Category: Our Blog

  • The Battle of Medina, Taken from Capt. Gaines on the Sabine in 1835

    After the Battle of Salado, we took possession of St Antonio 1st April 1813—at which time 1.4 Spanish officers surrendered without Battle, who were confined separately as crimnals; this was followed by another surrender on the same day, of 8 hundred soldiers & their officers, who joined the ranks of the patriots and took an…

  • The First Independent State of TexasApril-August 1813Bernardo Gutiérrez de LaraJosé Álvarez de Toledo

    In 1811, idealist Revilla native Don José Bernardo Maximiliano Gutiérrez de Lara became dedicated to the Hidalgo Independence movement. Consequently he received the rank of Lt. Colonel in Hidalgo’s Army of the Americas and traveled to Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia to enlist aid for his personal goals in the movement in Texas. In Washington and…

  • Revolution of Texas in 1812

    From notes furnished by Col. W. D. C. Hall and originally published in Yanaguana Society Publications, vol. VI, 1941 In 1811 and 1812 Col. W. D. C. Hall was residing at Nachitoches, and engaged in the study of law under the late distinguished Judge William Murray, who was then a practicing lawyer in the parishes…

  • In Search of the”Yellow Rose of Texas”

    Texas history is full of legend and lore. One such tale is the “Yellow Rose of Texas” – a legend commemorated in song. But is there such a rose? And if there is, which rose is it? The Song Originally conceived as a folksong in early Colonial Texas history, the first recorded copy of the…

  • Historical Texas Indians

    Originally published by Historic Texas Indians, Texas Archealogical E-Journal. Vol.3, Fall, 1996. Defining the historic Indian tribes in Texas is not easy. Different tribes occupied different regions at different times. This is why we have divided the subject into Proto-historical, at the time of first contact with early explorers, at the time of the Spanish…

  • Marriage of James Bowie and Ursula de Veramendi

    Transcription and Translation by Robert L. Tarín, Jr. ©1996-1997, Robert L. Tarin.All Rights Reserved [Transcription]  April 25, 1831 338 D[on] Santiago Buy con D[oñ]a Ursula de Beramendi Abril En la ciudad de San Fernando de Béjar a 25 de Abril de1831 Yo el Presbítero D. Refugio dela garsa cura propio de esta ciudad practicadas las…

  • Notes on James Bowie

    James Bowie, a son of Rezin Bowie, was born in Burke county, Georgia. Of his parents, it is said they were from Maryland. The father was a man of strong mind and sound judgment. The mother was a pious and excellent lady, and from her it was thought that the children inherited their remarkable energy…

  • Hidalgo’s Call for Mexican Independence

    ©1997, Mexico History Directory. Shortly before dawn on September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla made a monumentous decision that revolutionized the course of Mexican history. Within hours, Hidalgo, a Catholic priest in the village of Dolores, ordered the arrest of Dolores- native Spaniards. Then Hidalgo rang the church bell as he customarily did to…

  • Clara Driscoll, Savior of the Alamo

      by Karen Tipton ©1995, Texas Highways In 1903, Texan Clara Driscoll put up the thousands of dollars necessary to prevent the sale of the Alamo convent to a hotel firm (see“Adina De Zavala, Alamo Crusader”). The gesture earned her the moniker “Savior of the Alamo.” In 1905, the Texas Legislature reimbursed Driscoll. Until then,…

  • Adina De Zavala Alamo Crusader

    By Frank W Jennings with Rosemary Williams ©1995, Texas Highways From the late 1800s until her death in 1955, a fragile-looking wisp of a black-haired, blue-eyed woman made it her mission to protect Texas historical treasures. She forged innovative volunteer groups. She identified and marked important historic sites. And she even defied law officers in…