides Texas Cavalry, which was formed from the 33rd Texas Cavalry. After the creation of Benavides’ Cavalry in November of 1863, the regiment spent most of its time in South Texas, where it successfully defended the city of Laredo on March 19, 1864, and provided for a safe passage of Texas cotton through Mexico. Branch and the other soldiers surrendered in New Orleans with General E. Kirby Smith on May 26, 1865, and were taken as prisoners of war. It is believed that they were later released in San Antonio.

After the War, Branch stayed in San Antonio and worked as a public officer. Suffering from paralysis, he entered the Confederate Men’s Home in Austin on May 22, 1890, and remained there until his death on April 24, 1893. He was buried in the Texas State Cemetery.

Information taken from: Compiled Military Service Record; National Park Service website, http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss; "BENAVIDES, SANTOS." The Handbook of Texas Online. [Accessed Fri Aug 15 14:34:23 US/Central 2003].; and Confederate Home Roster.