Lone Star Nation

by H. W. Brands

  “The retreat of the government”: ibid.

  “Men are flocking”: ibid., 382.

  “The capture of the Alamo . . . what a misfortune!”: Santa Anna, “Manifesto,” 20.

  “There was a great abundance”: de la Peña, 99.

  “At the Colorado . . . pick up the last grain”: ibid., 114–15.

  “I found one house . . . so many of these destroyed”: ibid., 111.

  “No one would disagree”: ibid., 120.

  “duties which derive . . . with profound respect”: PTR, 5:233.

  “News—good news . . . as neutral ground”: ibid., 317.

  “When to this fact . . . prepare for action”: PTR, 5:373.

  “to join them in the war . . . daily increasing danger”: ibid., 375–76.

  “and had with him . . . upon this subject”: ibid., 468–69.

  “It is not the wish . . . by this Government”: PTR, 6:53.

  18. A People in Arms

  “The capture of the Alamo . . . full flight”: Santa Anna, “Manifesto,”20–21.

  “Through some of the colonists . . . afternoon of the 14th”: ibid., 74.

  “The panic has reached . . . should it be otherwise . . .”: PTR, 5:317.

  “Our friend the commander-in-chief . . . upon ourselves”: ibid., 444–45.

  “Sir: The enemy”: WSH, 1:412n.

  “Taunts and suggestions . . . perform impossibilities”: ibid., 411–12.

  “By your retreat . . . universal consternation seized the country”: Baker, 276–77.

  “He came to the tents . . . in agitation”: Kuykendall, 301–2.

  “Col. Sidney Sherman . . . the Liberty company”: Labadie, 150–51.

  “The blacksmith is there . . . call in an hour”: Sparks, 66–67.

  “I went to work and killed . . . double the punishment”: ibid., 68–69.

  “I entered Harrisburg”: Santa Anna, “Manifesto,” 74.

  “Due to the reports . . . detain him many days”: Santos, 98.

  “General, I have brought . . . to the right”: Labadie, 152–53.

  “This morning . . . go to conquer”: WSH, 1:413–14.

  “At about eight o’clock . . . idea of fighting”: Delgado, 7.

  “All of the members of the division”: Santa Anna, “Manifesto,” 75–76.

  “It was two o’clock”: Delgado, 8.

  “About one hundred”: Santa Anna, “Manifesto,” 76.

  “Seeing him under . . . if he desired it”: Billingsley Papers, letter to Galveston News, September 19, 1857.

  “It would be difficult”: Swisher, 40–41.

  “We had the enemy . . . His Excellency’s tent”: Delgado, 9–10.

  “I shut the enemy up”: Santa Anna, “Manifesto,” 31.

  “Col. Wharton visited . . . ‘Fight, and be damned!’ ”: Labadie, 162.

  “Our situation is strong”: Houston, “Houston’s Speech,” 323.

  “Our troops paraded”: WSH, 1:418.

  “Our regiments were volunteers . . . enemies’ eyes”: Sparks, 70.

  “Remember the Alamo!” WSH, 1:419.

  “I was in a deep sleep”: Santa Anna, “Extracts,” 270.

  “The utmost confusion . . . carnage took place”: Delgado, 10–11.

  “We charged with such fury”: Sparks, 71.

  “He led me to the entrance”: Martínez Caro, 124–25.

  “At this place”: ibid.

  “It was nothing but a slaughter”: PTR, 6:36.

  “I pursued a fresh trail . . . forbear to recount”: Labadie, 163.

  “The most awful slaughter”: Tolbert, 150.

  “I could hardly see anything”: ibid., 151.

  “I observed Gen. Houston”: Labadie, 164.

  “General Houston gave orders . . . laying there yet”: Hunter, 23–24.

  Part Four: Lone Star and Union (1836–1865)

  19. Victors and Vanquished

  “He said he presumed . . . El Presidente!”: Kuykendall Family Papers, “Recollection of Joel W. Robison,” 34–35.

  “General Santa Anna . . . he will do it”: Labadie, 167–68.

  “Since I had . . . Santa Anna”: Filisola, Memoirs, 2:235–36; Documentos Inéditos, 187.

  “A few hours before . . . our vanguard”: Urrea, 244–46.

  “Most of the army . . . carry it out”: de la Peña, 146–47.

  “Should it become”: Filisola, “Representation,” 175.

  “in his official character . . . of this compact”: Foote, 2:318–20.

  “I did promise . . . could nullify”: Santa Anna, “Manifesto,” 39–40.

  “My Friends”: Callcott, 143; Documentos Inéditos, 197.

