San Antonio

A Tejano Treasure

by Bob McCullough

It’s a somewhat-hard-to-find oasis in the shadow of downtown San Antonio, but those who do locate the Casa Navarro State Historic Site enrich themselves with knowledge of an important chapter of the Texas story.

The site celebrates the life and legacy of José Antonio Navarro, a rancher, merchant and one of two native-born Texans to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence. “It’s off the beaten path for most tourists,” said Georgia Ruiz Davis, site manager since 2013. “So, most people either look us up ahead of time and find us on purpose or happen upon us by accident.”

Three bright, white adobe and limestone buildings totaling some 3,500 square feet – the main house, a separate kitchen building and a two-story mercantile – comprise the quarter-acre complex at Nueva and Laredo streets. What really stands out is a colorful ceramic tile mural by noted San Antonio artist Jesse Treviño on the exterior of

SAN ANTONIO

HISTORIC JEWEL

From a modern-day ceramic tile mural to the 1850s adobe and limestone structures and a historic portrait, Casa Navarro celebrates the life and accomplishments of José Antonio Navarro. | Photos Courtesy THC

the south wall.

“Most of our visitors are tourists from somewhere other than San Antonio,” Davis said. “In the winter months, we get visitors from outside Texas. I love it when it’s cold and blustery, and visitors from Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas breeze in like it’s just a crisp fall day.”

The Casa also welcomes school groups, thanks to help from the Friends of Casa Navarro support organization. They provide a bus-fee reimbursement program for local school districts so 4th and 7th graders can tour the site. Drop-in visitors take self-guided tours averaging 45 minutes and including videos in the exhibit areas.

“Of our three structures, the kitchen building is a visitor favorite,” Davis said. “Kids love it because we have a lot of fake food they can play with, and there’s a long table with benches where they can sit and pretend. Just outside the back porch is a garden in which we grow vegetables for use in our educational programs.”

The well-maintained buildings provide peeks into what Navarro’s life may have been like. He’s credited not only with helping Texas gain its independence from Mexico, but also with directly benefitting the lives of other Tejanos, or Texans of Hispanic descent. His former residence offers a further glimpse of the neighborhood that used to exist there – Laredito, or Little Laredo – up through the 1950s.

The transition from residential property to state historic site began in the 1960s when the San Antonio Conservation Society acquired it from a private owner. After much-needed restoration, the Casa opened to the public in 1964. In the mid-1970s, the State of Texas purchased the site and ultimately transferred it to the Texas Historical Commission on Jan. 1, 2008. Casa Navarro earned a Texas State Historic Landmark designation in 1962, a spot on the National Register of historic Places in 1972 and recognition as a National Historic Landmark in 2016.

Casa Navarro, like all public spaces, has faced challenges wrought by the COVID-19 health emergency. It was forced to close not only because of the pandemic, but also due to nearby construction. This includes demolition of the old Bexar County jail to make way for a new federal courthouse and a major restoration project along San Pedro Creek. In the meantime, Casa staffers are creating online webinars and Facebook tutorials for interested “visitors.”

When construction concludes, Casa Navarro might very well see a boost in visitation because it complements other San Antonio historical locales like the five Spanish missions that comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so designated in 2015.

“Casa Navarro is truly an important site, not just because of the contributions made by Navarro,” Davis said. “There are so few structures dedicated to the Tejano experience that Casa Navarro is increasingly important in the experience we offer visitors and the stories we tell.”

DON’T MISS

Visit San Antonio visitsanantonio.com

Casa Navarro 228 S. Laredo St. San Antonio, TX 78207 (210) 226-4801

UNESCO World HeritageSite worldheritagesa.com

Missions National Historical Park nps.gov/saan

AUTHENTIC PERSON

JOHN L. NAU III

CHAMPION OF TEXAS HISTORY

By Margaret Hoogstra

ADVOCATE

PHILANTHROPIST

WORDS

used to describe John L. Nau III include successful business executive, inspiring leader, citizen advocate, collector, philanthropist, conservationist, and tireless champion for historic preservation and the study of history.

