Sam Houston of Texas

General Sam, victor at the battle of San Jacinto, provoked controversy throughout his life. Like so many charismatic leaders, Sam Houston put his faults and his virtues on public display.

After the fall of the Alamo, Houston led a retreat toward Lousiana. His officers urged him to attack the Mexicans; his men were ready. Houston continued the retreat. Provisional Governor David Burnet ORDERED Houston to fight. He retreated still. He offered no explanations.

Did he know what he was doing? Was he fleeing to Louisiana? Or was he waiting for the moment of San Jacinto? History has no answers.

Burnet resigned rather than inaugurate Houston as the first elected governor of Texas (Houston gave himself the oath of office). His enemies decried Houston’s policies and in particular, his friendship with the Cherokees. But Governor Houston was popular, highly respected.

When the Civil War approached, Houston refused to renounce his U.S. citizenship. Forced out of office, his loyalty questioned, his private life continually under scrutiny, his political enemies rejoiced.

First he was a villain, then a hero, then a villain again.

“Sword of the Alamo,” by Marshall DeBruhl, is the most recent biography of Houson. It’s scholarly but an easy read, detailed, up-to-date, based on recent studies of Texas archives (See my Bookshelf).

However, my favorite Sam Houston book is a novel. “Walk in My Soul,” a story about Taina Rogers, Houston’s Indian wife, offers an enthralling picture of the young Sam Houston.

Houston’s life story is rich, not easily encapsulated. Perhaps he is better captured in fiction, rather than in the archives. I recommend this book highly (on my bookshelf).

(Incidentally – deBruhl’s extensive work gives but a passing mention to Taina Rogers. She isn’t found in his index. Maybe she doesn’t appear in the Texas archives.)

For me, Sam Houston will always be – Richard Dix, the old actor. He played the part in a movie version; it made a major impression on me when I was a child.

Anybody else remember that one?

Comments

[Dac Crossley]

For John Bartlett -- no, you didn't miss anything. I hadn't mentioned Urrera or Fort Lipantitlan or Refugio. Is there anything left of the mission at Refugio? I keep planning to visit Lipantitlan but never seem to get around to it.

Thanks for the note.

dac

[John Bartlett]

DAC
I would recommend "The Magnificent Barbarians" by Bill and Marjorie K. Walraven for those interested in Texas History. While not a highly recognized author he grduated from Texas A & I with a degree in History and Journalism. His book contained many references, letters from various people etc. It was published by the Eakin Press, Austin, Texas. It is a short easy read and contains some very interesting little known facts on the subject. Such as there were 200 "deserters" from the US Army in Louisiana at San Jacinto. Rosters are furnished. They most likely were firing the "twin sisters" that devastated the Mexicans as no body in Houston's Army new any thing about artillery. Also a possible plan with actual correspondence that indicated that Andrew Jackson (name not mentioned) wanted to annex Texas. The plan was for Sam Houston to retreat across the border into Louisiana with the hopes that Santa Anna would be lured after him. At which time the American Army was set to attack Santa Anna who they would claim had created an international incident. Urea was to join Santa Anna at San Jacinto, but was held up crossing a river due to spring flooding. Sana Anna thought he did not need him to handle Houston's "rif raff." The rest as they say was history.

[John Bartlett]

DAC

Very interesting comments of late re. the Texas Revolution. DAC did I miss it or did you omit that the Mexican attack on Texas was a two pronged offense. General Urea came up a route near the coast and recaptured Fort Lipantitlan near present day Agua Dulce, then Refugio before capturing the Texans who had taken La Bahia at Goliad. It was on orders from Santa Anna, who had taken a more central route to San Antonio, that all the prisoners at Goliad were executed. (Except for a few who got away and got the news to San Antonio.)

[Paige]

Can't say I remember Richard Nix, but I do remember later actors who portrayed General Houston. The men from that era were tough, romantic, sensitive, evocative--sort of like Dac--- now I have to go find that movie on Charter-On-Demand.

[Dac Crossley]

Yes, Richard Dix liked those airplane picture roles. He starred in one as the designer of the Spitfire, I remember.

[Larry]

Dac, Excellent bolg on Houston. I, too, remember Richard Dix, but I think I liked him better as the WWI flying ace. Larry