tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52680715048997318642024-02-19T18:36:40.982-08:00TEXAS "The History and Legands"cowboysandchuckwagoncookinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10874118941778139191noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268071504899731864.post-41647646982689393042011-02-23T20:21:00.000-08:002011-02-23T20:24:43.017-08:00Letters from the ALAMO<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hhbTQ-vGejSzEB9cnrPZx9-eatSthk38Wlxws6L8pZZgmuBtQFZKJi45GPsNQf8eRyFolhmV8mlleG4YGvaqolV5n8rTLKs220GOTV951BRl_4uuhxLsAIWfyX3VDNkQLl59MHGHfxc/s1600/travis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hhbTQ-vGejSzEB9cnrPZx9-eatSthk38Wlxws6L8pZZgmuBtQFZKJi45GPsNQf8eRyFolhmV8mlleG4YGvaqolV5n8rTLKs220GOTV951BRl_4uuhxLsAIWfyX3VDNkQLl59MHGHfxc/s200/travis.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William B. Travis</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the Alamo in San Antonio de Bexar, 150 Texican's led by William Barret Travis made their stand against Santa Anna's vastly superior Mexican Army. The troops arrived on February 23rd, 1836 where Santa Anna flew the flag of no quarter, meaning "no mercy." Travis watched through the night as the troops continued to arrive. By morning, on the second day of the siege, February 24, 1836, Travis called for reinforcements with this heroic message: A letter sent out requesting the aid of fellow countrymen. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a name='more'></a>Commandancy of the Alamo <br />
Bexar, Fby. 24th, 1836 </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>To the People of Texas & all Americans in the world. Fellow Citizens & 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, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I <u>shall never surrender nor retreat</u>. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & of everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid. </i></span></div><br />
<center style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <blockquote><span style="font-size: small;"><i> <b>VICTORY OR DEATH.</b></i></span> </blockquote></center> <br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Little help came. Santa Anna's troops broke through on March 6. All of the defenders of the Alamo died. This historic letter was carried from the Alamo by 30-year-old Captain Albert Martin of Gonzales, a native of Rhode Island. The next day, en route to his hometown, Martin heard the distant rumble of artillery fire. At the first opportunity he stopped and added a postscript: </span></div><br />
<center style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Since the above was written I heard a very heavy Cannonade during the whole day. think there must have been an attack made upon the Alamo. We were short of Ammunition when I left Hurry on all the men you can in haste...</i></b></span> </div><div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i> When I left there was but 150 determined to do or die tomorrow I leave for Bexar with what men I can raise & will be there Monday [a?] at all events - -</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i> Col Almonte is there the troops are under the Command of Gen. Seisma.</i></b></span></div></blockquote></center> <br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Martin arrived at Gonzales on the afternoon of the 25th. He passed the dispatch to Lancelot Smither, who had arrived from the Alamo the day before with an estimate of Mexican troop strength. Smither felt obliged to add his own emphatic note to the back of Travis' letter:<i> </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>I hope Every One will Rendevu at Gonzales as soon as possible as the Brave Solders are suffering do not neglect the powder is very scarce and should not be delay one moment</i></b></span> </div><br />
<center style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <blockquote></blockquote></center> <br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is evidence that Smither extracted the essence of the letter and deposited this copy with Judge Andrew Ponton before he departed Gonzales. Ponton prepared other copies and forwarded these to Nacogdoches and other population centers in the province. One such copy existed in the C.H. Raguet Papers in Marshall and was reproduced in full by Amelia Williams in her "Critical Study of the Siege of the Alamo." </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Smither left that evening, heeding the admonition to forward the dispatch to San Felipe "by express day and night." Fighting an icy north wind, he covered the distance in less than 40 hours and delivered the appeal to the citizens' committee in that town. The proceedings of the citizens' meeting and a reasonably accurate printing of Travis' message are preserved ina broadsheet printed by Joseph Baker and Gail and Thomas Borden entitled "MEETING OF THE CITIZENS OF SAN FELIPE." Two hundred copies of this broadsheet were printed order of the committee, and at least three other preproductions of the letter were completed by Baker and Borden. One was a separate printing of the letter exhibiting further variations from the original holograph, another printing of 200 copies with "THE LATEST NEWS" appended, and a third printing of 300 copies with a proclamation of Provisional Governor Henry Smith. Although there were five distinct printings of the Travis letter by Baker and Borden, there were only two versions, and neither provided an accurate transcription of the famous appeal.