It might depend how far you go back. Texas Independence Revolution is one thing. Spanish and French occupation is another plus slavery. All of which is a very interesting factor of our origin right here in Texas.
Granted, there might be a bit of confusion. Was the first colony of Texas in Nacogdoches? Yes it was. But was it the first attempt? No it wasn’t. Historians report the settlement in Alligator Point (now called Port O’Connor, Texas) was the landing site of French explorer Sur Robert LaSalle as directed by King Louis XIVth of France. LaSalle was specifically ordered to find a warm water passage from France to the gulf and establish the French colony. It was intended for the mouth of the Mississippi River. La Salle previously discovered the Mississippi River and claimed it for France. He did so by going south through Canada. But in the Gulf of Mexico they missed the river by a few hundred miles and landed instead at Port O’Connor/Indianola in the face of fierce Karankawa Indians.
Ironically, the Indians who were dubbed as cannibals and ferocious fighters, appeared to be friendly to the strange white people whose boat The Amiable, was foundered in the shallow waters of Pass Cavallo. By sign language they told LaSalle and crew how to fish and hunt by dugout canoes.
LaSalle was a hard task master and ordered his men to take the canoes from these savages and catch the fish as they said. The Indians saw them steal their boats and killed them.
Of the four ships on the way from France, one was attacked by pirates, another saw the Amiable sink and turned back while the La Belle entered Matagorda Bay and later sank in a storm. The remains of that ship were excavated in l995; some three hundred years later. Portions are now displayed in Port Lavaca, Polacios, Corpus Christi and Austin, Texas museums. The colony didn’t happen as LaSalle himself was shot by his own men between Navasota and Bedias River while attempting to find the Mississippi River he sought.
Conflicts were developing with Spain and Mexico as well as the French. In Liberty County, Texas, the French established a fort somewhere south of Liberty, TX. It was later abandoned. Then the Mexican authorities built Fort Anahuac to collect customs. Its commander ultimately jailed two Liberty lawyers there named Patrick Jack and William B. Travis for harassment (Travis was subsequently a hero of the Alamo).
Texians of the Brazos River fought Mexicans in the Battle of Velasco (now Surfside, TX. or greater Freeport, TX.) They were on the way to rescue Travis. They won the battle and Travis was released. The commander of Fort Anahuac Juan Bradburn was relieved of duty by Colonel Piedras of Nacogdoches in 1832. This was four years before San Jacinto.
“Come and Take It” was the battle cry of the battle of Gonzales and the first official shot of the Revolution. It came after Austin was instrumental in declaring a state of war and independence against Mexico on behalf of Texas. Actually, Mexico had given a cannon earlier to Texas to defend itself against hostile Indians. Things deteriorated and Texians refused Mexican demands for the return of the gun. The battle of Gonzales was won by the Texians. Mexicans didn’t take it!
Of course, the disaster of Goliad and the Alamo caused vast numbers of Texas inhabitants to abandon their homes and flee eastward from San Antonio and other parts from invading Mexican forces with orders to shoot to kill. That was called the Runaway Scrape and it is reported to end along the Old Spanish Trail at the Trinity River near the present town of Dayton, Texas. When the news that Sam Houston won the battle of San Jacinto the Runaway Scrape stopped there and folks returned to their homes; or what was left of them.
The fabulous museum at the San Jacinto Monument and the museum of the Alamo itself is a must see. It’s here for you.
Native born Bob Jamison is proud of our state and our nation!
