On this day in 1836, a date few native Texans, let alone the hoards of newcomers fleeing the Democrat-Obama economy, actually remember, Texas broke away from Mexico and became a republic.
Of course there was a little matter of a war to win to make it so, but that proceeded more or less apace. After looking pretty dicey at San Antonio and Goliad. But all’s well that ends well, eh? Texas became the 28th state nine years later, on Dec. 29, 1845.
Via Legacy of Texas.
Comments Off on Happy 180th Texas
Posted in Evolution, History, South of the Border, Texana
Gary Zaboly’s good drawing based on historical evidence is a good intro to today.
It’s traditional in these parts to read this aloud today, the 2nd of March, which is Texas Independence Day. Even big-Lefty Gov. Ann Richards did it when she was in office.
Commandancy of the Alamo
Bexar, Feby. 24th, 1836
To the People of Texas & all Americans in the World– Fellow
Citizens and Compatriots–
I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna–I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man–The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken–I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls–I shall never surrender or retreat.
Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all despatch–The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country–Victory or Death.
William Barret Travis, Lt. Col. comdt.
After 179 years you can still “hear” some of the old Alamo fight in this Deguello bugle call of No Quarter. The dictator’s troops played it before their final, successful dawn assault on March 6, 1836.
Posted in South of the Border, Texana
Tagged Texas Independence Day, The Travis Letter, Victory or Death
It’s traditional in these parts to read this aloud today, the 2nd of March, which is Texas Independence Day. Even big-Lefty Gov. Ann Richards did it when she was in office.
Commandancy of the Alamo
Bexar, Feby. 24th, 1836
To the People of Texas & all Americans in the World– Fellow
Citizens and Compatriots–
I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna–I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man–The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken–I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls–I shall never surrender or retreat.
Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all despatch–The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country–Victory or Death.
William Barret Travis, Lt. Col. comdt.
Much more detail at this classic site. And a contemporary view via the Alamo cam. And the best history, in my opinion. After 178 years you can still “hear” some of the old Alamo in this Deguello bugle call of No Quarter. The dictator’s troops played it before their final, successful dawn assault on March 6, 1836.
Posted in South of the Border, Texana, The Culture
Tagged Texas Independence Day, the Travis letter from the Alamo
It’s happy now. Wasn’t on this day in 1836. The Alamo was under siege by the Mexican thousands and the Texians, despite today’s issuance of their proclamation of Texas independence, were about as disorganized and fractious as you might expect a fledgling government and its ad hoc military to be.
Four days from now, with the fall of the Alamo, and not long afterward with the horrific massacre at Goliad, the prospect of hanging would fix all their minds remarkably on their country-making goals. The victory at San Jacinto would follow and Texas would be a newly independent Republic.
Comments Off on Happy Texas Independence Day
Tagged Alamo, Goliad, San Jacinto, Texas history, Texas Independence Day
…is Monday, actually, the anniversary of the defeat of the forces of Mexican dictator/Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at San Jacinto, in the bayous southeast of present-day Houston, practically in Galveston Bay. The Texian victory led to establishment of the Republic of Texas. The day is the last of what Texana author Mike Cox calls the High Holy Days of Texas history–Texas Independence Day on March 2, the fall of the Alamo on March 6, and the battle of San Jacinto on April 21. I would add March 27, Palm Sunday, the day of the Goliad massacre by Mexican troops–certainly the least defensible thing they did–which explains why some Texians wanted to hang Santa Anna after his capture.
A Dallas cousin and I, doing our Texas genealogies, recently rounded up a possible SJ combatant-ancestor cousin of ours, one John Matchett. We found a pay voucher for JM at the state archives dated in 1840 showing him to have been a member of Capt. Wyley’s Company in Sidney Sherman’s 2nd Regiment from April 1 to July 23, 1836. A few years ago, JM was listed on this unofficial roster but his name–along with all the other soldier names therein–has since been removed. Although he’s still on this, similar one. Still, he’s not on any of the official lists we can find, so we’re not sure what to think about it.
Meanwhile, in a little irony, Mr. B.’s second grade class starts its "Mexico Week" this year on, wait for it, San Jacinto Day. Multiculturalism at work, I suppose. I wonder if the school system did it on purpose?
MORE: Meanwhile, today is Patriot’s Day up north, commemoration of a time surely on Texan minds during the 1836 revolution.
Comments Off on San Jacinto Day…
Posted in Texana
Tagged Alamo, High Holy Days of Texas history, Mike Cox, San Jacinto Day, Texas Independence Day
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 
