Like the Stinson soldiers of the 69th. Pa. Vols William Hinfey was another son of Newbridge Toomebridge Co.Derry. Information on the following soldiers Hinfey and Murphy is relative to the time they served. Prior to the Civil War 1861-1865 the Regular American army was not in a divided state ie a Northern and a Southern Army. It played a major role in protecting the emigrants as they moved west into such places as Texas. It was in the American West a frontier Force. It would man the forts and effectively face off the Indian Nations and Mexicans as they they fought back as they lost their homelands. This was the Texas into which two young Irishmen would move to from an initial base in Philadelphia in the case of Hinfey and probably Alexandria Va. in the case of Daniel Murphy. Let us take a short look at their stories. These are not stories of battles and victories more an insight into how the expanding West was developing and how it affected Hinfey and Murphy.

William Hinfey are his wife are listed in the 1860 census for San Antonio 3rd.Ward Bexar Co. Texas as follows
Henfy Wm age 35 Labourer Born Ireland
Mary aged 20
WJ aged 9 born Texas.
Mary aged 7 born Texas.

Civil War Record of William Hinfey.
Name: William Hinfey
Unit: Captain Edgar's Co., Texas State Troops.
Rank - Induction: Private
Rank - Discharge: Private
Allegiance: Confederate
Notes: Wm. Henfey 1 Tex. Field Batty.

In the 1860 San Antonio, 4th. Ward census for Bexar Co. 1860.
Edgar , James, 29 , occupation. U. S. Army Quartermaster's Department.
William Hinfeys and Capt. Edgar's path would cross.

The story of how a man from Newbridge Co. Derry wound up in Texas in a local Texas militia unit perceived as a Confederate army unit is fascinating. It is really the story of two families. That of William Hinfey's from Newbridge Co. Derry and Daniel Murphy from Co. Cork. Both were emigrants. William could read and write while Daniel aged just 16 when his parents died arrived in America unable to read and write.
Here is some information on William Hinfey.
Around famine times circa 1840 six Hinfey children emigrated to Philadelphia from Newbridge Co. Derry. Between 1814 and 1833 some eight Hinfey children were born. These were named. Ellen, Mary, Jane, William, John, Susan, Sarah and Charles the youngest. William was born April 2nd 1825.
Ellen was married by 1833 to a local man Barney Lavery. Mary had married James Campbell in 1841. Jane married Eugene McCormick in 1844 and had a son in 1846. When the head of the Hinfey family died in the early 1840's the remaining six children plus Jane's husband and son set off for America. As usual Philadelphia or New York was the ports of destination from this part of Co. Derry. Willam and John decided to find their future further south into a Texas now opening up as the Europeans moved south and west. From records it is seen that William enlisted in New York May 6th 1845 for service in the Mexican war and went south to Texas where he probably had received a land grant for enlisting to fight in the Mexican war. William was married and was settled in San Antonio by 1850. John however decided that he would return to the main family group in Philadelphia and would also marry in 1850. William finished his enlistment and was discharged in early May 1850 in El Paso Texas. He had served 5 years.
Jane Hinfey-McCormick had a second child in Philadelphia in 1848 but alas by 1850 her husband Eugene McCormick had died. She was now a widow with two young children. Her younger brother Charles was living with her.
Now widowed Jane decided to go south to Texas to join her brother William. She very soon remarried in Texas. Her two sisters had also gone south Texas earlier. Susan had married Bernard Brady an employee of Daniel Murphy (see later).
Thus circa middle 1850's prior to the Civil War William Hinfey and his three sisters were living permanently in San Antonio. Charles had already gone back north to Philadelphia. However at the start of the Civil war the now Union aligned part of the Regular Army who had protected the settlers primarily against Indians and Mexicans moved North. The Texans were left to look after their own security. This they did as citizens of San Antonio formed up their own Home Guard. William would soon find himself in Col. Edgars State Guards. However the Civil War would change a lot. I suppose Col. Edgar's State Guards as as such would be nominally Confederates in the eyes of the Union Army. The men of the unit decided they would not enrole to fight the Union army. Others did but as a half way arrangement Colonel Edgar allowed William to stay in San Antonio and work in the arsenal there. William had perhaps still too many links to his family in Philadelphia a heartland of Union Units the 69th Penn Vols. amongst them. He had to know that others such as McPeaks and Stinsons were amongst the soldiers of the 69th.