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The <i>Texas Republican</i> was the first newspaper to carry Travis' letter in the March 2 issue; the <i>Telegraph & Texas Register</i> printed the letter on March 5. Both of these printings drew on the variant copies produced by Baker and Borden, not the original letter. The same is true of a dozen or more reproductions of the Travis message appearing in various Texas histories, published between 1836 and 1891. This supports the contention that the original holograph was returned to the Travis family shortly after the Revolution.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> According to an article in the Dallas Morning News, March 8, 1891, the February 24 appeal came into the possession of Travis' daughter, Susan Isabella Travis, who was less than five years old at the time of her father's death. The letter passed to her daughter, Mary Jan Grissette, and hence to great grandson John G. Davidson.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> On February 16, 1891, Davisdon forwarded the heirloom to L.L. Foster, Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics, and History, to be placed on temporary loan until called for by the family. On March 23, 1893, Davidson offered to sell the letter, owing to personal hardship. He repeated his offer on May 8, this time specifying his desire to recover $250 and an accurate transcription of the same. Davidson pointed up that the family had once been offered twice that amount for the letter. At the time, this figure represented half of the Department's entire appropriation for the collection of historical manuscripts, and acquisition would be impossible without an additional appropriation from the legislature. Davidson contacted the Department again on may 16, offering to "sell it to the state $25.00 cheaper than to any society or individual as I know it would be safe."</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Commissioner John E. Hollingsworth replied on May 17 that he wanted Davidson's "very best terms." On May 24, Davidson reduced the price to $85.00 and a warrant was issued five days later to purchase the document.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDq7XOXtKYNhRayBjTLouT1G05FfHKu4gVlwhSl_kcjgW8wqkvXiQBIQvyMdTXQhiJu4xwZU_MU3dsR_xQrvGBnWk2kmWmUh9514DeurXWs-hBVnoZDogyQ87y7UY6qQvtx4SgIX3wR4M/s1600/texas+battle+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDq7XOXtKYNhRayBjTLouT1G05FfHKu4gVlwhSl_kcjgW8wqkvXiQBIQvyMdTXQhiJu4xwZU_MU3dsR_xQrvGBnWk2kmWmUh9514DeurXWs-hBVnoZDogyQ87y7UY6qQvtx4SgIX3wR4M/s200/texas+battle+flag.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">San Jacinto Battle Flag</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The acquisition of this famous document is memorialized in the Museum accession log (accession #39) of the Texas State Library and Eighteenth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics, and History (1892). It was exhibited in a "locked glass showcase" with other manuscripts, artifacts, and rare books, according to another accession log, which also documents the loan and final acquisition of the letter along with the family Bible and a copy of Colonel Travis' last will and testament. The exhibit was apparently permanent as the Twenty-ninth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics, and History (1903) mentioned that the letter is </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">on exhibition in the main room of the State Library, along </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">with other relics, including the San Jacinto battle flag and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">President Lamar's pistols.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Custody of the letter devolved upon the Texas State Library and Historical Commission on March 19, 1909, and only once left the protective environment of that agency. On June 22, 1936, the Texas State Library and Historical Commission approved the temporary loan of 143 documents, including the Travis letter and the Texas Declaration of Independence, to the Committee on Historical Exhibits, Texas Centennial Central Exposition.</span></span>cowboysandchuckwagoncookinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10874118941778139191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268071504899731864.post-63630481092911416812010-04-06T10:26:00.001-07:002011-04-21T09:51:31.344-07:00There's a Yellow Rose of Texas<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLu89bqxzl0AOUyLkU64oBjUjljDSZfEJMU2gN9e-TekDZY5gUa9dbWdqwx-kOMgS6R9MtOX68lzJCI1eGHsV3Lz0GxLBozQFzj8Bv3JaaYCgPK780Pj7jD7C_9Bxua6KVb8Ln4z_Abys/s1600/YellowRose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLu89bqxzl0AOUyLkU64oBjUjljDSZfEJMU2gN9e-TekDZY5gUa9dbWdqwx-kOMgS6R9MtOX68lzJCI1eGHsV3Lz0GxLBozQFzj8Bv3JaaYCgPK780Pj7jD7C_9Bxua6KVb8Ln4z_Abys/s200/YellowRose.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>History is </b>often remembered as some personnel recollection, exaggerated at times. <span> </span>However, there is the myth of the Yellow Rose of Texas. Some truth to the story, though remembered more likely for its legend than those of actual facts. </div><a name='more'></a> <br />
<a href="" name="more"></a>According to the legend, Sam Houston sent an attractive mulatto (half white-half black) female named Emily Morgan into the Mexican camp prior to the Battle of San Jacinto. The intent was to distract Santa Anna's attention away from the war and Texas Militia while the Texans made ready for an attack. Santa Anna was know to be fond of attractive women and according to legend, Emily found her way to Santa Anna's Tent keeping him preoccupied as Sam Houston's Army made ready their planned attack. With Santa Anna's guard let down, the Texans rushed the Mexican Army in a battle that lasted 18 minutes before the Mexicans surrender. Emily Morgan played a vital role to aid a Texas victory at the expense of her virtue.<br />
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The story gained popularity in the 1950s with the revival of the song, The Yellow Rose of Texas. Historians like Margaret Swett Henson<span> </span>doubt the facts behind the legend. <span> </span>She points out that Emily Morgan was actually Emily D. West, a free woman of color under contract to James Morgan. Mexican troops seized Emily along with several other servants from Morgan's warehouse at New Washington on the Brazos River. Henson contends that although Emily West was at Santa Anna's camp on the banks of the San Jacinto River, she had not gone there willingly nor had she been sent by Sam Houston. It appears that Emily West returned to New York, her permanent place of residence, shortly after the revolution. <br />
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While the legend of Emily as the Yellow Rose of Texas is so well remembered, truth be said; It is not known if she in fact was in Santa Anna's tent. The general did travel accompanied by women of pleasure.<br />
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The Mexican Army after a long morning March was settled down resting on the afternoon of April 21st, 1836. Santa Anna that afternoon had failed to post guards and sentries outside the camp as the Mexican Army siesta late afternoon. Additionally, he believed that Houston was corner with no escape, nor the ability to defeat the larger Mexican Army. Most of the Mexican Army sleeping, some gathered fire wood as the Calvary was bringing up water to the camp from the river. They were completely unready. <br />
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At 4:30pm Deaf Smith announced the burning of Vince's Bridge, which cut off the only avenue of retreat for both armies without having to cross the river of about ten feet in depth. Sam Houston's Army of Texan militia had large trees to assist hiding the Texas advance. Houston leading his infantry double lined quietly as they advanced towards the enemy camp. Using the trees and then crawling through high grass, the Texans were able to sneak up and surprise the Mexican Army crying out "Remember the Alamo" "Remember Goliad". Santa Anna escaped the battle but was captured the following day. It is legend that he was so surprised by the attack, that his uniform was left in his tent missing only the long johns and boots. Santa Anna was caught with his pants down...surprised and ran. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Did Emily truly seduce the general?" <span> </span>Not likely at the seduction of Emily Morgan, though perhaps one of Santa Anna's soldaderas, "Women of Pleasure". Nevertheless, there does remain a Yellow Rose of Texas regardless how the legends lead us to believe.</div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><br />
<div id="refHTML"></div>cowboysandchuckwagoncookinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10874118941778139191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268071504899731864.post-1021731290223719752010-04-06T10:16:00.000-07:002010-04-06T10:16:34.132-07:00Texas IndependenceWorld over people are familiar with the state of Texas. Be it the Battle Cry for freedom with the Battle of the Alamo or viewing some one wearing A cowboy hat is first thought of as Texan before any other state much due to the legendary history of this state. Likely the boldness of Texas comes from not just it's size or the fight for independence. Moreover, many factors play a role that makes Texas and Texans famous world wide. <br />
