New Texas History Movies
THE VOTERS OF TEXAS GAVE THEIR APPROVAL TO ANNEXATION, AND ON FEBRUARY 19, 1846,
ANSON JONES PROCLAIMED THAT THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS WAS NO MORE
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KSON.
INTRODUCTION
A e x JA e x s O N ("Jaxon") left us a rich legacy of both art and historical writing.
The academic community lauded his award-winning scholarly works, but a wider
public marveled at his series of cartoon histories of Texas. There, Jackson married his
intricate pen-and-ink graphics with painstaking historical research to create compelling
historical narratives about Comanches,Tejanos, and even un-Reconstructed Anglo racists.
Jackson had nurtured the idea of the cartoon history since he first read the classic
Texas History Movies as a schoolboy in South Texas. Though he disliked their cultural
biases and racial stereotyping, he understood both the popular appeal and the narrative
power of that medium. One critical analysis of comic books as history places Jackson
among those artists who have developed the comic book from escapist entertainment to
a new medium of visual and literary expression embracing serious historical themes, such
as the clash of cultures in the American Southwest. "Jackson's achievement is to write
narratives in the sequential art medium which introduce to the culture at large previously
marginalized figures of American history."'
Jack Jackson died in June 20o6. In his last work he revisited the old Texas History
Movies and, despite the muscular degeneration of his hands, painstakingly recreated the
cartoon history of Texas the way he always envisioned it: balanced and fair, warts and all,
artfully drawn, and eminently readable. New Texas History Movies is a fitting testament to
a life filled with art and history, and Jackson's final gift to us all.
_X~ L-'w
Center for American History
University of Texas at Austin
'Joseph Witek, Comic Books as History: The Narrative Art ofjack Jackson, Art Spiegelman, and Harvey Pekar
(Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi, 1939), 61.
HE MADE LANDFALL IN THE BAHAMAS, THINKING HE HAD REACHED THE RICH
SPICE ISLANDS OF ASIA.
...in the
IN FOURTEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY TWO, 3 f name of Isabella of -
j COLUMBUS SAILED THE OCEAN BLUE. r 1 Castile and Ferdinand s of Aragon. f \
If the earth is p ~
round, f can reach; > f C
' the east by heading
west.
CUBA AND HAITI WEREALSO DISCOVERED ON THIS VOYAGE.
w!.
want these pew
so don't cheat
~r be friendly to us, y
I G them while trading. r
_."~r+-tea L~ -
THIS WAS A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA,
NOT ACCEPTED AT THE TIME. - `
N,
IN 1493 COLUMBUS RETURNED TO SPAIN WITH but I've brought back
SOME EXOTIC ITEMS BUT LITTLE GOLD. Then why have you
brought back only a handful to these Indians to learn our lan
Haiti has many gold mines. your royal sovereigns? guage, to serve as interpreters
It is near another island where there Majesty, it on my return voyage.
is gold without limit. _ I would have taken me
50 years to explore
%44 all the twandS 1
il~ ~1~ discovered. 11r
I.
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{ IN 1500 COLUMBUS WAS _ HE LOST FAVOR AT COURT BUT WAS PERMITTE THE AGING ADMIRAL HOPED TO REGAIN HIS REPU-
ARRESTED BYA NEW TO MAKE ONE LAST VOYAGE IN 1502, MOSTLY T " TATION BY MAKING A MAJOR DISCOVERY BUT
GOVERNOR AND SENT BACK BE RID OF HIS CONSTANT DEMANDS. - FAILED IN THE ATTEMPT. HE DIED 4 YEARS LATER.
I _ TO SPAIN TO FACE CHARGES
SUCH AS ENSLAVING THE There must
INDIANS. Tell him he must not - be a strait that
P bring back any slaves! leads to the Orient
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OTHER SPANIARDS FOLLOWED COLUMBUS'S LEAD. IN 1519 HERNAN CORTES LANDED AN ARMY ON
THE MAINLAND OF MEXICO NEAR MODERN VERACRUZ,
CORTES MADE ALLIES WITH THE HELP OF LA
MALINCHE, A NATIVE WOMAN.
Sink Many
the ships so there tribes hate the
Y'
Aztecs.
will be no turning
back. ~ r
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BY 1525 ALL EUROPE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE
THE AZTECS HAD ALL THE GOLD THAT COLUMBUS HAD HOPED TO FIND BUT MISSED. WITH HIS TREASURES OF THE NEW WORLD.
