Post by tjking on Sept 12, 2011 18:58:05 GMT -5
There are number of lesser known engagements outside of the 1836 battles on Texas soil that I have taken great interest in for the light that they shed on the better known Revolutionary engagements.
One of those is the Battle of Medina (August 18, 1813) which has spurred significant bicentenniel attention as that date approaches.
Here is a recent article and video of last months memorial events just south of San Antonio.
www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/State-s-deadliest-battle-remembered-2134154.php
Some of the factors that make this battle significant are:
1. Mexican revolutionaries fighting for independence "invited Americans" to aid them based on a plea that they were pursuing an American style constitutional government and yearned to be free.
2. The Spanish army that slaughtered the Revolutionaries (Republicans) and Americans had just come from capturing and beheading Father Hidalgo near the Rio Grande.
3. A young Santa Ana took part in the massacre.
4. With nearly all Republican and American combatants killed, at 1,300 dead, it ranks as the second highest one day combat death count in North American history (that I know of), only second to Antietam, and clearly the worst one day massacre in the western hemisphere considering the percentage and volume killed.
5. At least one American Revolutionary war veteran took part in the battle.
6. Members of the Kemper family from Louisiana, whose land dispute with heavy handed Spanish officials were participants in the earlier part of the expedition. The Kemper dispute and the Western Florida controversy enflamed Louisianans anger at the Spanish incursions into what they considered American soil bought through the 1803 purchase.
7. Jim Bowie, who was from the same part of Louisiana as many of the Americans would have been acutely aware of the details of the battle and the ongoing Mexican Revolution next door, which may have influenced his participation in the Long Expedition 6 years later, which also considered itself allied with the Republicans who were yet to be victorious over the Spanish.
8. This battle also has several unfortunate occurances of Mexicans inviting Americans to help, but abandoning them or betraying them once the conflict became intense or switching sides.
I think this battle may never rise to the prominence it deserves, but by 2013, I believe increased interest will shed light on the shared sacrifice and comraderie of freedom loving Mexicans and the brotherly love of their American allies that lead to the bloodiest massacre in the Western Hemisphere. I think that same sentiment is why we take interest in the Alamo.
More here:
www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Remember-the-Battle-of-Medina-2081861.php
One of those is the Battle of Medina (August 18, 1813) which has spurred significant bicentenniel attention as that date approaches.
Here is a recent article and video of last months memorial events just south of San Antonio.
www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/State-s-deadliest-battle-remembered-2134154.php
Some of the factors that make this battle significant are:
1. Mexican revolutionaries fighting for independence "invited Americans" to aid them based on a plea that they were pursuing an American style constitutional government and yearned to be free.
2. The Spanish army that slaughtered the Revolutionaries (Republicans) and Americans had just come from capturing and beheading Father Hidalgo near the Rio Grande.
3. A young Santa Ana took part in the massacre.
4. With nearly all Republican and American combatants killed, at 1,300 dead, it ranks as the second highest one day combat death count in North American history (that I know of), only second to Antietam, and clearly the worst one day massacre in the western hemisphere considering the percentage and volume killed.
5. At least one American Revolutionary war veteran took part in the battle.
6. Members of the Kemper family from Louisiana, whose land dispute with heavy handed Spanish officials were participants in the earlier part of the expedition. The Kemper dispute and the Western Florida controversy enflamed Louisianans anger at the Spanish incursions into what they considered American soil bought through the 1803 purchase.
7. Jim Bowie, who was from the same part of Louisiana as many of the Americans would have been acutely aware of the details of the battle and the ongoing Mexican Revolution next door, which may have influenced his participation in the Long Expedition 6 years later, which also considered itself allied with the Republicans who were yet to be victorious over the Spanish.
8. This battle also has several unfortunate occurances of Mexicans inviting Americans to help, but abandoning them or betraying them once the conflict became intense or switching sides.
I think this battle may never rise to the prominence it deserves, but by 2013, I believe increased interest will shed light on the shared sacrifice and comraderie of freedom loving Mexicans and the brotherly love of their American allies that lead to the bloodiest massacre in the Western Hemisphere. I think that same sentiment is why we take interest in the Alamo.
More here:
www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Remember-the-Battle-of-Medina-2081861.php