Like many transplanted Texans, it took John Nau a few years to get to the Lone Star state. He grew up in the “Land of Lincoln” and has lived in various states including Georgia, Michigan and Missouri; however, in January of 1987 he seized an opportunity and moved from Florida to Houston, Texas. Nau has participated in civic, community, and philanthropic organizations in Houston, Texas and throughout the United States.

Mark Wolfe, executive director of the Texas Historical Commission, states, “Chairman Nau is passionate about history, particularly military history, but he has a true fascination with the story of Texas. You can tell that it inspires him. And it isn’t enough for him to be inspired, he has a sincere desire to share that inspiration with others, particularly with young Texans who can benefit from the stories our historic sites have to tell.”

Opener: Photos courtesy of Troy Myatt, Steven Lyons, Cody Mobley

Below: Photos of Caddo Indian Mounds and Texas Historic Marker courtesy of Troy Myatt

Right: Photo of John Nau interview courtesy of Steven Lyons

Growing up in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, John Nau’s father was a salesman who traveled all over the middle part of the country – and sometimes, Nau was able to accompany his dad. While Nau credits those trips with sparking an interest in American history, he says it was a family trip with a tour of the Perryville Civil War Battlefield in Kentucky that really started his quest to understand American history and especially the Civil War era.

Like many teenagers, a family trip helped determine his choice of college. Nau is a 1968 graduate of the University of Virginia where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history.

Following service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Nau was hired by the Coca Cola Company; thus began the corporate journey with moves from one state to another. Over time, he became known for being able to turn a company around. In 1983, Nau’s professional career had an abrupt change. As he says, “It was a bad experience with a good outcome.” As a result, he went to work for Anheuser-Busch. Within a few years, Nau had the opportunity to purchase a distributorship in Houston. Nau asserts, “It wasn’t just a business decision; it was an opportunity. It was the right thing to do. In January of ’87, I moved from Florida to Texas.”

It took time to become personally steeped in Texas culture and heritage. He states, “The first two to three years, I was immersed in turning the company around. By ’90, I took a deep breath and began to visit places I had read about. Two of them have stuck with me, the Alamo and the San Jacinto battlefield. I got to experience other places and I would say the mix of the culture, the spirit of the individual and the mythology of Texas captivated me.”

Nau also began seeking ways to make a difference. He shares, “The company was doing really well; I had a good team and good people had joined us. Now it was about how am I going to give back to the Houston region and the state of Texas.” Nau says he became aware of “the Puritan Ethic” while at the University of Virginia. “While I don’t believe I could follow the strictness or the lifestyle, the concept of good living and giving back stuck with me. Whether it’s helping people in trouble through the food bank or having the ability to help on the study of elderly brain functions, or in the case of here [serving on the Texas Historical Commission] –giving back was a way of saying thanks and extending appreciation; the Christian ethic is that you give help to those that need help.”

Since that time, John Nau has been giving back to the citizens of Texas in a variety of ways but especially with regard to Texas history, historic preservation and heritage tourism. Now serving in his 22nd year, Nau was appointed to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) in 1993; from 1995 to 2009, he served as the Commission’s chairman. In 2015, Governor Greg Abbott re-appointed him to his current role as THC Chairman.

Describing the impact of Nau’s leadership with the THC, Wolfe says, “Some of our agency’s most impressive, award-winning programs were adopted under John Nau’s leadership. The Texas

Historic Courthouse Preservation Program

and the Texas Heritage Trails Program are probably at the top of that list. Also, we were the first state to create an entire program to erect markers to tell the stories of underrepresented people whose achievements had, for centuries, been swept under the carpet. Chairman Nau made that program [Undertold Markers] a reality. He worked closely with legislative leadership and with our partners at Texas Parks and Wildlife to transfer state historic sites from TPWD to the THC, allowing TPWD to focus attention on natural and recreational parks and allowing THC to take historic places

IF YOU LOOK BACKWARD, YOU’RE GOING TO RUN INTO SOMETHING. YOU’VE GOT TO KEEP LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY – WHAT’S THE OPPORTUNITY? –

to a new level of quality interpretation. Programs throughout the agency have benefited from John’s wisdom and experience.”