INDIAN ALLIES, CORTES CONQUERED MEXICO CITY TWO YEARS LATER. Well
They what are we
eat off plates waiting for?
of solid gold!
Look at that! Grander than the cities
back home.
IN
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TWO OF THEIR BARGES WERE WRECKED NEAR KARANKAWA INDIANS TRIED TO HELP THE STARVING
THE NARVAEZ EXPEDITION OF 1528 REACHED FLORIDA GALVESTON ISLAND AND MOST OF THE SURVIVORS, ONE OF WHOM WAS CABEZA DE VACA.
BUT MET WITH DISASTER SURVRVORS TRIED TO SPANIARDS DIED.
ESCAPE BY WAT.
We'll Our Eat! Sardine
skirt the coast 7 tr € tasty.
r ~ line to Mexico. prospects are
'r S~ C II not good.
51P_ ~
CABEZA DE VACA LIVED AND TRADED WITH THE HE GAINED A REPUTATION AMONG THEM AS A FINALLY, IN 1536 CABEZA DE VAC R
A AND COM~ANIONS
REA TEXAS INDIANS FOR OVER SIX YEARS. HEALER OF THE SICK AND INJURED. SEVERAL SPANIARDS NEAR THE WEST COAST.
Now here's a great
deal for you. - ¢ What?
~ ` h~„ f~;,t l Are you men like us?
5 el,
i11 f _ y0
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2
CABEZA DE VACA WAS THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO ALTHOUGH GOLD WAS ALWAYS THE OBJECT SOUGHT, RICH SILVER STRIKES CAUSED
WRITE ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES
N TEXAS. THE SPANIARDS TO PLANT SETTLEMENTS NORTH OF MEXICO CITY
I W - -
7 r
There's plenty
Yeah but don't ' more where this
ask me to go back came from. Jr
there. I/ °n - i ~x r ~4 4
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RUMORS OF GREATER RICHES PUSHED THEM EVER FRANCISCO VAZQUEZ DE CORONADO SET OUT IN
NORTHWARD TOWARD THE SEVEN CITIES OF CIBOLA. Tell us what 1540 TO FIND THIS WEALTH. ONE OF HIS SCOUT
- you saw Fray - ING PARTIES SAW THE GRAND CANYON.
Amazing, Marcos.
isn't it? 5 At sunset the
Yes, and it's the city gleamed like \
smallest of the Seven gold. Quite a drop
Cities. ) from here.
C
NEAR ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, CORONADO
MET AN INDIAN WHO CLAIMED TO KNOW ABOUT CORONADO FOLLOWED THE TURK EASTWARD
THE RICHES OF HIS BIRTHPLACE, QUIVIRA. ACROSS THE TEXAS PANHANDLE TOWARD KANSAS. BUT THE EXPEDITION FOUND NO GOLD, JUST
ENDLESS PLAINS AND HOSTILE INDIANS.
i y
They store their
r, corn in giant bowls
made out of gold You tricked me.
Admit it!
Just a little
further. K. ,x
Really. s
4 9
d' mot,
AT THE SAME TIME THAT CORONADO WAS TRAVELING EAST, PART OF HERNANDO DE SOTO'S FREACHED CAMPAIGN, LED BY LUIS DE MOSCOSO,
EXPEDITION WAS WORKING ITS WAY WEST FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE CADDOAN TRIBES OF EAST TEXAS
//y > > BEFORE TURNING BACK.
Mexico must be some He a
where in this direction. says the Indians
south of here don't \
grow corn and are
a r u very warlike.
~N ~ 11
3
APART FROM THESE BRIEF VISITS, THE INDIANS OF TEXAS WERE LEFT PRETTY THE KARANKA WAS WERE MASTERS OF THEIR COASTAL HABITAT.
MUCH TO THEMSELVES FOR THE NEXT 150 YEARS. THE APACHES CONTINUED THEY PLUNDERED WRECKED VESSELS WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HUNT BUFFALO ON FOOT. PRESENTED ITSELF.
All we need now A
is the horse. (7
r
u r Alligator grease keeps
r off the mosquitoes.
lh6tldi \
41
,rrT - ka`- ~tl6W,i -«"J'.` ...+v+~•- i" i,'SUf'~~y II - _
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THE SOUTH TEXAS TRIBES, COMPOSED OF THE WANDERING PLAINS TRIBES CARRIED ON A BRISK TRADE WITH THE SETTLED AGRICULTURAL
VARIOUS GROUPS AND GENERALLY CALLED TRIBES OF EAST TEXAS.
