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A true Texas fact

I saw this MSN article today about this guys top ten states. He's from England, and here is his statement about Texas,

"In the UK, America doesn't have the best reputation, especially the South. But Texas shocked me. I've never felt so welcomed by a group of people anywhere else in the world. This state has great food, history, scenery, and fantastic sport teams. It also has great cities like Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, and San Antonio. I had so much fun here; it's nothing like the UK. Texas felt like a real American experience to me."

Apparently he didn't meet up with Tony in San An Tony o. :sofa: ................ Jerry (in Tucson)
 
I remember playing playoff games in front of 30,000+. That was heady, but the artificial turf burns weren't so much fun! Nor was the penalty that Lil Mikey committed that allowed the other team to score the winning touchdown. Still not funny!!!
 
Many Native Americans fought under the command of the Texas Rangers. Not only did they fight alongside them, they were also scouts or spies. This is a drawing of Captain John "Jack" Coffee Hays fighting alongside his dearest friend, Chief Flaco. The original "Lone Ranger and Tonto."

A little about Hays. He was born just down the road a bit down in Wilson County, TN. He attended school in Nashville, before moving to Mississippi and then to Texas becoming a Texas Ranger and surveying around San Antonio. He lived for a while in my hometown, Seguin and got married there in the Magnolia Hotel (it has been partially restored and you can stay there). Now, he wasn't the tallest guy, but wiry and a fierce fighter. As a Texas Ranger, he successfully fought in many battles. He knew Sam Houston and his great-uncle was President Andrew Jackson.



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13 Days Battle of the Alamo

Day One – Tuesday February 23, 1836

The garrison's sentries spot the advance of Santa Anna's Cavalry units. After scouts confirm the Mexican army's presence, Colonel William B. Travis orders a withdrawal into the Alamo compound.

In a parley with Mexican Colonel Juan Almonte the Texians are ordered to surrender or be put to the sword.

Travis answers the Mexican's terms with a volley from the 18-pounder.

Knowing they were seriously outnumbered, Travis sent word for help, in more than one message, using couriers. One message became particularly famous addressed to “The People of Texas and All Americans in the World” and signed “Victory or Death.”
 
And those urgent calls for help went unheeded, partly because the few troops in the area were already engaged in other problems and partly because those in charge didn't think Santa Anna was that big a threat and partly because Texas wasn't part of the US yet. After the Alamo, Sam Houston mustered enough volunteers to re-engage with Santa Anna's army and they fought a sort of feigned retreat, hit and run series of battles, Houston continuing to build his forces while at the same time drawing Santa Anna farther and farther east. Finally Santa Anna made a critical mistake and divided his forces, I think San Jacinto River? Anyway, Houston's army pounced and in a very short battle secured surrender. Santa Anna escaped but was found a couple days later hiding in the sage bush. Surprisingly, Houston released him back to Mexico but only after he wrote an order commanding all Mexican forces to retreat back south of the Rio Grande.
 
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Those 45ish days between the Alamo defeat and the San Jacinto victory was an interesting time. Called the Runaway Scrape, Sam Houston, his forces (if you could call them that), along with bands of Texians (one lead by Juan M. Seguin) essentially retreated for 45 days and some 220 miles during the rainy season! As the news of the Alamo spread, forces would join up with Houston, but then would leave - saying Houston was a coward for not attacking Santa Anna's forces. But he knew better, his "forces" were severely under-armed and untrained and he knew they didn't stand a chance until some training and organization. However, he saw an opportunity at San Jacinto. With the Twin Sisters firing the open volley, Houston's approx. 800 men thoroughly defeated Santa Anna's forces (approx. 1500) in a surprise attack, largely hand to hand combat. A large portion of Santa Anna's forces had just marched for 24 hours straight and were tired, and when the Texans had not attacked they were allowed to rest. Houston had ordered the only bridge to be destroyed, so the Mexicans had no retreat route available. Houston was badly wounded in the foot in the battle. Santa Anna ran like a scared rabbit, but was captured the next day, disguised as a Mexican private hiding in the waters of a marsh. The battle happened on the land owned by one Margaret (Peggy) McCormick. Many hundred of the Mexican Forces were killed, but only 11 Texans. However, no one ordered - on either side - the bodies buried, and they just lay there in the humid, East Texas heat for years, until finally the bones were gathered and buried in a mass grave - location unknown. I, and many, have always wondered why Houston let Santa Anna go. I can only surmise that Houston knew his ragtag "Army" got lucky with this battle, but would not likely be able to defeat the balance of the Mexican Army in Texas - several thousand - most around San Antonio. So, he used Santa Anna to sign a treaty and order the troops to go back to Mexico.

