General Sherman toured northern Texas to see just how bad the Indian raiding was. He had his doubts. What he didn’t know was just how close he came to a first-hand encounter! The party crossing the Salt Creek Prairie right after Sherman wouldn’t be so lucky. As the Kiowa swept down toward Henry Warren’s wagon…
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The western frontier of Texas moved backwards during the Civil War. Indian raids pushed the settlers toward safer ground. After the war, the raiding had become so bad that something had to be done. The federal government thought leading with diplomacy would solve the problem but the Texans wanted military action. An 1871 attack on…
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In April, 1836, two armies converged at Peggy McCormick’s ranch on the banks of the San Jacinto River. In just 18 minutes, the Texian Army routed Santa Anna and the portion of the Mexican Army he commanded. Texas was free! Almost immediately, the area was revered as hallowed ground in the history of Texas. Visitors…
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Originally established in 1721 along the banks of the Guadalupe river, Presidio La Bahia was moved to its present location along the banks of the San Antonio river in 1749. Since then it has been a critical location for worship, trade, protection, battle and commerce. The presidio has been taken and re-taken as Texas has…
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James Fannin fancied himself an accomplished military commander. But in March of 1836 he had trouble deciding where and when to move. He finally headed for Victoria but decided to stop and feed his animals. Fannin didn’t realize how close the Mexican army was but he soon found out. Surrounded, without supplies, desperate, Fannin surrendered…
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The twin sisters were two cannons graciously manufactured and donated to the cause of Texas liberty from the people of Cincinnati. They served Texas well at the Battle of San Jacinto and played a key role in Texas independence. You can see these great guns of liberty at….wait minute…no you can’t. We’ve lost them. Where…
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Stephen F. Austin chose to set up the capitol of his colony on the banks of the Brazos River where the El Camino Real crossed the river. He envisioned a major metropolitan area as the center of immigrant activity in his colony. He named the town San Felipe. San Felipe de Austin became the second…
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184 years ago, the Texas Army was long on spirit, but short on guns. Artillery, that is. How would they take on Santa Anna without some “hollow ware?” Enter the good people of Cincinnati, Ohio. They formed a committee, the “Friends of Texas,” to support our war effort. They sent two cannons to Texas and…
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The account of the Texas revolution makes for glorious telling, retelling and reading. It seemed that every man, woman and child in early Texas just couldn’t wait to rebel against the tyrannical Mexican government and win another glorious war for independence. Didn’t they? Well, not exactly. Just like the 13 American colonies, Texas had its…
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The early 20th century brought chaos to the Texas/Mexico border. The Mexican revolution(s) created opportunities for raiders, bandits and criminals to run rampant. The law was hard to enforce and depredations hard to prevent. Germany fostered this chaos to distract the U.S. from the war in Europe. Soon, two documents were discovered that would focus…
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Dr. Lytle Adams had bats in his belfry. He had visited Carlsbad cavern right before Pearl Harbor was attacked. He came up with a great idea for weapon(s) of mass destruction hat would burn up the paper and wood cities of Japan. All he would need was a one ounce incendiary bomb, a breakaway bomb…
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Texas Ranger. Two words that strike fear in the heart of the lawbreaker and hope in the heart of the law abiding. Since before there was a Texas, there were Rangers. How this elite force officially began is the subject of some controversy. There is no doubt that Stephen F. Austin realized the need to…
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After the battle of San Jacinto, it wasn’t certain just how victorious the Texians were. Several Mexican generals commanded several thousand Mexican troops west of the battleground. Santa Anna indeed ordered them to leave Texas but if they could get resupplied, who knows what could happen? Enter Issac Burton and his horse marines! After failing…
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In 1777 Bernardo de Galvez became governor of Louisiana. As a Spaniard, he was cheering for a colonial victory in the revolution. He made sure supplies made it up the Mississippi to George Washington’s Continental Army. When the Spanish crown authorized Galvez to fight the British, he called on Texas! Galvez turned to Texas to feed…
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181 years ago this week, the Texian Army surprised the Mexican army and won the Battle of San Jacinto. The battle lasted a mere 18 minutes, but its effects changed the world. After the initial 18 minute rout, many of the Texans pursued the fleeing enemy into the bayous and swamps around San Jacinto while…
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We all remember the Alamo, Goliad and San Jacinto but there were many more battles in the Texas revolution than are commonly discussed. A big issue at the time of the Texas revolution was whether to attack Matamoros, Mexico in hopes that federalist sympathizers would join forces with the Texians and achieve glorious victory over…
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When discussing the Texas revolution, the battle of the Alamo, the Goliad massacre and the great victory at San Jacinto get most of the airtime. But there were several other military events in the time period leading up to Texas independence. One of these events was General Jose Mexia’s attack on the Mexican port city…
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Review the battle of San Jacinto. 18 minutes that changed the world.
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After the fall of the Alamo and the massacre at Goliad, times in Texas were uncertain at best. General Sam Houston took the army on a retreat to the east. In this episode learn how the Texian army made it to San Jacinto and some of the side stories and important questions raised during that…
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One of the darkest events in Texas history was the massacre of the Texians at Goliad. Learn stories of deceit, escape and even kindness in the midst of sorrow in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.
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180 years ago, every Alamo defender lost his life. But not everyone who was in the Alamo died. Learn some stories of the folks who survived the battle and a little about the effect of the defeat on the government of the young Republic of Texas.
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In December, 1835, the Mexican army surrendered the major city of Bexar to the rebellious Texans. Learn about the grass fight and the capture of the pots and pans! You’ll also learn about the pivotal role BBQ played in the cause of Texas independence!
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Houston was the capital of Texas, but not for long. After the capital moved to the new town of Austin, President Sam Houston kept trying to move it again…leading to an armed conflict and a cannon fired on Congress Avenue! The only question is whether the war is really over…
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Download this episode and hear the story of the first large battle of the Texas revolution. While the first shots of the Texas revolution were fired at Gonzales, the first larger battle, and the first Texan casualty, was fought near a mission south of present-day San Antonio. This episode takes you back 180 years to…
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Welcome to Wise About Texas, the podcast about Texas history and culture. This introductory episode tells you about the show, the host, and the goals of this podcast. Subscribe to the show and enrich your knowledge of the Texas history stories you know and learn some Texas history you don’t know!
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