The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Sam Houston - Dec. 22nd, 2003

www.tsha.utexas.edu ^ | Thomas H. Kreneck

[SAMWolf]

The Battle of San Jacinto

The Battle of San Jacinto lasted less than twenty minutes, but it sealed the fate of three republics. Mexico would never regain the lost territory, in spite of sporadic incursions during the 1840s. The United States would go on to acquire not only the Republic of Texas in 1845 but Mexican lands to the west after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War in 1848.

By early April, Santa Anna had divided his forces in a three-pronged attack: a northern army, under General Antonio Gaona , the central army under Santa Anna and General Joaquin Ramirez y Sesma, and a coastal army under command of General Jose Francisco Urrea.

The Texan army, meanwhile, had been in retreat since March 13, when it left Gonzales after learning of the Fall of the Alamo. On March 25, news of the massacre at Goliad led several men to leave the army to assist their families to flee before the advancing Mexican army. The resulting "Runaway Scrape" involved most of Eastern Texas, and panicked the government. Sam Houston spent the next few weeks attempting to train the recruits into something resembling a disciplined army, then continued his march toward the Sabine.

On April 16, learning that Santa Anna had isolated his army, Houston pursued him to Buffalo Bayou, arriving there at midnight on April 19, and continuing their march toward Lynch's Ferry on the 20th. That afternoon, General Sidney Sherman engaged the Mexicans in a skirmish that almost resulted in a full scale battle. Mirabeau B. Lamar's heroic actions in that conflict earned him a battlefield commission as Colonel.

The next day, Houston learned that General Martin Perfecto de Cos had crossed over Vince's Bridge with reinforcements. Houston ordered Erastus "Deaf" Smith to destroy the bridge-a move that prevented further swelling of Mexican ranks, and likewise prevented retreat by both the Mexican and Texan armies.

About 3:30 in the afternoon, during the Mexican siesta period, Houston distributed his troops in battle array, bracketing the line with the "Twin Sisters" cannon. Shielded by trees and a rise in the terrain, the Texans were able to advance with some security. Then with the cries "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember La Bahia" or "Remember Goliad" ringing along their lines, the Texans swooped down on the dismayed Mexican army, pursuing and butchering them long after the battle itself had ended.

630 Mexicans were killed and 730 taken prisoner. Texans lost only 9 killed or mortally wounded; thirty were less seriously wounded. Among the latter was General Houston, whose ankle was shattered.

Surrender of Santa Anna, by William H. Huddle

On the day following the battle, a small party discovered Santa Anna and brought him into camp, unaware at first of the importance of their prisoner. As part of his surrender agreement, the president/general ordered the Mexican troops remaining in Texas immediately to retreat south of the Rio Grande.

On May 14, 1836, the public and private treaties of Velasco, were signed by Presidents David G. Burnet and Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. They confirmed the Mexican retreat and declared an end to the war. Neither the Texas nor Mexican governments accepted the treaties, however, and a state of war existed throughout most of the Republic of Texas' existence.

[SAMWolf]

General Information and some fun trivia....

Houston's military records show that he was 6 foot 2 inches when he was 19 years old. His Texas legend puts him at 6 foot 6 inches on his death. His family holds that he was a bit shorter.



Sam had a bit of a drinking problem. In his early life, he drank quite a bit, and it was certainly no secret. Later in his life, after he married Margaret (his 3rd wife), she is reputed to have "reformed" him and stopped his drinking. However, Sam still consumed 'bitters', which were considered medicinal alcohol. While Sam was a drinker, probably for most of his life, most men in Texas were drinkers of a sort as well, so he did not stand out in that respect as heavy drinkers tend to do in today's society.

Sam Houston settled in Huintsville Texas because The hills there reminded him of his boyhood home near Maryville, Tennessee.


President Houston's Official Residence, 1837

Sam was married three times. His first wife was named Eliza Allen. They were married January 22, 1829. Sam Houston's second wife was a Cherokee Indian woman whose name was Tiana Rodgers, also known as Diana Rodgers. They were married in the summer of 1830. Margaret Moffette Lea was Sam Houston's third wife. They were married May 9, 1840 and remained married for the remainder of Sam Houston's lifetime.

He was seventy years old at the time of his death on July 26th, 1863. He died at 6:15 pm.