The war over William was employed repairing and restoring old buildings in the San Antonio area. He died young aged 58 in 1883 and is buried in the Cemeterio San Fernando in San Antonio. Hardly a committed Confederate simply a Militia man in the service of pre Civil War Texas but nevertheless seen through Northern eyes as a Confederate.
William the ex Confederate soldier would appear to keep his head down for the duration of the war albeit he had been conscripted into the Confederate army. When the heat was off he wrote to his brother Charles still in Philadelphia a letter dated the 29th of July 1866.

San Antonio July 29th
1866

Dear Brother,
I take my pen in hand to write to you these few lines hoping that they will find you and all the family as well as this leaves me and the family in at present thanks be to God.
Dear brother it is so long since I heard from you I hardly thought you were alive at all. I was very happy to hear of you getting married and settling down I trust you will do well and make a good living for your family.
Dear brother this place is grew so large since you left you would hardly know it. The place where John had his blacksmith shop is now covered with big Hotels and dwelling houses but since the breaking out of the war it has been very dull but things are begging to go ahead again
Dear brother I was happy to hear that you and John kept out of the army during the war I served one year in it and then got detailed to the Arsenal Department and remained there to the close of the war.
Dear brother William John is growing very big. Little Mary has had a complaint in her leg for the last six years and kept her groth down but other ways she is well
Dear brother I am doing well at present. I am working at the house carpenter since the war ended at $2 per day.
Dear brother William John will be sixteen years in April next and I am thinking of sending him to a trade about that time. He is a very good scholar. He has been going to school since I left Philadelphia. I would like for you to let me know when you write to me how boys is bound in your place to a trade and what you thought would be best for I have not made up my mind what to put him to as yet.
Dear brother, Mr Thomas Johnson and family are doing well. Peter is grew very large. Jimmy is very small but very smart. The rest of the family is growing very fast. Mrs Brady and family is well and her children are getting very big. Mr. Johnson has two large stores one on the main plaza and the other one at home.
Dear brother I would have wrote before this but I was expecting a letter from you. I hope you will writ as soon as you receive this. Direct in care of Thomas Johnson.
Dear brother me and Mary and children joins in sending our love to you and your wife and children and John and his family and all of our friends there. No more at present but I remain you brother.
Wm Hinfey.

Comments: The letter above probably the first letter that William sent north to his brother in Philadelphia after the war evidently in reply to the first communication William had heard from his family members in Philadelphia since the start of the Civil War. Remember the war had been over since mid 1865 so William did not want to rush things. There would still be raw nerves around about the recent war and certainly Philadelphia was a Union stronghold.
William speaks of having a son William John and a daughter Mary who seems to be partially crippled. He says his wife is named Mary.
William had been in Captain Edgar's troop (Daniel Murphy was in the same unit) which was formed at first mainly for the defense of San Antonio and after the first year when it moved northward many of the original members stayed behind. William John Hinfey, his son's birth date is shown as April 1851 which accounts for his not being in the 1850 census. Mary (his daughter) also not listed so she apparently also younger than William John.
Be aware that William Hinfey was living in a Texas with mixed affiliations during the pre and Civil War era. He would appear to have avoided fighting for the Confederates as such. Whether he would have chosen to fight for the Union or not if given the choice we will never know. However if he had been in Philadelphia at the time he might of his own free will have joined the Union army, perhaps even the 69th. Penn Vols.!
William Henefy (the spelling on his headstone) died in San Antonio Sept 15th 1883. He is buried in the Cemeterio de Sanfernando. in San Antonio. The above image is of his headstone there.
He had served a year as a soldier but looking at the comment in his letter seems to have "escaped" active service due to his employment in the arsenal in San Antonio. After the war was over in 1865 he worked at his trade as a self employed carpenter and worked all around the San Antonio area up to distances as great as 100 miles. He owned his own house in San Antonio and another in rural Bexar Co. He would appear to have made a reasonable living for himself but nothing as good as Daniel Murphy.
