Confederate veteran badges are scarce by comparison with the US versions and this one is scarcer still by belonging not only to a Texas veteran, but a Texas cavalryman, one in a well known Texas regiment (DeBray’s,) and also of member of the regiment’s field and staff, limiting it to one of a very few officers.

The badge is patterned after the standard ladder badge of the period, using separate bars connected by chain links, ending with small shield at the bottom, each marked with individual or unit information and having a small decorative bullion tassel at the bottom. This is backed by a red, white and blue ribbon, and is fitted with a long two-prong pin for wear on a coat lapel. The individual bars, like the pin, are a little simpler than their Union veteran cousins, having a similar shape, with broad scalloped upper and lower edges and knobbed ends, but are simply stamped with five-pointed star at each end, with the lettering appearing to be individually hand-stamped, and accented with a simple inward pointing arrow at left and right. The bars read: “FIELD & STAFF / DEBRAY’S REGT. / 26^th / TEXAS / CAVALRY” with the shield stamped, “C.S.A. / WAR OF / ’61” with small stars at the upper and lower points of the shield like those at the ends of the bars.

The 26^th Texas Cavalry was formed by expanding the 7^th Texas Cavalry Battalion to a regiment of ten companies and organized on March 17, 1862, with the election of Xavier Blanchard Debray, a French immigrant, Spanish language newspaper publisher, teacher and Land Office translator, as Colonel. After the fall of New Orleans the regiment was ordered to reinforce Sibley in Arizona and New Mexico, orders that were countermanded on Sibley’s retreat to post it on the Bernard River. Whed DeBray was detailed to Houston in command of the Eastern Sub-District of Texas, Lt. Col. Mayers then led the regiment in patrols along the coast to combat Union landing parties and prevented Union forces from getting farther into Galveston than the city’s wharves. They later took part in the reoccupation of the city after the battle in the bay, with Debray assigned to command of Galveston Island and Myers still leading the regiment. In early 1864 Debray resumed command of the regiment which took part in the Red River Campaign against Banks in Louisiana, and was praised by Gen. Taylor for its behavior under fire near Mansfield and at Pleasant Hill were closely engaged, with Debray injured when his horse was shot out from under him in a charge on Union forces, earning praise for his behavior and a promotion to brigade command with the regiment going back to Myers. For the remainder of the campaign they were involved in patrols and hindering federal troops around Natchitoches, before taking part in the fighting at the Cane River and then, under “standing orders” to attack every day took part in “desultory engagements” against Union forces at Alexandria, and closed out the campaign with fighting at Mansura Prairie and Norwood’s Plantation. The regiment thereafter operated in western Louisiana, returning to Texas in late November.

On news of Lee’s surrender, much of the army simply broke up and returned home. The regiment was one of the few to remain in service and did police duty in Houston until formally discharged by its Colonel in late May. The regiment had been well known for the discipline instilled by Debray, who claimed to have attended the St. Cyr military academy in France. A surprised staff Major who had ridden past them on the march reported asked the Colonel who they were”: "They are all Texians," was the answer. "Texians!" the Major ejaculated, "I never saw the like; I saw no stragglers, they march in a solid column, the officers saluted me, and I was not once requested to get out of my boots or from under my hat."

This is a scarce ribbon from a rather colorful unit. The condition is excellent, with just some soiling to the ribbon and expected age tarnish to the bars.   [sr][ph:L]

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