Nau concurs that the Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, the Texas Heritage Trails Program and oversight of the State Historic Sites have become the agency’s signature programs. He maintains, “They’re not the only programs that have evolved and grown. Whether you are a university, state agency, a federal agency, or even a big private company, you have to have signature something . . . whether brands, trademarks . . . but in this case programs.”

According to the THC website: Texas has more historic courthouses than any other state—242 are still in active government use. With decades or even centuries of use, most of these structures have significantly deteriorated due to inadequate maintenance, insensitive modifications, or weather-related damage. This nationally recognized and awardwinning program provides partial matching grants, and has turned around the trend of disrepair and begun restoring these treasured historic landmarks. To date, the program has funded 70 Texas courthouse restorations, another 29 courthouses have undertaken emergency or planning work with grant funds, and 25 grants were awarded to update approved preservation Master Plans.

Nau comments: “I became a big fan of courthouses as a kid. Courthouses and state capitols are seats of government. Courthouses are where you register birth, register marriage, and register death. Many people will never leave their county; and in Texas, there are county ties that go back for generations. The individual that put life into this was not me but then-Governor George Bush; that became one of his legacy programs to the state. To the credit of the staff, the integrity of this program is 100%.”

According to the THC website: The THC’s Historic Sites Division oversees 32 historic properties located throughout the state. Staff members provide expertise in archeology, architecture, curation, interpretation, and marketing. The sites range from Native American ceremonial mounds to grand Victorian mansions to sprawling frontier forts.

Nau comments: “At the state level, Texas has an incredible myriad of historic threads. Credit is due especially to the site managers. They are dedicated. They know the history of the site, and they know the local people. There’s a focus on historical accuracy and storytelling. But they need resources and the ability to promote their site as part of a larger narrative. Many times there is a friends group and that support needs to be embraced.

There are several factors that determine if it is appropriate for a particular place to be designated as a state historic site. First, does a site rise to importance at the state level? Then, is there any other place within the state inventory that is telling that story? Even though the state is geographically huge, you can’t eat up all your resources telling just a couple of stories. For example, the Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight House in the Panhandle near Claude is the newest state historic site – it’s a classic prairie house and tells the story of cattleman Charles Goodnight and his wife. Look at the house that was built in the middle of nowhere; the two of them must have been a couple!”

Since 1968 blue and white highway signs have directed the traveler along scenic routes to charming communities and noted historic sites. Established as an economic development initiative, the program encourages local preservation efforts, utilizes partnerships and engages in marketing projects to increase visitation and generate more dollars for Texas communities. This Heritage Trails Program has received national recognition.

Nau shares: “With a possible close second in Massachusetts or Virginia, there’s no other state that has the breadth of history of Texas. It is worth not just protecting, but also helping to communicate. I think if there was one thing over the past 20-some years that has changed, it is that the Commission has

The Texas Historical Commission is composed of 15 members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Members serve overlapping six-year terms; they must be citizens of Texas, and together represent all geographical areas of Texas. The Commission meets quarterly.

Left: Throckmorton County Courthouse, photo courtesy of Authentic Texas

Below: Quanah Parker Trail Marker, photo courtesy of Troy Myatt

Right: Photo of John Nau at Real Places Heritage Travel Conference 2021 gone from having a mindset of just protecting to promoting – to reaching out and embracing the idea that we want people here. Come to the historic sites. Look at the pamphlets. The discussion on creating the Heritage Trails Program really showed me the breadth of knowledge and the real love of state among all the other commissioners at that time. That was our first organized approach in heritage tourism beyond the Alamo. There is a bigger and more noticeable economic impact from heritage tourism in middle- and small-sized towns than in the big cities – the big guys. So that also started us on the combination of preservation and promoting.”

Nau shares, “There’s an old adage that ‘all politics are local’; I would marry that to ‘all history starts locally.’”