In his letter above William mentions that the family of Mr. Thomas Johnson is well as is the Brady family. We know that Jane Hinfey had married to a Eugene McCormick in Ireland in 1844 and that they emigrated but Janes's husband Eugene died in America.So as Jane Hinfey McCormick now living in San Antonio gets remarried this time to a Thomas Johnson in San Antonio April 3rd 1853. Who was Thomas Johnson?. Thomas Johnson was born in 1803 in the Tuscarora Valley in Pennsylvania of Irish parents. Aged just 14 he enlists in the Army. He serves in many areas and battles, the Indian wars on the Canadian border, throughout the West, the Seminole wars in Florida and finally a five year enlistment in the Mexican war. He was finally discharged in the El Paso area of Tx April 28th 1850. His path towards the Hinfeys and the Bradys would soon cross!. His friend in the service had been William Hinfey who was discharged about a week later. Both settle in San Antonio. The Murphys, Bradys, Hinfeys and Johnsons, are all established and intermarried on the date that William's letter is written July 29th 1866. The Civil war was over.
Thomas Johnson had joined the Army aged 14 in 1817 at Philadelphia probably as a junior drummer boy or bugler. He served until 30.9.1821 and is discharged at Sacketts Harbour N.Y.aged 18. He would appear to have learned the trade of a bricklayer this being noted as his trade when he re-enlists 20.10.1827 aged 24 years. He enlisted in the 2nd infantry at Fort Mackinac and fought in the Black Hawk wars. Thomas was discharged 20.10.1832 at Fort Mackinac. He would appear to have taken some time out as a civilian but re-enlists in the 6th Infantry on 30.9.1834 at Louisville Ky. for what appears to be a three year enlistment as he is discharged at Monroe Va. 30.9.1837. He again re-enlists this time in Newport Va again in the 6th Infantry. He fights in the Seminole wars and is discharged at Fort Brooks Fla. 11.10.1840. He would then appear to have made his way up north to Philadelphia and probably worked as a labourer. He may well have been with his relatives or perhaps at his home. Again he gets the bug to re-enlist and does this time in Philadelphia 28.4.1845 for service in the Mexican war. His unit would be the 1st Infantry. He enlists for five years, survives and is discharged in El Paso 28.4.1850. His life would change for ever he would marry and settle down. Note: In order to make William Hinfey's letter more "readable" some punctuation and spelling errors were corrected but in no way is the sense of the letter altered.

Married not one but two Newbridge Hinfey ladies. Though not a man of Ballymaguigan a Cork man would marry into the Hinfeys. Let us look at the life of this remarkable man and his remarkable life who eventually married into the Hinfeys of S. Derry. Not once but twice!.
Daniel Murphy was born in Co. Cork Feb. 5th 1830. He arrived in America aged just 16 years late in 1846. He could neither read nor write. One story is that he had been shipped off to America after his parents died because his sisters feared having him as a dependent and would spoil their chances of good marriages. However there may be other clues as to why he was in America by 1846. If one looks at his Discharge paper below he states that he had been a tailor!. Well hardly I think as this is a trade that would require the ability ability to measure count and indeed read. I feel personally that the word written on the Discharge should be sailor. Coincidentally at the time there were ships that ran from Cork some via Liverpool to Alexandria Va. where in fact Daniel enlisted. Again it is known that there was a ship that did the trip from Cork called the John Marshall which did a trip that arrived in Alexandria on Sept. 30th 1846. The ships captain was Thomas Murphy and the ship was registered in Cork. Is it not possible that Daniel was related to the Captain and had been enlisted as a crew member of low rank perhaps as a cabin boy or junior rating? This may well have been against his wishes to ease pressure on his sisters. By the time he had arrived in Alexandria he had decided to jump ship. We know that it was about 10 weeks from his possible arrival on the John Marshall to his enlistment. A ship in those days would have taken quite a while to discharge but also the captain had to tout for a return cargo which may well have kept him in port for weeks. It is possible Daniel left it to the last moment to jump ship. It is also of interest to note that later Daniel would name one of his sons Thomas. Was this after the ships captain?.
There would be a bonus for joining the ranks of the U.S. Regular Army as it prepared for the Mexican war. Let us look at his war records extracted from his files.