At least that is what I was learned in school!!!
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I believe Sam Houston is my 3rd cousin 1x removed of wife of 2nd cousin 3x removed. Is that close enough to brag about?
 
The book I read, by Brian Kilmeade, said Houston was a savvy diplomat and figured the best way for Texas to achieve independence was to use Santa Anna as a tool, rather than let his army chop him up into teeny tiny pieces like they wanted to. He supposedly used Santa Anna's vanity against him and convinced him the best way for him to save face was to return to Mexico and convince the government that Texas wasn't worth the fight and to negotiate a treaty. The Texans kept him for awhile and successfully negotiated the Treaty of Velasco using Santa Anna's release as a bargaining chip.
 
13 Days Battle of the Alamo

Day Two – Wednesday February 24, 1836

The second day of the siege began early with the Texians facing a newly established battery erected by the Mexicans during the night. The battery consisted of two eight-pounders and a howitzer and was located approximately 400 yards to the west of the fort. It was known as the River Battery.

The defenders were busy that night as well. They had captured at least one Mexican soldier and six pack mules during a nighttime patrol. According to Enrique Esparza, the defenders used the captured soldier to decipher bugle calls for the Texians throughout the siege.

Sometime around eleven that morning, Santa Anna began his survey of the Alamo fortifications and surrounding area to familiarize himself with the area.

The Mexican army pillaged the Texian's stores in Béxar and began the bombardment of the Alamo in earnest. The Texian artillery returned fire with no obvious results.

James Bowie, in command of the garrison, fell ill. The garrion's surgeon described his illness as a "A peculiar disease of a peculiar nature." Jim Bowie relinquished his command of the garrison to Travis.

The Alamo's well proved inadequate in supplying the garrison's water needs. This forced the defenders to obtain water from the acequia and reservoir to east of the compound setting the stage for several skirmishes.

Travis penned his "To the people of Texas and all Americans in the world" letter. Defender Albert Martin carried the letter from the Alamo and added his own comments to the back of the document.

Historians consider this letter to be one of the most stirring documents in American history because it helped to establish the Texian national identity.
 
13 Days Battle of the Alamo

Day Three – Thursday February 25, 1836

The morning of February 25, 1836 dawned with summer-like temperatures opening one of the most eventful days of the siege.

The Mexicans launched an attack with approximately 400 - 450 soldiers personally led by General Castrillon. The Matamoros Battalion and three companies of cazadores made up the attacking force. They came from the area of the river battery through Pueblo de Valero's jacales and buildings advancing to within 50-100 yards from the Alamo's walls.

After two hours of fighting, The Texians finally forced a Mexican withdrawal using the ditches and outworks. They inflicted only light casualties on their attackers. Sometime during the fighting, Texian sorties burned the jacales closest to the Alamo. At the same time, the Mexicans established new fortifications near the McMullen house.

As the Mexicans advanced through the pueblo, they discovered a young woman and her mother in one of the houses. Although already married, Santa Anna took advantage of the situation, arranged a false marriage, and quickly consummated the relationship.

That night, the temperatures dropped into the 30's. Under the cover of darkness, William B. Travis sent Colonel Juan Seguin to find General Houston and ask for help. The defenders ventured out again burning even more jacales. There is some evidence that at least nine men deserted the garrison and gave information to Santa Anna where the Texians had hidden at least 50 rifles.

The day's fighting was not a victory for the Texians. The Mexicans had established artillery and infantry entrenchments in La Villita and the Alameda, but the Texians proved that as unorganized as they were, they could fight.
 
13 Days Battle of the Alamo

Day Four – Friday February 26, 1836

The Texians burned more jacales during the night. It soon became obvious that the Alamo's water well would not supply the needs of a 150+ people in the garrison. They would have to obtain water from the nearby acequia.

The overnight arrival of a norther dropped the temperatures to near freezing. As daylight broke, a Texian foray went outside the walls to obtain water and wood. A small skirmish erupted with the Mexican troops under General Sesma. Mexican casualties were slightly heavier than in earlier fights due to the Texian's eastern-facing cannon.
 
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