He continues, “Advocacy is converting someone’s personal interest and passion into a governmental platform – whether that is your mayor, your county commissioner, state representative or your state senator. Be factbased. Try to deal with dollars and cents; what is the economic impact? How many people came to visit and how many spent the night in hotels or ate in local restaurants? Talk about the educational impact; what’s the number of school kids visiting? Especially kids in the grades where TX history is taught. And this cannot be just a person. There has to be a group. For example, the “friends of the courthouse.”

With regard to visiting THC operated historic sites, Nau recommends, “When you visit a state historic site, if you see areas for improvement – maybe you’ve seen something done differently somewhere else or you wish we had done something differently – make a suggestion. Where there is value and it was worth your time, let us know that as well.”

JOHN NAU HAS SERVED IN CIVIC, COMMUNITY, AND PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS TO INCLUDE:

• National Park Foundation Board of Directors • American Battlefield Trust Board of Directors • Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation

Board of Directors • Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees • Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Board of Trustees • University of Houston Board of Visitors • Honorary Trustee of Texas Heart Institute • Honorary State Trustee of San Antonio Parks Foundation • Director of the Greater Houston Partnership • Advisory Council member to the Center for

Big Bend Studies • Board Member for San Antonio Zoo, Center for Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park, Houston Police

Foundation, and The Admiral Nimitz Foundation. • Honorary Chairman, Steering Committee for the proposed Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area • Founder and President of The Nau Foundation • Chairman of the National Advisory Council on

Historic Preservation, 2001-2010 • Board member of University of Virginia

Board of Visitors, 2011 - 2015

AUTHENTIC THING

SAN JACINTO

THE BATTLE AND THE MONUMENT

by Bill O’Neal

The San Jacinto Monument is a towering tribute to a spectacular military triumph. The Battle of San Jacinto was a landmark in Texas history, an unexpected victory by a revolutionary army of citizensoldiers in retreat who abruptly turned on their pursuers. Regular soldiers commanded by a president-general who styled himself the “Napoleon of the West” were routed by a ragtag militia led by General Sam Houston. With Texas independence thus seized on the field of San Jacinto, it was almost inevitable that a suitably awe-inspiring commemoration would be erected on that same field.

The spring of 1836 was a desperate time for Texas settlers. Since October 1835 there had been armed clashed between “Texians” and the forces of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the dictatorial presidente of Mexico. A Declaration of Independence was signed on March 2, 1836, and Sam Houston affixed his bold signature – by a historical coincidence – on his 43rd birthday. Houston was a former U.S. congressman and governor of Tennessee. He had been a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army for five years, was thrice wounded at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, and served as major general of the Tennessee State Militia.

With his background and formidable presence, Houston was appointed major general of the Texas Army. But on March 6 the Alamo fell to Santa Anna, and every man in the garrison was slain. Three weeks later at Goliad, nearly 400 Texian prisoners were executed on the orders of Santa Anna. He launched his army eastward toward the population of Anglo settlers, who fled toward Louisiana. The “Runaway Scrape” was made worse by incessant rains that flooded every stream.

The volunteers collected by Houston represented the only hope for revolutionary Texas. He found 374 men camped in Gonzales, hoping that someone would lead them to the relief of the Alamo. But the very day of Houston’s arrival, word came of the disaster at the Alamo and that Santa Anna was on the march. Houston had no intention of fighting a large army of regulars with his untrained volunteers. He ordered a night march to the east, the beginning of a strategic retreat that would last for six weeks. Desertions occurred at the beginning and throughout his evasive march. But Houston issued a call for volunteers, with the promise of land grants from the new government, and Texian men responded by the hundreds.

Twice Houston was able to halt his column: for eight days at Beason’s Ford on the Colorado River and for a fortnight at the plantation of Jared Groce on the Brazos River. On both occasions Houston took the opportunity to drill his men, not for parade ground performance, but to make battlefield soldiers of them. Houston knew it was essential for his raw volunteers to be able to advance in lines and fire by volley and execute other battlefield maneuvers. Houston also formed a company of about 40 mounted “spies,” as scouts were called. This band of hard-riding backwoodsmen provided a steady stream of information flowing into headquarters throughout the campaign.