Daniel Murphy joined Capt Montgomery Corse's Co. B of the First Virginia Volunteers. He claimed to be 18. He enrolled on Dec.16th 1846 at Alexandria Va. and the period was "the war with Mexico". He would receive $100 dollars bounty with the promise of $100 at the termination of his tour. He is named on the Co. Muster in roll taken at Richmod Va. on Dec. 30th.1846. He is mustered in on the same day. His war had commenced.
In the Co. Muster roll for period Dec. 31st 1846 until April 30th. 1947 it is noted that he had been "sent on 29th April with trains to Camargo". It also notes that the Co. is now referred to as Co. A 1st. Regt. Va. Vols. He had arrived in Mexico to fight which no doubt he had to do.
In the Muster roll for May and June 1847 under Absent or Present is the entry "Not Stated". The same entry is found for July and August. Again for Sept and Oct. we have the same entry however there is an interesting comment in the Remarks section. "Stop 1 bayonet 1.44". I assume he had lost his bayonet and the army were going to stop $1.44 from his pay for this! The war with Mexico would come to an end in 1848 and Daniel no doubt got his $100 but more importantly he would be given a grant of 160 acres of Texas land for his war service. He could start plans for his future.

In the above document we see Daniel was honourably discharged on the 1st of August 1848 at Fortress Monroe Va. at the end of his term.
It is of interest to note that he is said to be 18 years of age (the same age he gave when he joined up!). Daniel was a smallish man 5 feet 7 inches in height, of light complexion, blue eyes, dark hair. The most interesting comment is that he was a tailor when he enlisted!. Perhaps this should be sailor.
It was now 1848 and he soon got involved in the protection of his assets. He still needed employment and all he knew was soldiering and he could still not read and write. He would appear to have made his way to San Antonio. What to do?. He joined the Texas Ranger Company of Big Foot Wallace and spent several years as a Texas Ranger, teaching himself to read and write, and riding escort to the mail coaches moving from San Antonio to El Paso. It is known that he was at Fort Inge in 1850 and in the course of his service on the frontier tracked and fought Indians in the Davis mountains.He saw an opportunity to form a freighting service along the same route and when forts were established along the route for permanent protection, he expanded his activities. One of his employees, Bernard Brady married a Susan Hinfey in May 1851 sister to William Hinfey written about above and early in Aug.1852 Daniel married her sister Sarah. Both families were living in San Antonio, but when the Army established Fort Davis, Murphy claimed his land in that area and built a walled compound adjacent to the Fort where he established a general store, a warehouse, a stop on his freight line and a hotel as well as a home to which he moved his wife, son Thomas and daughter in 1854-5. The Murphy women with an associate's wife were the only non-Mexican women in the entire West Bend area of Texas. Between 1854 and 1861 he and his wife had three more daughters. The main U.S. Army would now split into the North (The Union Army) and the South (the Confederate Army) when Texas joined the Confederacy. His old unit the 1st.Va.Vols of the regular Army would now become a Confederate unit. These were troubled times in Texas where there would be subsequent conflicting alliances.
Fort Davis was abandoned by the now Northern Army at the start of the Civil War and it was taken over by the Confederate forces. The Southerners could not hold the Fort in the face of active hostile Indians so they abandoned it and returned to San Antonio. The Murphy family returned to San Antonio at the same time. When the people of San Antonio formed a local guard called The Texas State Troopers, Daniel joined his friend Colonel Edgar and his brother- in- law William Hinfey as a trooper. These what were really local militias would no doubt be perceived as "Confererate" by the Union Army. Early in the war, his brother-in- law Bernard Brady died and as the war neared its end Daniel's wife Sarah also died.

