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A simmering dispute over planned renovations to the Alamo erupted into a war of words between two Republican elected state officials this week. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick joined critics of Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who is overseeing the controversial Alamo redesign plan. Patrick accused Bush of broadly labeling detractors as “liars and racists.” Bush said Patrick twisted his words in what he labeled a “dangerous mistake.”{snip} In a Dec. 10 post, Range wrote that Bush intends to put up a statue of Antonio López de Santa Anna, the president who led Mexican troops against the defenders of the Alamo,...

In a disastrous setback for the Texans resisting Santa Anna’s dictatorial regime, the Mexican army defeats and executes 417 Texas revolutionaries at Goliad. Long accustomed to enjoying considerable autonomy from their Mexican rulers, many Anglo Texan settlers reacted with alarm when Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna proclaimed himself dictator of Mexico in 1835. Santa Anna immediately imposed martial law and attempted to disarm the Texans. Yet, this move merely fed the flames of Texan resistance.

When it left the Alamo in the dark of night 177 years ago, William Barret Travis' "Victory or Death" letter had to be slipped past the Mexican army before courier Albert Martin could deliver the besieged commander's stirring call for help that never came.

SANTA ANA – A package left outside the U.S. post office at 615 N. Bush St., contained paperwork, not explosives, Sgt. Tony Miranda said Saturday afternoon. The package was first spotted by a FedEx driver on Friday, who thought it was suspicious and reported it to his supervisor. But police didn't get a call until a passerby phoned Saturday morning, Miranda said. He didn't know why the package was suspicious. "It's not hissing or ticking. It is addressed to someone in the government. I think it's the president," he said.

What if this noble defeat starts to be seen as a glorious Mexican victory? 03:23 PM CDT on Sunday, June 3, 2007 Sometimes little things tell a big story. In a South Dallas classroom, a sweet-tempered Latino fourth-grader, the son of poor immigrants, told recent visitors about Santa Anna's historical greatness. He innocently explained why he found the Mexican general's victory at the Alamo to be – wait for it – inspiring. I thought: We have just heard from the future. According to the state demographer, by the time that fourth-grader is a father of schoolchildren, Texas will be a...

(On This Day In History) June 22, 1876: General Santa Anna Dies In Mexico City Embittered and impoverished, the once mighty Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna dies in Mexico City. Born in 1792 at Jalapa, Vera Cruz, Mexico, Santa Anna was the son of middle-class parents. As a teen, he won a commission in the Spanish army and might have been expected to live out an unspectacular career as a middle-level army officer. However, the young Santa Anna quickly distinguished himself as a capable fighter and leader, and after 1821, he gained national prominence in the successful Mexican war for...

Robert Collins might not be around had it not been for a mysterious, kindhearted Latina who was at Goliad when Texans fought for independence in 1836. Now 72, Collins had never heard of the "Angel of Goliad" until he read about Francisca Alvarez in the newspaper a few years ago. His ancestor, John P. Collin, came to Texas from Louisiana to serve in the war. Collin was a young medic when he somehow eluded execution at Goliad. The mystery runs so deep that Collins can't say for certain that Alvarez saved his forebear. "Naturally, he survived, or I wouldn't be...

So states César Nava, Adjutant Secretary General of the white and blue1, that this self-proclamation is in the style of Antonio López de Santa Ana. The National Action Party (PAN) assured today that the statement of the presidential candidate of the For the Good of All coalition, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, given to the Univision channel:2 "Yes, I am the President of Mexico. I am the President of Mexico by the will of the majority," is "one more occurence of a messianic impudence." César Nava Vázquez, Adjutant Secretary General of the PAN Party, said that this self-proclamation is "in the...

A part-time business professor at the University of Southern California was arrested Friday on charges of conning investors, including former students, out of millions of dollars he claimed he was using for real estate projects. Barry Landreth, 36, was arrested at his home in Coto de Caza, where FBI agents also seized a luxury car, bank accounts and show horses, authorities said. Landreth ran Webster Realty Investors and apparently told his victims he was developing commercial property in Las Vegas and Chicago, and that investments in the projects would bring returns of 190 percent in 30 to 45 days. "This...

ESPEY — Before barbed wire fences and irrigation systems made their way to this tiny town, hundreds of soldiers — Spanish, Mexican and American — lost their lives on a four-mile battlefield here in northern Atascosa County. To commemorate the 191st anniversary of that fight, the Battle of Medina, descendants of slain soldiers made the trek down a long, winding dirt road off U.S. 281 to an area believed to be part of the battle site. Between 50 and 75 people from as far away as Louisiana gathered under a sprawling oak tree for the anniversary event. "This was the...

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. ...................................................................................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel...

For all of her secret life as the wife of a soldier in Santa Anna's army, Patty Tristan has tried to adhere to one policy. No camping in the mud. There was no such luck this weekend, when Tristan and more than 200 other people gathered at San Jacinto Battleground State Historical Park to recreate the 1836 victory that gave Texas its independence from Mexico. The battle re-enactment was cancelled after a thunderstorm Saturday morning was capped by a lightning strike to the 570-foot tall monument in the middle of the park. Lightning, static electricity and 100 pounds of black...

The Battle of San JacintoThe 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...

"The Alamo": Defining Heroism Down Rather than depict them as alabaster saints, we wanted to show them as complete human beings. --Stephen Hardin, historical advisor, “The Alamo” In 1960, American icon John Wayne starred as Davy Crockett in “The Alamo”, a heroic, if sanitized portrayal of the infamous siege where some 200 Americans held off Mexican General Santa Anna’s army of several thousand for 13 days before being wiped out to a man. Nearly 45 years later, a new unwashed “Alamo” is upon us, brought to us by Disney, and starring American anti-hero Billy Bob Thornton as the larger-than-life frontiersman....

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. ...................................................................................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel...

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. ...................................................................................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel...

Speech of Rep. Abraham Lincoln against the Mexican War and against Texas' territorial boundary of the Rio Grande, Congressional Globe, Thirtieth Congress, First Session, Appendix, pp. 93-95. Delivered to the U.S. House of Representatives, Jan 12, 1848 Some, if not all the gentlemen on, the other side of the House, who have addressed the committee within the last two days, have spoken rather complainingly, if I have rightly understood them, of the vote given a week or ten days ago, declaring that the war with Mexico was unnecessarily and unconstitutionally commenced by the President. I admit that such a vote...

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood...

166 years later, Texas recalls the Goliad massacre Historic battle helped gather support for cause against Mexico 03/24/2002 By NATALIE ORNISH / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News There likely isn't a Texan or an American who hasn't heard the famous cry, "Remember the Alamo!" But what about Goliad? It will be 166 years ago Wednesday that 342 Texians, most of whom had been surrendered by Col. James W. Fannin seven days earlier and held in the presidio at Goliad, were killed by Mexican soldiers. The Goliad massacre came 21 days after the fall of the Alamo, amid...