But Santa Anna became contemptuous of his retreating adversary. He split his advancing army into five divisions, hoping that at least one column would make contact with Houston’s army. Of course, this gave Houston the chance to do battle against a single division of an army of thousands.

In mid-April Santa Anna learned that members of the interim Texas government, who were fleeing the Mexican forces, had paused at Harrisburg. The Napoleon of the West hastened forward with 750 men, only to learn that the officials he hoped to capture already had moved on. Notified by his scouts, Houston pounced. He executed a forced march with 1,000 men and the “Twin Sisters,” two 6-pounders that were a gift from the people of Cincinnati and that recently had reached his little army. Almost 200 men fell out during the final night of the push, but by April 20 Houston was in position to intercept Santa Anna’s column.

Houston addressed his army. “Victory is certain, “ he boomed out in closing. “Trust in God and fear not. And remember the Alamo! Remember the Alamo!” The general positioned his men in timber that lined the east bank of Buffalo Bayou. The Twin Sisters were unlimbered and placed at the edge of the oak grove. Early in the afternoon the Mexican column appeared, impressive with uniformed infantry, mounted lancers, and marching music from drums and bugles.

Mexican scouts reported that the Texas Army was in the line of march. Santa Anna positioned his lone artillery piece, a brass 12-pounder, and began to pepper the oak grove with grapeshot. Houston answered with the Twin Sisters, while Col. Sidney Sherman led the “cavalry” – about 60 mounted riflemen – in a probe toward the 12-pounder. But Santa Anna’s lancers charged, and the mounted Texans raced back to cover.

Santa Anna established camp several hundred yards east of the Texian position. Behind his camp was timber and Peggy Lake, surrounded by marsh. To the north was more timber and marsh and the San Jacinto River – all severe impediments to retreat. Santa Anna’s spacious marquee stood in the midst of rows of tents. Fearing that the Texians might launch a dawn attack on April 21, Santa Anna ordered his men to erect a barricade in front of the camp. The soldados spent most of the night arranging supply crates, saddles, and brush into a ramshackle fortification about 5 feet high.

But Houston had stayed up deep into the night discussing the unfamiliar terrain with his scouts, and he

slept late. At mid-morning General Martín to the south. surveyed and purchased, and the San Perfecto de Cos marched his division of Eight Texians died and about two dozen Jacinto Battleground became a new state 550 men into Santa Anna’s camp. Now the were wounded, including Houston, whose park in 1897. Although the Texas Veterans Mexican soldados outnumbered the ankle was shattered by a copper ball. Association disbanded in 1907, the DRT Texians. Houston reported 630 Mexican dead and exerted unrelenting pressure to erect a

At noon on April 21 Houston’s senior 730 captives, including 208 wounded. suitable monument. officers stated their desire to fight on the About 1,100 Mexican weapons, hundreds Jesse H. Jones was a successful builder defensive from the cover of the trees. But of horses and mules, and nearly $12,000 in who was responsible for a majority of the Houston knew that his men were spoiling silver were seized. Houston ordered the big buildings in downtown Houston. He for a fight and that company after compa- money distributed among his men, the only agreed to serve as chairman of the 1936 ny had voted to attack. He ordered an payment the soldiers would receive aside Texas Centennial Celebrations, and a San assault for mid-afternoon. By that time of from land grants. Jacinto Monument became a major part day Santa Anna was convinced there would Santa Anna was captured the next day. of his vision. The design was created by be no Texian attack until the next morning. To avoid lynching he signed a disastrous architect Alfred C. Finn, along with engiSanta Anna’s men had worked through the treaty, acknowledging the independence of neer Robert J. Cummins, who had to solve night on the barricade, while problems posed by a base with the soldados of Cos had a high-water table. Deservedly, marched all night. The the monument was designated Mexican camp settled down for a Historic Civil Engineering a siesta. Landmark in 1992. W.S.

