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Post by Bill Manuel on May 31, 2012 15:48:02 GMT -5
Lou I remember seeing that some time ago last year. They were following the route and talked about the freak snow storm and such and found some things in the sand. I wish I had recorded that one also. I bet Jake on here would know about it.. Just a thought.
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 31, 2012 20:12:42 GMT -5
Been doing a lot of route research for Rick Range's upcoming book. There were seemingly three roads from Presidio del Rio Grande to Bexar, but only two of them existed in 1836. The Woll Road (the northernmost) wasn't laid until Woll's march in 1842 and was partly north of present day Highway 90.
The two options available to Santa Anna in February 1836 were known as the "Upper Presidio Road" and the "Lower Presidio Road."
The Upper Presidio Road crossed the Rio Grande at Paquache Crossing N.E. of Guerrero and travelled almost N.E. over what is now almost totally ranch land with no modern roads until it reached Highway 90 at a point about 1.5 to 2 miles west of Loop 1604. It followed 90 and then went straight in when 90 veers south and entered Bexar from the west by the Campo Santo on what is now West Commerce St.
The Lower Presidio Road crossed the Rio Grande S.E. of Guerrero at Paso de Francia and traveled in a more easterly direction, joining the Laredo Road about half way between current Pleasanton and the Medina River crossing. It entered Bexar from the south by the Laredo Road (now Laredo Street).
Santa Anna used the Upper Presidio Road. Richard G. Santos did a wonderful job of pinpointing river crossings and campsites in the notes to his 1967 book Santa Anna's Campaign Against Texas, even giving map coordinates.
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Post by travelintom on Jan 28, 2015 14:49:48 GMT -5
Don't confuse the "Presidios". This is NOT the current town of Presidio, Texas but the route as identified above by Rich Curilla. The presidio of the mission San Juan Bautista is downstream from present day Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras at Guerrero, Mexico. Santa Ana had marshaled his forces at Saltillo which had then been briefly named Leona Vicario. Then north to Monclova and to Guerrero. De la Peña's account details the route.
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Post by Rich Curilla on Jan 29, 2015 11:49:01 GMT -5
Good point travelintom. I have actually seen maps in books connecting Santa Anna's march to the modern town of Presidio. Thanks for clarifying that for others. I'm so used to referring to Presidio del Rio Grande that it never occurs to me it might be confused with Presidio.
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