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Eagle Lake Remembers
I’ve crossed the old Colorado River Bridge near Beason’s (Beeson’s) Crossing at Columbus many times. The rolling, often muddy river reminds us of our Texas heritage. Benjamin Beason, an original old 300 colonist settled here in 1822. He had a gristmill, sawmill, and cotton gin. His river ferry operation made river crossing possible. Our county was the gateway to the most populated area of Texas at the time, near San Felipe.
It’s no surprise then that Sam Houston, in 1836, and his volunteer army camped here after the Alamo during the Runaway Scrape. They remained on the Colorado River for almost two weeks, opposite the Mexican Army of General Sesma. Houston burned Beason’s Crossing before moving on to the Brazos and San Felipe, as he had done at Gonzales to keep the large Mexican Army from taking supplies.
Who was this Sam Houston? We thought we knew. Most of us are unaware of his remarkable achievements. Did you know that President Andrew Jackson was his personal mentor? Houston’s attorney while in the House of Representatives was lawyer Francis Scott Key, who wrote the Star Spangled Banner.
Sam Houston was the only American elected governor of two states, Tennessee in 1827-1829, and Texas in 1859. He served Tennessee for four years in the US House of Representatives. Houston lived for three years with the Cherokee Indians in Tennessee. He was adopted by them and called “Black Raven.” He served as the tribe’s spokesman to the federal government and wore Cherokee garb to government meetings.
Andrew Jackson sent Sam Houston to Texas to represent Indian interests. He served in the War of 1812. With only 800 men, he defeated Santa Anna’s large army at the Battle of San Jacinto in 18 minutes. Santa Anna granted Texas Independence.
The new country of Texas elected Sam Houston as its first Republic of Texas President in a landslide vote. Houston, Texas was named for him, and was capital of the Lone Star Republic. Houston opposed the secession of Texas from the Union. He opposed the spread of slavery.
Houston served in the US Senate for 13 years and was an advocate of the Union. He was the only Southern governor to oppose secession before the Civil War. When he failed to swear allegiance to the Confederate States, the Texas legislature replaced him with a pro-Confederacy lieutenant governor. He was made a Union offer to fight against the Confederate rebels. Instead, he refused, and retired to Huntsville, Texas where he died. Sam Houston was a remarkable Texan and man. (1793-1863)