Sam Houston
1856 photo by Frederick of New York City

Sam Was Buried in Huntsville, Texas in the Oakwood Cemetery. Houston chose this location. It was across the street from where the Steamboat House once stood. To access the Grave site, Exit right on 19th Street as you leave the park. Go to Avenue O (the first stop sign) and turn right. Continue on Avenue O until 11th Street. At 11th Street turn right. Travel six blocks to the intersection of Avenue I and 11th. Turn left and go three blocks to the grave site.

Additional Sources:

www.lone-star.net
www.tsl.state.tx.us
www.museumofhoaxes.com
www.lsjunction.com
www.cah.utexas.edu
www.ci.houston.tx.us
www.texashero.com
www.cemetery.state.tx.us
www.vic.com
www.rose-hulman.edu
www.pbs.org
www.texancultures.utsa.edu
www.neosoft.com
www.rare-maps.com

[SAMWolf]

Sam Houston on Education...

"I would not be gotten into a schoolhouse until I was eight years old. Nor did I accomplish much after I started. I doubt if I had gone to school six months in all when my father died. I was fourteen at the time."

"It is a matter of great satisfaction to me to hope that my children will be in circumstances to receive a good education. Mine was defective and I feel the inconvenience, if not the misfortune of not receiving a classical education. Knowledge is the food of genius, and my son, let no opportunity escape you to treasure up knowledge." Sam Houston

Sam Houston, before the battle of San Jacinto...

"We view ourselves on the eve of battle. We are nerved for the contest, and must conquer or perish. It is vain to look for present aid: none is at hand. We must now act or abandon all hope! Rally to the standard, and be no longer the scoff of mercenary tongues! Be men, be free men, that your children may bless their father's name."

Sam Houston on Texas...

"Texas will again lift it's head and stand among the nations. it ought to do so, for no country upon the globe can compare with it in natural advantages"

"All new states are invested, more or less, by a class of noisy, second-rate men who are always in favor of rash and extreme measures, But Texas was absolutely overrun by such men."

"Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may."

Sam Houston on Indians...

"I preferred measuring deer tracks, to tape-that I liked the wild liberty of the Red men better then the tyranny of my brothers".

"I am aware that in presenting myself as the advocate of the Indians and their rights, I shall stand very much alone".

Sam Houston on The Civil War...

"To secede from the Union and set up another government would cause war. If you go to war with the United States, you will never conquer her, as she has the money and the men. If she does not whip you by guns, powder, and steel, she will starve you to death. It will take the flower of the country-the young men."

"In the name of the constitution of Texas, which has been trampled upon, I refuse to take this oath. I love Texas too well to bring civil strife and bloodshed upon her."

"I declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heros of Lexington and Bunker Hill will be found equal in patriotism, courage and heroic endurance with the descendants of the heroes of Cowpens and Yorktown. For this reason I predict the civil war which is now at hand will be stubborn and of long duration."

[SAMWolf]

Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

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Tribute to a Generation - The memorial will be dedicated on Saturday, May 29, 2004.

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Actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

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[radu]

Good morning all at the Foxhole!!

Howdy service men and women, past and present!
THANK YOU for your service to our country!

[Soaring Feather]

Good Monday morning everyone in The FOXHOLE!

[snippy_about_it]

FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole!



Good Monday Morning Everyone

If you would like added to our ping list let us know.

[WhiskeyPapa]

bump

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, snippy and everyone else at the Freeper Foxhole.

[snippy_about_it]

I had no idea Sam Houston was involved in so much. He certainly led a colorful life. Seems he was born to be a politician, too. LOL.

He wanted less government yet he was a unionist. I would have never guessed a Texas leader to side with the North. Then again, all I don't know a lot about Texas.

Thanks SAM. Good read.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning radu. Nice big flag today, thanks.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning feather.

I'm up a little late today. Too cold to rise and shine lately. :)

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning EGC. We're supposed to have a little warm up today, out of the 20's and maybe up to 42. Yeah!

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning WhiskeyPapa.

[The Mayor]

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid." —Matthew 1:20

You don't need to know where you're going if you let God do the leading.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Mayor.

[SCDogPapa]

Mornin' Snippy,,,Mornin' Sam!

I had no idea Sam Houston was involved in so much

Me either.

It was very interesting to find out his love of and his attachment with the Cherokee.

"Big Drunk",,,lol,,,he obviously liked to pull a cork.