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<a name='more'></a> <br />
Movies perhaps like the 1956 block buster "Giant" with it's vase range of cattle and its rich striking of oil that filled theaters across the nation to view the movie stars Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean. As well the TV series "DALLAS" that ran from 1978 through 1991 starring Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing the multi Millionaire Oil Barron as just a few. Be it at the development with American and Spanish settlers who revolted when an appointed dictator forced changes of a constitution or the many relationship through progress that came through the state, Texas is as grand today as her Legendary history. <br />
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On March the 2nd, 1836 the settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas declared their independence from Mexico . However, on October the 2nd of 1835, the Texas settlers known as Texians revolted due to Mexican President and General Antonio López de Santa Anna abolished the Constitution of 1824 and proclaimed a new anti-federalist constitution in its place. Santa Anna imposed the Siete Leyes (Seven Laws) of 1835 that no longer recognized the Constitution of 1824 known as the treaty of Velasco. This new imposed law removed rights that many settlers already had under the former treaty of 1824. Some lost their right to vote, others their land. The new laws were unpopular throughout Mexico, leading to violence in several states other than the area known as Tejas. "TEXAS". However, many having lived already as free men with rights as early colonist as well under Spanish law....the settlers of Texas refuse to accept the changes. <br />
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While the Alamo was not the first battle for Texas freedom, the citizens of Nacogdoches cradle Texas liberty in 1832, firing one of the opening guns of the Texas Revolution. These citizens, both Mexican and Anglos, attacked the Mexican garrison under the command of Col. Jose Piedras. The latter held the fortified town center. The garrison was able to defend themselves until Adolphus Sterne showed the newly arrived Redlanders from San Augustine how to out-flank the Mexicans by circling the natural fortress by going through the Washington Square area. The Battle cleared East Texas of Mexican troops and made the independence movement much less dangerous. <br />
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However, while Nacogdoches had began her moment for freedom, the rest of the State would not go to war until 1835. New laws, Taxation and changes to a constitution angered others to demand independence. Short lived victories would flourish by Texans only to soon be crushed by the Mexican Army. Santa Anna wrote Andrew Jackson, President of the United States declaring any American who is found serving the enemy of Mexico will be shot as pirates. Santa Anna's officers recommended that they move into Texas along the coast line so that they could receive additional logistics needed, the fall of San Antonio De Bexar the political center of Texas and the site of Cos's defeat; Santa Anna wanted to restore the reputation of his family after his brother-in-law's embarrassing surrender. The long march would also provide an opportunity to train the new recruits. In late December, the army began the march north.<br />
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Progress was slow. There were not enough mules to transport all of the supplies, and many of the teamsters, all civilians, quit when their pay was delayed. The large number of soldaderas–women and children who followed the army–reduced the already scarce supplies. <br />
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Several major events of battle towards Texas Independence would occur with Santa Anna's Army arriving at San Antonio De Bexas, on February 23, 1836 and General José Urrea marched into Texas from Matamoros. General Urrea was to allow provision by sea to support the Mexican Army. His movement north from the coast line surprising Colonel Frank Johnson of Texas and his troops at the Battle of San Patricio. Urrea would also defeated a small Texican force at the Battle of Agua Dulce on March 2, 1836 unknowing that Texans would be signing her own Declaration of Independence of Texas at Washington of the Brazos that same day. Santa Anna sat for 13 days outside the Alamo which held the Texas troops under the Command of William B Travis and a group of horse soldiers lead by Jim Bowie. The Mexican Army raised a red flag "NO QUARTER" meaning no mercy. Daily the two Armies would have minor blows. Though the final blow would come in the early hours of March 6, the Mexican army attacked the fort in what became known as the Battle of the Alamo.<br />
