Murphree, David

David Murphree was born 1811 in Tennessee. He came to Texas from Randolph County, Tennessee, in 1835 as a lieutenant in Capt. John W. Peacock’s company of volunteers and took part in the Siege of Béxar. He was discharged on February 10 and then took up duties as a clerk to Green B. Jameson, the engineer in charge of fortifying the Alamo. On March 16, 1836, he reenlisted in the army and was elected first lieutenant of Capt. William H. Patton’s Fourth Company-the so-called “Columbia Company” of Col. Sidney Sherman’s Second Regiment, Texas Volunteers. When Patton was appointed aide-de-camp on Gen. Sam Houston’s staff on the eve of San Jacinto, Murphree took command of the company and led it in the battle. He was still in the army, stationed at San Jacinto, as late as May 3, 1836.

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