COAHUILTECANS, LIVED MUCH AS THEY HAD
IN CABEZA DE VACA'S TIME.
r I i ; ~ Oka Seven I'll throw in a
I I. I buffalo y
7a um km, how's that?
obes for one lousy .
i• _ ~ ~ rr r p p
Well, this is the last I ,I. u l , dill fug? C'mon!
of the mesquite bean
casserole. I know! Let's
go visit Kwachi and
> a see if the pecans
11W H
SAl are ripe yet.
THE JUMANOS ALONG THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE WALLS OF CAVES WERE OFTEN PAINTED WITH RELIGIOUS ART, SEEKING
BUILT ADOBE HOUSES AND RAISED CORN, BEANS,
AND SQUASH SUCCESSFUL HUNTS FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD.
. ,
Eat your You got his
vegetables, my horns way too bah!
momma always small!! '
said. Yeah, he was
a 12-pointer at
v E I, 71 least!
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MEANWHILE, TREASURE SHIPS REGULARLY THIS UPSET THE FRENCH SUN KING, LOUIS XIV, WHO THE BRAINS BEHIND THE SCHEME WAS SIEUR DE LA
SAILED TO SPAIN FROM MEXICO. DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A COLONY ON THE LOWER SALLE, WHO HAD FLOATED ALL THE WAY DOWNRIVER
MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN 1684. FROM CANADA TWO YEARS EARLIER.
Yo ho ho It's not fair for Spain to hog See. From the
and a bottle of all the gold and silver in Not fair at river's mouth it's only
rum. ~ America! a short trip to the rich My, that
jN? all, Your Spanish mines. is close.
Majesty! I
_ is1 = - ~ _ { ~ 11 i
4
d
LA SALLE THOUGHT THAT THE MISSISSIPPI ENTERED THE GULF RIGHT NEXT
TO THE RIO GRANDE. SO HE WENT ASHORE AT MATAGORDA BAY,
FIGURING IT WAS THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA,
Is this the place? AND HIS SHIPS SAILED BACK TO FRANCE.
Definitely -I'd recog- l
Build a stockad70-i
nize it anywhere. - and some cabinover there while I 24
find the river.
Y / / ,~ltw J
= P;11TT DIDN'T TAKE LA SALLE LONG TO
THUS BEG THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF EUROPEANS IN TEXAS.`- REALIZE THAT HE WAS LOST
ii There it is!
No! No! It's much
bigger than that,
much bigger!
1 i, H11 ~ RI' ~ ~C ~
1 ll 1 - .4i. /
Ass"
ON ONE OF THESE EXPLORATIONS, LA SALLE
WHILE LA SALLE LOOKED FOR THE WAS KILLED NEAR THE BRAZOS RIVER BY SOME THE INDIANS FINISHED OFF WHAT WAS
MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI, SO HE COULD OF HIS MEN. LEFT OF HIS PITIFUL COLONY, BUT A
REACH CANADA AND GET HELP, HIS FEW PEOPLE MANAGED TO SURVIVE.
COLONISTS SUFFERED FROM SICKNESS Now we're in a No worse off
AND STARVATION. real mess! than before. T =
- Boy, go
Hmm...this road ~J fetch some -
isn't on the map. firewood.
yessum.
-40
7
WORD OF LA "AAA DARING VENTURE SOON INDIAN GUIDES WERE USED ON THE FIRST SPANISH ATTEMPTS TO
REACHED OFFICIALS IN NEW SPAIN, AS LOCATE THE FRENCH IN THE UNCHARTED WILDERNESS. Are we
MEXICO WAS CALLED IN THOSE DAYS. lost, or
Don't worry. I've been to what?
The nerve of those th' coast a bunch of times 4
Frenchmen, trying to
steal our land gain' down this way.'
.
~IY11 Let's kick ylap L,
t out!
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ON HIS FOURTH EXPEDITION IN 1689, GEN. ALONSO DE LEON FINALLY FOUND THE FRENCH FORT. TWO FRENCH YOUTHS WERE RECOVERED FROM
THE INDIANS.
s
Not much to see after all t~
We've heard
our tramping around in th'
brush. about others.