  “I immediately wrote . . . had been shot”: Santa Anna, “Manifesto,” 87.

  “Desolation it seems”: AP, 3:340.

  “Much more now depends”: Cantrell, 347.

  “Stephen F. Austin”: Santa Anna, “Manifesto,” 87.

  “in fulfillment of the duties . . . upon their minds”: CAJ, 5:411–12.

  “Until the existing Government”: ibid., 426.

  “I have seen”: ibid., 425.

  “While Santa Anna”: Tolbert, 186.

  “Many of the old settlers”: AP, 3:428.

  “I once believed”: ibid., 439.

  “We must keep . . . blood and life”: WSH, 1:450–52.

  “A successful military chieftain”: AP, 2:729; Cantrell, 356.

  “Since my return”: AP, 3:452.

  “This has mortified . . . colonize this country”: ibid., 443.

  “Suppose that Santa Anna . . . more sacrifices”: ibid., 450.

  “General Santa Anna”: DCRT, 2:427.

  “pleasant of countenance”: Callcott, 146–47.

  “General Andrew Jackson . . . decide that question”: Santa Anna, The Eagle, 57.

  “fair consideration . . . suspend hostilities”: Remini, 3:365.

  “He said he was satisfied . . . apparent candour throughout”: DCRT, 1:188–89.

  “He placed at my disposal”: Santa Anna, The Eagle, 57.

  “The Father of Texas . . . illustrious deceased”: WSH, 1:28–29.

  20. Slavery and Freedom

  “I could not be present”: Nagel, 343.

  “To withstand multitudes”: ibid., 346.

  “a covenant with death”: Potter, 48.

  “A device better calculated . . . a civil war”: Register of Debates in Congress, 24th Congress, 1st session (1836), 4041–47.

  “inevitably DISSOLVE THE UNION . . . PERMIT IT?”: Lundy, 33, 64.

  “I have at length”: DCRT, 1:201.

  “Bastrop county suffered . . . to their camp”: Smithwick, 153, 173.

  “After the fight”: ibid., 175.

  “They were the most peaceable . . . strike a woman”: ibid., 181–83.

  “I had many . . . not molest them”: ibid., 188–89.

  “If I could build”: ibid., 194.

  “Probably this will be”: Callcott, 159.

  21. Andrew Jackson Dies Happy

  “Horses were generally considered”: Smithwick, 234.

  “Some were engaged . . . to total abandonment”: Muir, 35.

  “When the first issue”: Smithwick, 269.

  “While I hesitate . . . the same time”: Muir, 34–35.

  “Some of the disturbances”: ibid., 36.

  “God has said”: Hogan, 260–61.

  “A general gloom”: ibid., 291.

  “would be a subject”: Smith, 77–78.

  “intense anxiety for peace”: WSH, 3:191.

  “If England produces . . . politic indifference”: ibid., 385–87.

  “I am determined . . . sanctioned by wisdom”: ibid., 4:260–65.

  “all important to the security”: CAJ, 6:272.

  “I hope this golden moment . . . with Great Britain”: ibid., 272.

  “Houston and the people”: ibid., 278.

  “The United States . . . I answer no”: ibid., 283–84.


  “Eight years have elapsed . . . future danger”: ibid., 290–91.

  “The subject has carried”: ibid., 278.

  “Extraordinary”: Bemis, 408.

  “Yet my conscience”: Adams diary, March 29, 1841, Adams Papers.

  “bold, dashing, and utterly baseless . . . of posterity”: Bemis, 474.

  “If slavery were totally abolished . . . prospect is deathlike”: Adams, 12:128, 152, 171; also Congressional Globe, January 24–25, 1845.

  “I congratulate you . . . Union is secured”: Remini, 3:511.

  22. The Trial of Sam Houston

  “Supposing a charming lady . . . [Laughter and cheers.]”: WSH, 6:12.

  “Mexicans!”: Callcott, 219.

  “Mexicans! You have a religion”: ibid., 257.

  “This task is done”: Crane, 256.

  “My son”: James, 357.

  “I suppose that not less”: PCSH, 3:69.

  “The Congress of the United States . . . glorious Union”: WSH, 5:119–44.

  “an eminently perilous measure . . . Give us peace!”: ibid., 513, 522.

  “All agree that if Sam Houston”: James, 382.

  “Upward of forty-seven . . . gazing on its ruin!”: WSH, 8:145–60.

  “The people are always right”: Tocqueville, Journey, 156.

  “Fellow citizens . . . of human freedom”: WSH, 8:277.

  B i b l i o g r a p h y

  Archival Collections

  Adams, Henry Alexander, Papers, Center for American History (CAH), University of Texas at Austin.

