Remember the Alamo

Eagle Lake Remembers

We brought out the barbecue grills, the coolers, and above all, raised the Texas Flag. It was March 2 in Texas! Texas Independence Day! Remember the Alamo” and think back to 1836. Only a short time had passed since the first settlers came with Stephen F. Austin’s old 300 to begin settling the vast lands awarded to them by Mexico. Soon they wanted freedom from Mexico.

Life had been a challenge during the first years for colonists with Indian assaults, difficult work,and frequent disagreements with Mexico. Santa Anna became a Mexican dictator in 1834, and in a mere two years Austin’s followers decided to declare freedom from Mexico and their encroachments by writing and signing a Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836.

In the small village of Washington-on-the-Brazos, in a primitive wooden building, 59 representatives from the new settlements gathered and voted for Independence from Mexico. David Burnett was named interim president and Sam Houston became Texas Military Leader. While the Constitution was signed on March 2, 1836, freedom from Mexico was far from over.

The Alamo battle was still raging with Santa Anna’s 3000 troops against 185 Texas defenders.

The Alamo was taken by Mexico on March 6, 1836 just four days after the Constitution was signed. The Runaway Scrape began with many Texians fleeing their homes for the U.S. border. Our Colorado County Dilue Rose Harris wrote her reminiscences of it in Eagle Lake.

Six-weeks later, still under siege, Sam Houston led the embattled Texians to defeat Santa Anna and his troops at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. It was a resounding 18-minute battle with few Texas casualties. Santa Anna was captured a day later by at least two Colorado County men. Mexico declared defeat, and the new Texas Constitution was recognized.

For nearly a decade Texas remained the Independent Republic of Texas flying its own flag. Even today it is the only state allowed to fly its flag at the same level as the American flag, having been a Republic. In 1845, Texas joined the Union as the 28th state in the United States.

Happy Birthday Texas! Long may you live.

Texas Flag Pledge

Honor the Texas Flag, I pledge allegiance to thee; Texas, one state under God, one and Indivisible.