In 1867 after the Civil War the U. S. Army decided to rebuild the Fort Davia and Daniel planned to return to his holdings near the fort. When his sister-in-law rejected the idea of his moving to the frontier with five young daughters in a womanless household , he married her and they moved together with her three daughters, and two sons, and his five daughters and one son back to the frontier together. By 1868 the Murphys were again established and living at Fort Davis and there they would remain. During the next 35 years Daniel expanded his land holding to include a sheep ranch, a cattle ranch, wheat farm, a flour mill, a pinery, a sawmill, two pool halls, three saloons, three general stores at various towns in the area, several homes, a town named Murphyville (later renamed Alpine), an hotel and thousands of acres of land. He even established a town (now Toyahvale) on his holdings to house the Mexicans who worked for him to insure a labour supply. He was an entepreneur, a politician, a father, husband, and even a sheriff for several years. When there was no priest in the area , he arranged with the diocese to send a priest at regular intervals and then to expedite a permanent priestly presence, he donated land and money to build a church and then a school. He would later donate what was needed to rebuild and expand the church. The entire Balmorhea State Park is located on part of his ranch "Victoria." His daughters were educated at an Ursaline Convent School in San Antonio, and four of them married West Point Graduates, one an army supplier. His first born and only son Thomas became a lawyer, surveyor, and landholder as well as a Senator. The entire city of Alpine Texas was also built on his land. It is interesting to note that Alphine was initially named Murphyville as indeed Daniel founded it. However this was later changed by the population to Alphine. Daniel was noted in later years to have said that Murphyville was perhaps "too Irish" for them! If one looks at the ranks of the U.S. Army of the era there were really few Irish soldiers the flood of mid 19th century immigrants had not yet taken place from the Irish famines. There would be quite a few Scots Irish in the ranks, men such as Davy Crockett of Alamo fame. Over all the ethos would be Protestant. This was one of the reasons amongst many others that led to the formation of the Mexican Los Patricios Brigade formed up with disillusioned Irish soldiers in the American army who changed sides and fought for Mexico. The memory of these men resonates in the relationships between Ireland and Mexico to this very day.
It would not really be until about circa 1850 when the flood of Irish immigrants started to move west would there be significant numbers of Irish born or 1st generation Irish American soldiers in the ranks of the Regular Army.
Daniel had learned that education, education, education was a very needy requirement. By sending his daughters for higher education at the Ursaline Convent In San Antonio they would aquire an education that befitted their social standing. Convent educated, refined, and sophisticated young ladies from European stock and a very rich family would have little difficulty in finding suitors in the Texas of the era. There may well have been a lot of very rich local men but perhaps not the most gentlemanly. The officers in Fort Davis most all West Pointers would have come from well to do families of high social and educational standing. They themselves would be well educated, and no doubt there was pressure on them from their folks back home to find a bride of sophistication and social standing during their tour of duty in west Texas. A difficult task. In many cases I would be certain that marrying a young Miss Murphy would have enhanced their standing with their folks back home!. Marriages took place between the young Miss Murphys and young Army officers and the resultant families settled all over. In Montana, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee, California, Kansas, Texas and Pennsylvania as the Union expanded after the Civil War.
Capt. David Dougal Van Valzah of the 25th Infantry the commander of Fort Davis married Daniel Murphys daughter Ellen. He was in command of Fort Davis Aug. 23rd 1873 until Sept 1873. He was again commander of the Fort April 14th 1874 -Sept 8th 1874. David and Ellen married at San Elizario El Paso Texas in 1875. Van Valzah got a direct entry into the Army and not via West Point. He was born in Ilinois and from a noted medical family. His brother John was a surgeon in the Army but died at the seige of Vicksburg. David was a career soldier being appointed 1st Lieut. of the 12th Infantry May 1861 as the Civil War started. He was promoted Capt. in 1864 and transferred to the 30th Infantry. He was assigned to the 25th Infantry Dec 1870. Promoted major of the 20th Infantry in 1886, to Lieut. Colonel of the 24th Infantry in 1891 and colonel of the 18th Infantry in 1896. He retired in June 1899.
John Bacon McDonald another Army officer married Daniel's daughter Kate. He was in his career prompted to General. During his service in the 1st World War he was awarded the French Legion of Honour, the French Croix de Guerre and the Belgian Croix de Guerre as well as his American war Medals. He lived 1859-1928.
1st Lieut. Charles R.Ward. married Daniel Murphy's daughter Mary. Here is some information on his career.
After graduating from West point in 1871, Lt. Charles Ward reported for duty in Indian Territory (Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Western Texas ) with the 10th Cavalry. He spent the next 16 years of his life on the frontier. From the daily reports of the 10th Cavalry in the Military archives, he rode out of or into *Fort Sill, Ft Huachucha, Fort Griffin, Fort Cobb, Fort Duncan, *Fort Concho, *Fort Davis, *Fort Clark, Camp Safford, Fort Stockton, Ft Reno, *Ft Grant, *Fort Richardson, *Fort Rice, Ft Bayard, Fort Stanton, and *Fort Thomas., and the Mescalero Indian Reservation, The Kiowa-Comanche Agency, and The Wichita Agency. He was an Officer, many times Commanding Officer, of companies L, I, D, F, & K. stationed at the *forts above as well as serving as Post Adjutant or detached duty from one place to another. The monthly reports of these Companies detail units in the field, scouting, chasing hostiles, engaged in patrols, etc' e.g.