Houston, astride a white Bellows Construction erected stallion named Saracen, the monument. marched his men in columns Fittingly, construction comup the grassy rise toward the enemy camp. Halfway to the On April 21, 1939, menced on the centennial date of the battle, April 21, 1936, camp the columns deployed and the cornerstone was laid into a line of battle 900 yards exactly one year later. On April wide and two ranks deep. The JESSE JONES AND 21, 1939, Jesse Jones and drilling during the strategic retreat now paid off. ANDREW JACKSON HOUSTON, Andrew Jackson Houston, sole surviving son of “Old Sam

Mexican sentries at last SOLE SURVIVING SON OF Jacinto,” dedicated the monuopened fire, and some of the Texians shot back. Houston “OLD SAM JACINTO,” ment. Funding for the $1.5 million project was provided by shouted for a volley, and the DEDICATED the Texas State Legislature and attackers fired in unison at close range. Brigadier General THE MONUMENT. the U.S. Congress. A nonprofit organization, the San Jacinto Manuel Fernández Castrìllon Museum of History Association, was killed. Also killed or has operated the monument wounded were nine Mexican and museum since the colonels, five lieutenant colo- beginning. nels, two majors, 12 captains, The San Jacinto Monument and 13 lieutenants. Leaderless stands just over 567 feet tall, soldados became a disorga- almost 13 feet higher than the nized rabble. Washington Monument. Listed

The Texians charged with a as a National Historical furious battle cry: “Remember the Alamo!” the Republic of Texas, granting enormous Landmark, it is the tallest masonry column With no time to reload, the Texians territorial concessions, and ordering all in the world. The base of the column is 48 clubbed their rifles and wielded Bowie Mexican troops to march back into Mexico. feet square, narrowing to 30 feet square at knives. The Twin Sisters blasted apart the Houston, often called “Old Sam Jacinto,” the observation deck. The octagonal colflimsy barricade. “The conflict in the was elected president of the fledgling umn is topped by a 220-ton, 34-foot high breastwork lasted but a few moments,” Republic of Texas. He later served as U.S. star, emblematic of the Texas Lone Star. In reported Houston, “. . . our riflemen used senator and governor of the Lone Star 1990 the base of the monument was renotheir pieces as war-clubs, breaking many of State. vated to accommodate the San Jacinto them off at the breach.” Such a triumphant feat of arms Museum of History and the 160-seat Jesse

The Mexican encampment was seized demanded commemoration. In 1856, 20 H. Jones Theatre for Texas Studies. On the in less than 20 minutes, but slaughter went years after the famous battle, lobbying west side a reflecting pool, 200 feet wide by on for an hour. Houston and several of his efforts at the state legislature were unsuc- 1,750 feet long, mirrors the entire column. officers tried to halt the killing, but the cessful. During the 1890s the Texas The San Jacinto Monument is a Texasmen were filled with pent-up blood lust. Veterans Association and the newly orga- sized tribute to a monumental victory by Santa Anna, viewing the collapse of his nized Daughters of the Republic of Texas Texas patriots. army, mounted his horse and galloped off (DRT) lobbied further. The battle area was

AUTHENTIC PLACE

REMEMBER THE

ALAMO?

by Alan C. Huffines

“THE ALAMO”, map, Date Unknown; University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History; credit Star of the Republic Museum.

t’s an odd-looking set of buildings. A single story convento and a broken church (it was never a chapel) with a Moorish Taco-Bell façade that is recognizable globally. So much so that the humps have been copyrighted by the current management of the place. But in its plainness, there is beauty and some form of magnetism.

A tragedy occurred here, a sound defeat of the Texian and Tejano defenders courtesy of the soldados of President-General Antonio López de Santa Anna’s Division of the North. Shakespeare couldn’t have imagined it—the descendants of Germano-Celtic Protestants fighting the descendants of Iberio-Celtic Catholics. In a church, on a Sunday and before Mass.

The Alamo is not only history, it is Creation Myth, it is a religion. There are sacred texts, patriarchs, a Trinity, a Madonna and a Christ child. All overcoming a Lesser Satan in the almost anagram: Santa Anna. It also becomes a search for a Holy Land nestled within a David and Goliath framework with Texians and Tejanos garrisoned in their adobe and rock Tabernacle whilst other tribesmen drafted the new God-given Decalogue in Washington Town.

