Book Description

During the War Between the States, otherwise known as the Civil War, a large part of the Texas Hill Country opposed the Confederacy. They were mostly German settlers led by Freethinkers and Forty-Eighters, but about 25% of the group was Anglo. In early 1861, this group organized the insurgency's political element known today as the Union Loyal League, but only called "The Organization" by its members. By March 1862, they had organized a secret military element of battalion size with three companies. The Organization believed that the Union was going to invade Texas by a two-pronged attack: one from the sea at Galveston, and the second overland from Kansas. These two Union prongs would link up at Austin, splitting the state along the Colorado River. The League's battalion, supported by Unionists from Austin, San Antonio, Comal and Medina Counties would rise up and declare the western part of Texas as the Free State of West Texas. This book tells the story of their effort, in their own words. Wm. Paul Burrier, Sr. was born in Fredericksburg, Texas, the center of the Texas German settlement. He graduated from Leakey High School, Southwest Texas Junior Texas College, and Texas A&M University, and did his graduate work at East Tennessee State University in Political Science. Paul spent over 24 years in Army Airborne and Special Operations, conducting counter-insurgency ops. Over his long military career, he went on four combat tours, and another one with the Pakistani Army, fighting an insurgency. His awards include the Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, and 26 other individual and unit awards.