  Adams, John Quincy (and family), Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston.

  Alamán, Lucas, Papers, Benson Latin American Collection (BLAC), University of Texas at Austin.

  Allen, Samuel T., Papers, CAH.

  Almonte, Juan N., Papers, CAH.

  Ames, Harriet A., Papers, CAH.

  Ampudia, Pedro de, Papers, CAH.

  Archivo de México, Texas State Library (TSL), Austin.

  Archivo General de Indias, TSL.

  Archivo General de México, CAH.

  Aury, Louis, Papers, CAH.

  Austin, Moses and Stephen, Papers, CAH.

  Austin, William T., Papers, CAH.

  Austin Colony Census, 1826, CAH.

  Baker, Mosely, Papers, CAH.

  Béxar Archives, CAH.

  Billingsley, Jesse, Papers, CAH.

  Bowie, James, Papers, CAH.

  Bryan, Guy M., Papers, CAH.

  Bryan, Moses Austin, Papers, CAH.

  Burnet, David G., Papers, CAH.

  Butler, Anthony, Papers, CAH.

  Crusemann, Paul C., Papers, CAH.

  Davenport, Harbert, Papers, TSL.

  Documentos Relativos a Coahuila, Coahuila y Tejas, y Nuevo León y Coahuila; Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

  Documents Relating to Texas, Bancroft Library.

  Edwards, Haden, Papers, CAH.

  Felloseby, John, Papers, CAH.

  Ford, John Salmon, Papers, CAH.

  Hearne, Madge Williams, Papers, CAH.

  Hearne, Sam Houston, Papers, CAH.

  Houston, Andrew Jackson, Papers, TSL.

  Houston, Sam, Papers, CAH.

  Hunter, John Warren, Papers (“Literary Effort”), TSL.

  Iturbide, Augustín de, Papers, BLAC.

  Jackson, Andrew, Papers, Library of Congress.

  Kuykendall Family Papers, CAH.

  Lamar, Mirabeau B., Papers, TSL.

  Lindsey Family Papers, TSL.

  Mexia Family Papers, Bancroft Library.

  Miller, Washington Daniel, Papers, TSL.

  Nacogdoches Archive, TSL.

  Peebles, Robert U., Papers, CAH.

  Perry, James Franklin and Stephen Samuel, Papers, CAH.

  Prather, Ben Caldwell, Papers, CAH.

  Rusk, Thomas J., Papers, CAH.

  Santa Anna, Antonio López de, Papers, BLAC.

  Seguín, Juan N., Papers, CAH.

  Stewart, Charles B., Papers, TSL.

  Travis, William Barret, Papers, CAH.

  Walker, Samuel Hamilton, Papers, TSL.

  Yoakum, Henderson, Papers, TSL.

  Zavala, Lorenzo de, Papers, CAH.

  Published Works

  Adams, John Quincy. Memoirs of John Quincy Adams, Comprising Portions of His Diary from 1795 to 1848. Edited by Charles Francis Adams. 12 volumes. Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press, 1969.

  Almonte, Juan Nepomuceno. “The Private Journal of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte: February 1–April 16, 1836,” introduced by Samuel E. Asbury, SWHQ 48 (1944), 10–32.

  Ashford, Gerald. Spanish Texas: Yesterday and Today. Austin: Jenkins Publishing Co., 1971.

  Austin, Moses. “A Memorandum of M. Austin’s Journey from the Lead Mines in the County of Wythe in the State of Virginia to the Lead Mines in the Province of Louisiana West of the Mississippi, 1796–1797.” Edited by George P. Garrison. American Historical Review, vol. 5 (1900), 518–42.

  Austin, Stephen Fuller. “Journal of Stephen F. Austin on His First Trip to Texas, 1821.” Texas Historical Association Quarterly, vol. 7 (1904), 286–307.

  ———. “The ‘Prison Journal’ of Stephen F. Austin,” The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, vol. 2 (1899), 183–210.

  Austin, Stephen Fuller, and Moses Austin. The Austin Papers. Edited by Eugene C. Barker. 3 volumes. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1924–1928 (volumes 1–2); Austin: University of Texas Press, 1927 (volume 3). By far the most valuable primary source on early Texas. Compiled and edited by the dean of Texas historians.

  Baker, Mosely. “Extracts from Mosely Baker’s Letter to Houston,” in Barker, “The San Jacinto Campaign,” 272–87.

  Barker, Eugene C. The Life of Stephen F. Austin, Founder of Texas, 1793–1836. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1969. An admiring portrait that remains essential.

  ———. “The San Jacinto Campaign,” SWHQ 4 (1901), 237–345. The view from several perspectives, not all edited equally well.

