Burr H. Duval

Burr Harrison Duval (1809– March 27, 1836) was the commander of the Kentucky Mustangs, First Regiment Volunteers, a group of Kentucky Long-riflemen formed in Bardstown, Kentucky in November of 1835 during the Texas Revolution.

Early life

Burr H. Duval was the son of William Pope Duval and Nancy Hynes. He was born in 1809 in Bardstown. He attended school at St. Joseph's College in Bardstown.

Texas Revolution

After forming the Kentucky Mustangs, the group traveled to Texas to fight for independence from Mexico. They arrived at Quintana, Texas in December of 1835. Duval and his company were put under the command of Colonel James Walker Fannin, with Duval given the rank of Captain.

The Mustangs, along with the five other companies under Fannin's command were in Goliad, Texas on March 14, 1836 when they received ordered from Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Army Sam Houston to retreat to Victoria, Texas. Fannin delayed the retreat from Presidio La Bahia in Goliad, waiting for reinforcements. Once it was learned that the reinforcements had been defeated on their way to Goliad, Colonel Fannin ordered the retreat. Captain Duval and his men began to retreat with the regiment, however, by the time the order came, the Mexican army under the command of José de Urrea had completely surrounded the town of Goliad. Duval and all of the men under Fannin's command were forced to surrender to the Mexican army on March 19, 1836.

A week following the surrender, Antonio López de Santa Anna ordered the execution of most of the men captured at Goliad. Burr H. Duval, and almost 400 other men captured at Goliad were executed on March 27, 1836. Colonel James Fannin was executed on the following day. The event is known as the Goliad Massacre.

Facts

Duval County, Texas is named after him.

His father, William Pope Duval was the first territorial governor of Florida.

Two of his brothers also fought in the Texas Revolution. His brother, John Crittenden Duval, was also captured at Goliad, however was spared from execution.