BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

Augustus Buchel

Augustus Buchel, of Indianola, was born near Mayence, on the Rhine, in 1811.  He was educated at the military academy of Mayence and completed at the "Ecole Militaire" of Paris.  In consequence of his talents and superior capabilities in the sciences of war, he was selected by Ali Pasha to accompany him to Turkey where he was appointed military instructor of the Turkish army, with the rank and pay of colonel.  His attachment to the Christian religion prevented his advancement.  At the beginning of the Carlist war in Spain he proceeded thither and entered the army of Queen Christiana.  For meritorious service he received the Knight Cross of the Order of the Golden Crosses.  He came to the Republic of Texas in 1845, locating in Indianola.  In May 1846 when Gen. Zachary Taylor called for volunteers, he raised and was chosen captain of a company that joined the American army, and later was transferred to Gen. Taylor's staff and promoted to major.  He was commended in orders for his bravery at the battle of Buna Vista.  It is said that had Gen. Taylor lived a few days longer after being elected president he would have appointed Buchel to be Minister Plenipotentiary to Brazil.  President Pierce made him collector for the port of Lacoca.  During the Cortena war he formed a company and went to the scene of lawlessness.  When the great war came in 1861 he became lieutenant-colonel of Luckett's regiment, and later was made colonel of a regiment of Texan cavalry which he was leading in battle at Pleasant Hill, April 9, 1864, when he received the fatal wound from which he died four days later at Mansfield.  Texas has erected a monument over his grave in the State cemetery at Austin.  

Source: Transcription from the book, Texans Who Wore the Gray, written by Sid S. Johnson, published in 1907; located on the website, Hathitrust Digital Library (http://www.hathitrust.org), accessed on 9 March 2023.