Texas Republic Army General, Civil War Confederate Army Officer. An 1835 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point (finishing last in his class), he served briefly with the 3rd United States Infantry before resigning his commission in 1836 to join the Texas Independence movement. He rose to Adjutant General of the Texas Republic Army, and fought against American Indians in 1838 and 1839 (being wounded at the Battle of the Neuces). Appointed a Brigadier General in the Texas Army in 1840 by President Mirabeau B. Lamar, he was assigned to command an expedition into the Territory of New Mexico to lay claim to the area of Santa Fe. The expedition, which was delayed by General McLeod's becoming ill, encountered harsh conditions and a hostile citizenry, which the Texans had thought would welcome them as liberators from Mexican influence. Hugh McLeod eventually was compelled to surrender his men to Mexican forces, and was imprisoned in Mexico City until negotiations by Texas and the United States finally freed him and his men (who were treated harshly while in captivity). After his return to Texas he served in the Texas Legislature and in another term as Texas State Adjutant (this time during the Mexican War). After the conclusion of the Mexican War, he left public service, and devoted his career to directing the first railroad through Texas. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, he was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel of Texas State Militia, and directed Texas troops in capturing Federal outposts along the Rio Grande River. When the Texas State troops were accepted into the Confederate Army, he became Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Texas Infantry regiment, which was part of General John Bell Hood's Texas Brigade. When Colonel Louis T. Wigfall was promoted to Brigadier General, Hugh McLeod was named it's Colonel and commander. However, he died of pneumonia near Dumfries, Virginia at the beginning of 1862. His men would go on to win fame and acclaim in battles such as the Seven Days, Antietam and Gettysburg.