Golightly, Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson Golightly was born in Mississippi. He served as an orderly sergeant under Capt. Thomas J. Rusk in the Texas army from October 4, 1835, to January 4, 1836 and took part in the Siege of Béxar. Subsequently he returned to Mississippi, where he joined a volunteer cavalry company under John A. Quitman and returned to Texas. The corps reached San Jacinto on April 23, 1836, too late for the battle. Early the next month the company helped cover the westerly retreat of the Mexican forces. Some of the troops decided to stay in Texas and elected William Strickland captain and Golightly first lieutenant. In June Golightly aided in burying the victims of the Goliad Massacre. He was honorably discharged at Victoria on July 12, 1836. He died July 1840.