[Darksheare]

State of war between Texas and Mexico seems to exist toay as well, but many people won't even acknowledge it's existence let alone try to fix the underlying problem.
The patented 'head in the sand' fix.

Interesting that they caught Santa Ana out there and had no idea who he was until they brought him into camp.
He wouldn't happen to have been sitting in a hole shivering?

[Colonel_Flagg]

Morning, all!

Getting close. The tree is trimmed, the Foxhole is wonderful and Sam's tagline made me snort my coffee. Hope everyone is well!

[rustbucket]

I would have never guessed a Texas leader to side with the North.

He was a Union man but a Southerner also. He preferred to wait and see whether Lincoln enforced the Constitution against unconstitutional laws in the Northern states that prevented the return of fugitive slaves. He cautioned the people to stay in the Union until it was clear that Lincoln was not going to enforce the Constitution. That part of his position usually gets left out of history books.

Here are some excerpts from a December 1860 letter he wrote to the people of Texas.

In remembering the many evidences which a portion of the Northern people have presented of their willingness to disregard their constitutional obligations and infringe upon the rights of their Southern brethren, I am not in the least surprised at the indignant responses now uttered by Southern men. It shows that if the time should come when we can no longer trust to the constitution for our rights, the people will not hesitate to maintain them. It will be well if those States which have yielded to a fanatical sentiment, so far as to interpose between the Federal authority and the constitutional rights of a whole section of the Union, will now, inspired by a spirit of patriotism and nationality, retrace their steps. Upon a citizen of their own section, and one of their own party, they have now placed a responsibility he cannot avoid. As the Chief Executive of the nation, he will be sworn to support the Constitution and execute the laws. His oath will bring him in conflict with the unconstitutional statues enacted by his party, in many of the States. Elected by that party, it is but natural that the conservatism of the nation will watch his course with jealous care, and demand at his hands a rigid enforcement of the Federal laws. Should he meet the same resistance which our Executives have met, it will be his duty to call to his aid the conservative masses of the country, and they will respond to the call. Should he falter or fail, and by allowing the laws to be subverted, aid in oppressing the people of the South, he must be hurled from power.

From the moment of his inauguration, there will commence in "irresistible conflict" different from that which the party of Mr. Lincoln is based upon; it will be an "irresistible conflict" between the Constitution, which he has sworn to support, and the unconstitutional enactments and aims of the party which has placed him in power. He has declared the Fugitive Slave Law is constitutional. In its enforcement the conflict is with the North alone.

I need not assure you, that whenever the time shall come when we must choose between a loss of our constitutional rights and revolution, I shall choose the latter; and if I, who have led the people of Texas in stormy times of danger, hesitate to plunge into revolution now, it is not because I am ready to submit to Black Republican rule; but because I regard the constitution of my country and am determined to stand by it. Mr. Lincoln has been constitutionally elected, and much as I deprecate his success, no alternative is left me but to yield to the constitution. The moment that instrument is violated by him, I will be foremost in demanding redress, and the last to abandon my ground.

Whenever one section of this country presumes upon its strength for the oppression of the other, then will our constitution be a mockery, and it would matter not how soon it was severed into a thousand atoms and scattered to the four winds. If the principles are disregarded upon which the annexation of Texas was consummated, there will be for her neither honor nor interest in the Union – if the mighty, in the face of written law, can place with impunity an iron yoke upon the neck of the weak, Texas will be at no loss how to act, or where to go, before the blow aimed at her vitals is inflicted. In a spirit of good faith she entered the federal fold. By that spirit she will continue to be influenced until it is attempted to make her the victim of federal wrong.

As she will violate no federal rights, so will she submit to no violation of her rights by federal authority. The covenant she entered into with the Government must be observed, or it will be annulled. Louisiana was a purchase; California, New Mexico and Utah a conquest – but Texas was a voluntary annexation. If the condition of her admission is not complied with on the one part, it is not binding on the other. If I know Texas she will not submit to the threatened degradation foreshadowed in the speech from the Senator from New York. She would prefer restoration to that independence which she once enjoyed to the ignominy ensuing from sectional dictation. Sorrowing for the mistake which she had committed in sacrificing her independence at the alter of her patriotism, she would unfurl again the banner of the Lone Star to the breeze, and reenter upon a national career, where, if no glory awaited her, she would at least be free from a subjection by might to wrong and shame.