Augustus Buchel

Augustus Carl Büchel (October 8, 1813 – April 12, 1864) was a German-born senior officer of the Confederate States Army, commanding the 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War from 1863 until he died of wounds received at the Battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, in 1864.

Born in Guntersblum, Mont-Tonnerre, France (present-day Guntersblum, Germany), in 1813, Buchel attended several military academies in his early life, including the École Militaire in Paris, and he served in the French Foreign Legion in the early 1800s. Following his participation in the First Carlist War, he became an instructor in the Ottoman Army, where he may have earned the honorary title of Pasha.

In 1845, he emigrated to Port Lavaca, Texas, and served in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War, including as aide-de-camp to future U.S. President Zachary Taylor. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Buchel sided with the Confederacy and served as an officer primarily in Texas. By 1863, he had become colonel of his own cavalry regiment and was fought in the Red River Campaign, where he participated in the Battle of Pleasant Hill.

Buchel was mortally wounded in the Battle of Pleasant Hill and died several days later. He was later interred at the Texas State Cemetery, where a large stone memorial was erected in his honor. Additionally, Buchel County, an unorganized county that existed in the late 1800s, was named in his honor. Writing on him in 1940, historian Ella Lonn called him " citizen of the Confederacy but a soldier of fortune if ever there was one!"

Early life and career Büchel was born in the Rhinelander town of Guntersblum, Mont-Tonnerre, France (present-day Guntersblum, Germany), on October 8, 1813. At the age of 14, he was enrolled at a local military academy,Sources seem to differ slightly, with Buchel's entry in the Handbook of Texas stating that he attended "the military academy at Darmstadt", In 1837, he participated in the Battle of Huesca and the following year he was knighted by Maria Christina for his actions during the battle,

The regiment was later relocated to Louisiana due to the possibility of an American invasion of Texas through that state.

Writing on Buchel in 1940, historian Ella Lonn said the following: "He was described as a quiet, unassuming man, and though apparently a secessionist, not nearly so violent as his superior, Luckett. A citizen of the Confederacy but a soldier of fortune if ever there was one!"