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General Urrea then led his troops toward Goliad, where he engaged battle against Colonel James Fannin and his 300 man Texas Army. Fannin delayed his retreat, and was caught on the open prairie at a slight depression near Coleto Creek and made three charges at a heavy cost in Mexican casualties. Overnight, Urrea's forces surrounded the Texians, brought up cannon and reinforcements, and induced Fannin's surrender under terms the next day, March 20. About 342 of the Texian troops captured during the Goliad Campaign were executed a week later on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, under Santa Anna's direct orders, widely known as the Goliad Massacre.<br />
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Both at the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of Goliad, the Texas Army would inflict casualties wounding or killing one third of the Mexican Armies. Santa Anna then set out to find Sam Houston's Army. <br />
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Sam Houston, a former Governor of Tennessee and friend to Andrew Jackson whom he served under during many Indian fights and Creek wars had moved to Texas an appointed the Commander in General of the Texas Army. William B. Travis requested his aid to support his group at the Alamo and sent further request through Juan Seguin. Houston moved his Army east knowing his group could not defeat an Army the size of Santa Anna's. Plus he could not fight in the open grounds near San Antonio. Many members of the Texas Army would believe Sam Houston's move of run away and escape cowardly. Knowing his men where out numbered, he felt they could escape into Louisiana where Santa Anna's Army could not invade. <br />
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"The impact of the Goliad Massacre was crucial. Until this episode Santa Anna's reputation had been that of a cunning and crafty man, rather than a cruel one...together with the fall of the Alamo, branded both Santa Anna and the Mexican people with a reputation for cruelty and aroused the fury of the people of Texas, the United States, and even Great Britain and France, thus considerably promoting the success of the Texas Revolution."<br />
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Santa Anna divided his army and sent columns across Texas. The objective was to force a decisive battle over the Texas Army, led by General Sam Houston. Santa Anna rushed his group towards Galveston. Sam Houston's men hearing word of Santa Anna's move redirected their moments towards Louisiana and headed back west to meet up with the General of Mexico's Army. <br />
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On April 20, both armies met at the San Jacinto River. Separating them was a large sloping ground with tall grass, which provide cover for the Texas Army. Santa Anna, enlighten to finally have the Texas Army in front of him, waited for reinforcements, which were led by General Cos. They had a minor skirmish between the two enemies. Much of with by cavalry, although little came of it.<br />
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General Cos arrived much sooner than expected with 540 more Mexican troops increasing Santa Anna's army to over 1,200 men. Angered by the loss of opportunity and by Houston's indecisiveness, the Texas Army decided to make an attack. Near 3:30 in the afternoon on April 21, 1836 after burning Vince's Bridge, the Texans surged forward, catching the Mexican army by surprise. Hours before the attack, Santa Anna had ordered his men to stand down, noting that the Texans would never attack his superior force. Also, his army had been stretched to the limit of endurance by the ongoing forced marches. His force was overwhelmed as the Texas Army pushed into the Mexican camp. Soon the defenses crumbled and a massacre ensued. The Battle of San Jacinto lasted for 18 minutes and changed history.<br />
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<b>Washington on the Brazos</b> was the Capitol at the time of our great independence as the Republic of Texas. However, many members of the political society in Texas desired something more centralized. The Capitol was moved to the town renamed after the father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin. Austin, formerly Waterloo is the largest Capitol building in the United States. Texas state flag is the only flag that can be flown at the same height as the National Flag. Today, most have forgotten the date of our independence. Most only recall the legendary names but forget about Nacogdoches, San Patricio and Goliad. "Come and take it" or "Remember the ALAMO" are recalled more from perhaps a John Wayne movie rather than the actual battles which fade where 18 minutes of courage change history. <br />
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Story By Roger A. Edison <br />
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