The Alamo is the Last Stand narrative. There are other Last Stands in history: the Hot Gates, Camarón, Wake Island, Masada, Khyber Pass and Saragarhi come to mind and each nation and people are justly proud of their particular sacrifice on the battlefield. But there’s a difference; with few exceptions these Last Stands were fought by professional soldiers who had the unity of esprit, training and duty to bind them. Not so with our Sad Stones of the Alamo where the defenders spake different languages, practiced different religions and had cultures and accents spreading from Rhode Island to the Río Guadalupe at least. Colonists of a decade or less mixed with native-born Tejanos who had no living family memory or experience outside of Texas, and Mexico was further away, in many ways, than the Thirteen Colonies were from Great Britain. The defenders had no commonalty of professionalism, certainly no martial discipline or esprit. The defenders’ connectivity was a reliance upon self, family and non-conformity to tyranny; in their minds, that was Duty and that was enough. Honor was a debt they owed their friends and family—their word. Sacrifice was the very cornerstone of the religion they’d been raised with and it was vital to their sense of self that, if ever cornered, not to back down.

And it is precisely that Duty and resistance to tyranny that Texans celebrate to this day and hopefully into tomorrow. Two years out of twelve of public education are devoted to Texas history, every school child daily Pledges Allegiance to Texas and we name our children Travis (and Austin); we debate endlessly The Line or Crockett’s Last Stand and accuse each other of not being true Texans (horrors!) if one disagrees with the other over such covenants and canon.

Now the Alamo is grudgingly marching into the 21st century and Texans cannot agree on whether to defend it as it is, or significantly recreate the 1836 footprint complete with restoration of buildings, cannon in battery, a gate and a world-class museum. Due to the unfortunate iconoclasm of our time where every statue and historical marker seems at risk, it’s no wonder so many Texans are rightly concerned with all this business to include the proposed movement of the Alamo Cenotaph approximately 500 feet south.

Why do Texans revere the Alamo and how does it relate to the identification of Texas and Texans? Gonzáles was not the hotbed of Anahuac or San Felipe; it was an example of moderation. Green DeWitt had even named the village, in 1825, for the then-governor of Coahuila y Texas. The colonists were determined to be good citizens of their new home. Even when their Sheriff Jesse McCoy was beaten by soldados there were no demands placed on Mexican authorities, other than asking for an apology.

Completing their organization and victualling for the journey, at about 2:00 pm on February 27, the Gonzáles Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers of La Colonia de DeWitt de Coahuila y Texas de Republica Federal de México departed their homes, stock farms and cotton fields for the last time to answer Travis’ call. They had, in essence, “thrown themselves to the bears.”

When a call arrives, circumstances seemingly always provide reasons to excuse oneself—the crop is due, it’s hog killing time, my wife is expecting, Comanches, banditry, thievery and so on. (Banditry and thievery were indeed a most pressing concern. Just the previous November, Courier Smithers had been badly beaten in Gonzales by recent volunteers from “the old states” while defending Susannah Dickenson and her infant daughter.) They had not received a new clarification message from Travis, yet the colonists adopted no “wait and see” attitude. How did they weigh the fear, the risk against the measure of Duty and Honor? They heard the call, saddled up and rode to the sound of the guns.

The example of Gonzales takes away all excuses – an expectant wife, a mother who is blind, teenage boys arguing with their fathers about who should stay and who should go. Those that were soon to become widows or childless encouraged their men to march to the Alamo. The oldest was 44 and the company included four teenagers.

Thirty-two filthy men on filthy horses had answered the call for reinforcements, the only known colony to do so. No generals or great captains rode with them and those in charge had merely been chosen as a first among equals. These men were freemen and not government hirelings set to a task.

They tried for hours in the dark and cold to locate the Alamo, but they were lost in the light mist and cloudy dark and could not determine one set of structures from another. It wasn’t rainy but the high humidity and near freezing temperature produced a dreadful discomfort—feet were unfeeling and thick inside the stirrups and those without gloves, and even those with, could barely control their reins and they were cloaked or coated against the terrible