Texas Our Texas

On December 29, 1845 (164 years ago), Texas officially became the 28th state of the United States of America. In celebration of this remarkable event in history, we will examine the testimony of a true Texas patriot, Sam Houston.

In his youth Houston moved with his family to a farm in rural Tennessee after the death of his father in 1807. A rebel in spirit, he ran away in his mid-teens and lived for nearly three years with the Cherokee Indians in eastern Tennessee, where he took the name Black Raven and learned the native language, skills, and customs. Houston thus developed a rapport with the Indians that was unique for his day.

In 1812 Houston reported to a training camp in Knoxville, Tennessee, and enlisted in the 7th Regiment of Infantry to fight the British in the War of 1812. By December of that year, he had risen from private to third lieutenant. At the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in March 1814, he was wounded in the thigh by a Creek arrow. His wound was bandaged, and he rejoined the fight. When Andrew Jackson called on volunteers to dislodge a group of Red Sticks from their breastworks (fortifications), Houston volunteered, but during the assault, he was struck by bullets in the shoulder and arm. He returned to Knoxville as a disabled veteran, but later took the army's offer of free surgery and convalesced in a New Orleans, Louisiana, hospital.[4] Houston became close to Jackson. In 1817 he was appointed sub-agent in managing the business relating to the removal of the Cherokees from East Tennessee to a reservation in what is now Arkansas, but he was offended at a rebuke from John C. Calhoun, then secretary of war, for appearing before him in Native American garments, as well as at an inquiry into charges affecting his official integrity, and he resigned in 1818.

He then returned to Nashville to practice law and from 1823 to 1827 served as a U.S. congressman. He was elected governor of Tennessee in 1827. After a brief unsuccessful marriage to Eliza Allen in 1829, he resigned his office; he again sought refuge among the Cherokee and was formally adopted into the tribe. His alleged drunkenness and abandonment of his office, and wife, caused a rift with his mentor Andrew Jackson, which would not be healed for several years.

In 1830 and again in 1832 he visited Washington to expose the frauds practiced upon the Cherokees by government agents.[5] While Houston was in Washington in April 1832, Anti-Jacksonian Congressman William Stanbery made accusations about Houston in a speech on the floor of Congress. Infuriated, Houston later confronted Stanbery on Pennsylvania Avenue and beat him with a hickory cane. Stanbery did manage to draw one of his pistols, place it at Houston's chest, and pull the trigger—the gun misfired.

On April 17 Congress ordered the arrest of Houston, who pleaded self-defense, and hired Francis Scott Key as his lawyer. Houston was found guilty, but thanks to high-placed friends he was only lightly reprimanded. Houston was found liable in civil court and was fined $500, but Houston did not pay it and left the country. This incident promoted his reputation as an unruly drunkard, womanizer, and brawler.

The publicity surrounding the trial resurrected Houston's unfavorable political reputation, and Houston made plans to go to Texas. His time in Texas was characterized by heavy drinking and boisterous behavior. Houston's arrival in Texas coincided with the heated contest between U.S. settlers and Mexicans for control of the area. He established a home there by 1833, and he quickly emerged as one of the settlers' main leaders. Houston attended the Convention of 1833 as representative for Nacogdoches, and also attended the Consultation of 1835. He was then made a Major General of the Texas Army in November 1835, then Commander-in-Chief in March 1836, at the convention which met at Washington-on-the-Brazos to declare Texan Independence.

On March 2, 1836, his 43rd birthday, Houston signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. He soon joined his volunteer army at Gonzales, but was shortly forced to retreat in the face of the superior forces of Mexican General (and dictator) Antonio López de Santa Anna, whose soldiers killed all those at The Alamo Mission at the conclusion of the Battle of the Alamo on March 6.

At the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, however, Houston surprised Santa Anna and the Mexican forces during their afternoon siesta. In less than 18 minutes, the battle was over. Badly beaten, Santa Anna was forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco, granting Texas independence.

Houston served two terms as President of the Republic of Texas, and he was influential in gaining the admission of Texas to the United States in 1845. Houston was elected one of the new state's first two senators, serving as a Union Democrat from 1846 to 1859. His views on the preservation of the union were unpopular with the Texas legislature, however, and on the eve of the Civil War he was not reelected—although he was chosen governor once more in 1859. In this position he tried unsuccessfully to prevent the secession of his state in 1861, and upon his refusal to swear allegiance to the Confederacy, he was declared deposed from office in March.

On May 9, 1840 , Houston married Margaret Moffette Lea, with whom he had eight children. This marriage was more successful and she had a very positive effect on Houston. Under her influence he gradually began to take interest in religion, and was able to quit drinking. In 1854, Houston, having earlier made a profession of Christian faith, was baptized by the Baptist minister, Rufus C. Burleson. At the time Burleson was the pastor of the Independence, Texas, Baptist Church which Houston and his wife attended.
He lived at home in Huntsville, Texas until he died of tuberculosis on July 26, 1863. The inscription on his tomb reads:
A Brave Soldier. A Fearless Statesman.
A Great Orator– A Pure Patriot.
A Faithful Friend, A Loyal Citizen.
A Devoted Husband and Father.
A Consistent Christian– An Honest Man.

Sam Houston was a remarkable man. A rebel and fighter in his early days, he also had the courage and leadership ability to begin his rise to power. But on his own, he was unable to hold his life together, and suffered a midlife crisis that would push him to Texas. There he was a decisive and intelligent leader and general, securing Texas’ independence and helping to stabilize the new country afterward. There, also, he’d find salvation and freedom from alcohol in Christianity. Houston has become a hero that looms large over the history of Texas.

Sources: Wikipedia, Hyperhistory.net, Biography.com