The company left Fort Richardson on 10th June 1874 in search of hostile Indians, returning on the 26th of June a distance travelled 245 miles.
This type of report detailing chases, battles, engagements, losses and conditions en route was prepared every time a group returned from the field and forwarded to Washington. There are multiple hand written pages of Ward's reports on file. The reports are filled with names like Last Chance Canyon, Fork of the Red River, Taquina Piedras, Big Springs, Palafox Pegnache Crossing on the Rio Grande, Mustang Springs etc etc. Sometimes the details include, forage for animals found, but no water for 36 hours. In one case forty-eight hours when a company got lost, became disoriented and had to be found and assisted back to the Fort. Lieut. Ward was with Shafter's expedition that scouted the Staked Planes during which the troops covered almost 1000 miles and mapped the whole area which later opened it up for travel and settlers. He discovered a group of wells in a canyon which Shafter said was the biggest find of the project since they were located exactly where they could be used midway on a trip across the barren area by settlers. They were named Ward's Wells. Ward took part in at least five battles, and in the Red River Campaign, The Vittorio Campaign and the Geronimo Campaign.
Let us look at the life of Lieut. Ward for the month of October 1874.
During October 1874, Lt. Ward and his company went from Head of the Buck, to Clear Creek TX, (237 miles ) to Elm Fork of the Red, (403 miles) to camp 7 miles from Fort Sill, ten days in camp then North to Ft Cobb, on the Wishita, and northwest, then west and southwest up the Wishita to the North Fork then to the headwaters of Elm Fork of the Red River (335 miles ). The command captured 447 Comanches and Kiowa Indians and 2000 ponies and mules. 975 miles on horseback in less than 3 weeks,10 days of which were spent in camp. He started his frontier service at Ft. Sill, ended it at Fort Thomas 16 years later. He lived 1850-1901. He had left the Army in early 1888.
George H. Abbott one time judge of Presidio Co. Texas married Daniel's daughter Sarah in Feb. 12 1883.
Colonel Levi Pettibone Hunt a West Point graduate married Daniel's daughter Sue in July 1866.
Here is some information on Colonel Hunts army career from the Army Register
Levi P. Hunt was born in Missouri in 1845. Appointed to Military Academy from Mo. in 1866.
He was a West Point cadet from July 1, 1866 to June 15, 1870 when he graduated and promoted to 2nd Lieut 10th Cavalry the same day.
He served on frontier duty at Camp Supply, I.T (Indian Territory) from Dec. 1st. 1870 to Aug. 22nd 1871. Served on escort duty to October 3, 1871. Served at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, I. T. to Oct., 1872. Was on leave of absence to Jan. 17th 1873. Was on duty at St. Louis Depot, Mo. until April 16th 1873.Served on frontier duty at Fort Concho, Texas from June 21st 1873, to September 1st 1874. On operations near mouth of Concho River Tex. Dec. 3rd 1873 to Mar. 2nd 1874. From May 29th to July 28th 1874 was on expedition to Indian Territory Sept. 1st 1874, to Jan. 24th 1875. Was on leave of absence Feb. 25th to June 25th 1875. Service at Ft. Griffin Tex. Sep. 20th, 1875 to Mar.1876.
