BORLAND, Solon, senator, born in Virginia: died in Texas, 31 January 1864. He was educated in North Carolina, studied medicine, and settled as a physician in Little Rock, Ark. He served in the Mexican war as major in Yell's .cavalry, and was taken prisoner with Major Gaines in January 1847. He was discharged when his troop was disbanded in June of that year, but continued in the service as volunteer aide-de-camp to General Worth during the remainder of the campaign, from the battle of E1 Molino to the capture of the city of Mexico on 14 September 1847. After his return to Arkansas, Mr. Borland was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Ambrose H. Sevier, and subsequently elected by the legislature to serve through Mr. Sevier's unexpired term. After serving in the senate from 24 April 1848, till 3 March 1853, he was appointed minister to Nicaragua, being also accredited to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Salvador. He received his credentials, 18 April 1853, and remained in Nicaragila till 17 April 1854, when he returned home, and on 30 June resigned. At San Juan de Nicaragun, when he was returning to the United States, the authorities of the town a, tempted to arrest him in May 1854, for interfering to prevent the arrest of a person charged with murder at Puntas Arenas. He took refuge in a hotel, and while he was engaged in protesting against arrest a man in the crowd threw a glass bottle and struck the envoy. This insult was the chief ground for the bombardment and destruction of Greytown, or San Juan de Nicaragua, by the sloop-of-war "Cyane," under Commander Hollins, on 13 July 1854, under instructions from the United States government. President Pierce offered the post of governor of New Mexico to Mr. Borland after his return, but he declined the appointment and remained at Little Rock in the practice of his profession, taking no part in politics except occasionally to declare himself an adherent of the state-rights doctrines. In the spring of 1861, before the ordinance of secession, which was passed 6 May he organized a body of troops, and, under the direction of Governor Rector, on 24 April at midnight, took possession of the buildings at Fort Smith an hour after the withdrawal of Captain Sturgis with the garrison. He raised the 3d Arkansas confederate cavalry and became colonel of that regiment, and was afterward a Brigadier-General in the same service.

UPDATE 02/18/2007 Courtesy of William S. Boggess

Many historians/authors use incorrect birth, death dates and confederate rank. for Solon BORLAND.

Solon was born 8 August 1811, died 1 January 1864, entered 29 July 1861 and discharged from confederate service, 26 May 1862 at rank of colonel, to wit:

     Birth date: 8 August 1811, Suffolk, Virginia, is documented several places, namely his nephew, Thomas Roscius BORLAND's letter found at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, archives of Thomas Hume papers, #3239.

      There's no logical argument to not accept Thomas Roscius BORLAND's (1844NC-1900VA) date.  He too was raised, for awhile, by aunt Fanny and uncle George when orphaned in 1845, Thomas later served under President Benjamin HARRISON (1833OH-1901IN) as United States Attorney for Eastern Virginia, President HARRISON being the grandson of William Henry HARRISON (1773VA-1841DC) whose death was featured in first issue after Solon sold newspaper he started 1838/9 in Memphis, to Colonel Henry Van Pelt, the modern day Memphis Commercial-Appeal.

        Death date: 1 January 1864, near Houston, Texas, found in Virginia Davis GRAY's published diary (MC 1618, UA), in Arkansas Historical Quarterly, 1983 spring issue (Part I), page 74, March 4, 1864 entry. (Hempstead county marked out correct death date, entering incorrect date when processing his will in 1865).

      The telegraphed message received at Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas, Solon's home after leaving Little Rock, and from where he left for Texas 13th September, leaving behind his daughters Fanny, 15 and Mary, 13 (son Major Harold Borland in Ft Warren prison, Boston, other two sons dead).  Mr Davis was telegrapher & cousin to Virginia Davis Gray, diary keeper.

Among the fifty pages of Colonel Solon BORLAND's Confederate service record received from Arkansas History Commission February 2007, is one hand written "Not reelected at reorganization Discharged May26/62" for April 30 to June 30 1862, "Field and Staff Roll"

Ancestry.com also says of Solon BORLAND, in Colonel, --- out Colonel!