  Barnard, J. H. “Fannin at Goliad—Battle of the Coleta—The Massacre of Fannin’s Command,” in Wooten, ed., 608–36.

  Barr, Alwyn. Texans in Revolt: The Battle for San Antonio, 1835. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1990.

  Bazant, Jan. A Concise History of Mexico from Hidalgo to Cárdenas, 1805–1940. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1977.

  Bean, Ellis P. Memoir of Col. Ellis P. Bean, Written by Himself, about the Year 1816. Edited by W.P. Yoakum. N.p.: Book Club of Texas, 1930.

  Bemis, Samuel Flagg. John Quincy Adams and the Union. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1965.

  Berlandier, Jean Louis. The Indians of Texas in 1830. Edited by John C. Ewers. Translated by Patricia Reading Leclercq. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1969.

  ———. Journey to Mexico During the Years 1826 to 1834. 2 volumes. Translated by Sheila M. Ohlendorf, Josette M. Bigelow, and Mary M. Standifer. Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1980.

  Bolton, Herbert Eugene. Texas in the Middle Eighteenth Century: Studies in Spanish Colonial History and Administration. 1915. New York: Russell & Russell, 1962. What eventually led to the decision to let the Americans in.

  Bowie, John. “Early Life in the Southwest—The Bowies,” De Bow’s Southern and Western Review 13 (October 1852), 378–83.

  Cabeza de Vaca, Álvar Núnez. Relation. 1542. Translated by Buckingham Smith. New York: n.p., 1871. One of the epic tales of the American Southwest.

  Calderón de la Barca, Fanny. Life in Mexico: The Letters of Fanny Calderón de la Barca. Edited by Howard T. Fisher and Marion Hall Fisher. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Co., 1966. Although related only tangentially to Texas, worth reading simply for the shrewd insights of the author.

  Callcott, Wilfrid Hardy. Santa Anna: The Story of an Enigma Who Once Was Mexico. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1936. The most reliable life, in any language.

  Campbell, Randolph B. An Empire for Slavery: The Peculiar I
nstitution in Texas, 1821–1865. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1989.

  Cantrell, Gregg. Stephen F. Austin: Empresario of Texas. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1999. Updates Barker, asks harder questions of Austin, and is the current starting point for the study of Texas’s founding father.

  Castañeda, Carlos E., ed. The Mexican Side of the Texan Revolution. Dallas: P. L. Turner Company, 1928. Invaluable for understanding the actions and motivations of Mexico’s leading figures in the war for Texas. Written after the fact (that is, after the Mexican defeat), it contains much reciprocal finger-pointing, but is more interesting for that.

  Castañeda, Carlos E. Our Catholic Heritage in Texas, 1519–1936. 7 volumes. Austin: Von Boeckmann-Jones Co., 1936–58.

  Clay, Henry. The Papers of Henry Clay. Edited by James F. Hopkins et al. 10 volumes and supplement. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1959–92.

  Crane, William Carey. Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas. Dallas: William G. Scarff & Co., 1884.

  Crisp, James E. “Sam Houston’s Speechwriters: The Grad Student, the Teenager, the Editors, and the Historians.” SWHQ 97 (1993), 203–37.

  Crockett, David. A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett of the State of Tennessee. 1834. Edited by James A. Shackford and Stanley J. Folmsbee. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1973.

  Davis, William C. Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis. New York: HarperCollins, 1998. A wonderful work of investigation and narration. Especially valuable on Bowie.

  Day, James M., comp. The Texas Almanac, 1857–1873: A Compendium of Texas History. Waco: Texian Press, 1967. A grab bag from grab bags, containing gems among much else.

  De la Peña, José Enrique. With Santa Anna in Texas: A Personal Narrative of the Revolution. Translated and edited by Carmen Perry. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1975. The subject of far more controversy than it should have evoked. An essential component of the first-person literature on the Texas Revolution.

  De León, Arnoldo. The Tejano Community, 1836–1900. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1982.

  DeConde, Alexander. The Affair of Louisiana. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1976.

  Delgado, Pedro. Mexican Account of the Battle of San Jacinto. Deepwater, Tex.: W. C. Day, [1919].

  Dewees, W. B. Letters from an Early Settler of Texas. 1852. Waco: Texian Press, 1968. Some historians have questioned the authenticity of certain of the letters in this book, suggesting that they were written after the dates assigned to them therein. This may well be so, and the “letters” may be in part a literary device. But no one disputes that Dewees was in Texas during the period covered by the book, or that it is at least a memoir if not always an account contemporary with the events it describes. The distinction is unimportant for the present purpose.