Was promoted to 1st Lieut, 10th Cavalry June 30th 1875
Scouting activity to Sep.,1876. Served at San Felipe Tex., Sep. 6th to Oct. 10th 1876. served in Regimental Recruiting Service to Mar. 10th 1877. Served at St. Louis Depot, Mo. Mar 14th to May 4th 1877.Was on leave of absence to June 3rd 1877. Served at San Felipe, Tex. June 3rd 1877 to Aug. 8th 1878. Was on leave of absence to Oct. 29th 1878.Served at Fort Worth, Tex. Nov. 1st 1878 to June 17th 1879. Served at Ft Concho Tex. to Mar. 1880. Served on scouting duty to May. 1880. Served at Fort Stockton, Tex. to July 1880. Scouting duties to Nov. 1880. Served at Fort Concho Tex. to Mar., 1881. Served at Greirson Springs Tex. to May, 1881. Served at Fort Sill. Operations Indien Territory to Nov. 1881. Served at Fort Concho Tex. Leave of absence Jan. 9th to Mar., 8, 1882 and Dec. 5, 1883, to Mar. 5, 1884) to Mar. 10, 1885, --- and to Fort Grant, Ari., to Oct. 2nd 1888. On leave of absence Oct 2nd 1888 to Jan. 18th 1889 and finally in garrison at Jefferson Barracks, Mo. From here Hunt went to Cuba, South Dakota, Montana, the Phillipines, Kansas, Iowa, and finally to Washington, D.C.where he retired in 1909
The so called "Buffalo Soldiers" of the 8th and 10th cavalry were negro units with white officers.The Indians used this name as they likened the negro's with their tight curly to the the hair on the buffalo cattle of the Plains.

Daniel Murphy would appear never to have returned to Ireland and died at his home in Fort Davis Texas Nov. 16th 1902. He was initially buried near St. Joseph's church which he originally financed but he was re-interred in an adjacent cemetery in the area after a highway was routed across the original cemetery site. Daniel had also in Nov 1901 applied for a pension for his Mexican War service.
This is a remarkable story of an Irish famine era kid from Co.Cork leaving home aged 16 probably near penniless unable to read and write, undertake what was then a horrendous journey to an unknown destination, to join an army on the brink or war, to have survived a very nasty war, to do good with the land that he was given, to survive very dangerous times in the Texas frontier. However all would start coming right for him when he fell in with and married Sarah Hinfey the lass from Ballymaguigan Co. Derry in Aug. 1852 some four years after the Mexican war ended. Neither he nor his family looked back and his luck was again re-enhanced when he married Susan Hinfey- Brady, Sarah's sister after his 1st wife died and Bernard Brady died. To get to marry two Ballymaguigan lassies in a lifetime was success in the extreme.
Note:The Texas Rangers were formed up in the very early days of Texas colinisation by the Europeans during their struggle with the Indians and Mexicans. Formed up circa 1823. At this period Texas was heavily under the control of Mexico and really part of that country. However all would change in 1836 when Texas declared its independence from Mexico. The Texas Rangers were really the cutting edge of the then American Army. Their deeds of engagement against both Mexicans and Indians became facts of history.
Note: The war with Mexico really commenced 25th April 1846 after the so called Thornton Affair in S.Texas a confrontation between some of the U.S. Regular Army and Mexicans not too pleased at the annexation of what they perceived as their lands in the S. West. As with all wars they start with simple causes and escalate. By early May 1846 the confrontation had escalated and a war scenario had developed with many skirmishes and battles to come. War between Mexico and the United States was declared on May 13th 1846. By Dec.1846 Daniel Murphy would join the U.S. Regular ranks in Va. In April 1847 he would be sent south by train to Camargo Mexico close to what is now the south Texas town of Rio Grande. He no doubt took part in the skirmishes and battles that took place between the end of April 1847 and Feb. 1848 when the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed formally ending the war.
Note:Engagements that Daniel possibly took part in were June 6th the Affair at Las Vegas New Mexico, the battles of Contereras and Churubusco Aug 19th-20th, the battle of Molino Del Rey 8th Sept, the battle of Chapultepec, the battle for Mexico city 13th-14th Sept, the siege of Puebla 14th Sept-12th Oct, the occupation of Mexico City on Sept 15th, the engagement at Huamantla Oct. 9th and the engagement at Atlixco 19th Oct. The war was effectively over. However America took its time in leaving Mexico and did not do so until 2nd Aug. 1848 when the last American soldiers left. Daniel had left Mexico some time earlier as he was discharged on 1st Aug.1848.
Many of you will have memories of Cowboy and Indian films and have preconceived ideas of what the winning of the West was all about. However having some "real" material will give a more balanced viewpoint. May I suggest you look at the Fort Davis website. You will get a much better appreciation of just where Daniel Murphy lived and raised his family. Please click on the icon below.