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DE LEON CAME BACK A YEAR LATER, TO BURN WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE RUINS. THEN HE WENT FURTHER MORE FRENCH CAPTIVES WERE RESCUED FROM
NORTH, TO THE NECHES RIVER, AND ESTABLISHED A MISSION FOR THE CADDO INDIANS. THE INDIANS ON THIS 1690 EXPEDITION.
ss, 41
Techas! I think the word
means 'friends,' Your
i Techas!! _
Grace. Host, ~ Robert, how ~
you've grown!
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BUT THIS MISSION, AND OTHERS SOON THE CADDOAN GROUPS REFUSED TO SICKNESS AMONG THE INDIANS AND
FOUNDED IN EAST TEXAS, DID NOT PROSPER. ABANDON THEIR FIELDS AND RESETTLE NEAR OTHER DIFFICULTIES SOON CAUSED THE
THE MISSIONS. MISSIONARIES TO WITHDRAW.
You must
change your Bury the bells until
agar ways. And we're y
happy with our we can make
own religion, another try.
l p thank you.
r
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WHEN THE EAST TEXAS MISSIONS WERE CLOSED IN THEN, IN 1714, A YOUNG FRENCHMAN NAMED WHILEAT SAN JUAN BAUTISTA ON THE RIO GRANDE,
1693, THE KING'S HIGHWAY GREW UP WITH WEEDS SAINT-DENIS CAME DOWN THE TRAIL FROM SAINT-DENTS FELL IN LOVE.
AND STAYED THAT WAY FOR TWENTY YEARS. LOUISIANA TO TRADE WITH THE SPANIARDS. Oh, wonderous
one, where have Waiting for
Hard to tell l sure miss that f l see you been all my You to show
where it came T life? up, my prince.
candy the priests miles an' miles
thru here. used to give us. of Tex S,,7
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CONDUCTED TO MEXICO CITY, SAINT-DENIS WAS
QUESTIONED CLOSELYAND GAVE THE RIGHT AFRAID THAT OTHER BOLD FRENCHMEN SAN ANTONIO WAS FOUNDED IN 1718 AS A WAY-
ANSWERS WOULD FOLLOW SAINT-DENIS'S TRACKS, STATION ON THE ROAD BACK TO NACOGDOCHES.
SPAIN DECIDED TO REOCCUPY EAST TEXAS.
This'll be a _
All these Indians This time we'll leave I big city you
think so?
want the missionaries to not only priests but p someday.
return. soldiers too. III i~;
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e~
THREE YEARS LATER A NEW GOVERNOR, THE MARQUES DE AGUAYO, EXTENDED THE KING'S HIGHWAY THIS PRESIDIO AT LOS ADAES (PRESENT ROBELINE,
ON EASTWARD TO THE LOUISIANA BORDER, WHERE HE BUILT A STRONG FORT. LA.) WAS THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS FOR FIFTY YEARS
AND THE END OF THE LINE FOR PEOPLE TRAVELING
UP THE CAMINO REAL FROM MEXICO.
,ti.; ; d We can keep an eye
4~1 2-
on those cra Frenchmen
fromftyere. Yeah, but
~ ~ 'shows up.
MM r
/ ✓ _ _
IN 1731 THE KING SENT A FEW FAMILIES FROM THE THE FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES HAD = - - - _
CANARY ISLANDS TO SETTLE IN TEXAS. THEY THEIR GREATEST SUCCESS AT SAN
STOPPED IN SAN ANTONIO AND FOUNDED A VILLA ANTONIO, WHERE FIVE MISSIONS o
(TOWN) NEXT TO THE PRESIDIO. FLOURISHED.
&141-- - Ell
M %I%I I it,rl II~W1
This is the middle of
nowhere. 'r 1Lr to Ppr.g -
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~--~'`,~,s •y'~~(~'~~ / ~ / i Al . 'i 1 Z 1 { 1
THEY TAUGHT THEIR INDIAN CONVERTS HOW TO RAISE y
CATTLE.
-N-owpeople will \ Hiyah!
know who this calf THE MISSION VAQUEROS (COWBOYS) -
belongs to-you! KEPT THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS
SUPPLIED WITH BEEF.
tit", Jot
7
THEIR HERDS INCREASED RAPIDLYANO SOON WERE SO LARGE THAT THE MISSIONARIES MARKED THEIR LANDS
NOT ALL COULD BE BRANDED; THE OTHERS RAN WILD. WITH BOUNDARY STONES SO RUSTLERS
COULDN'T PLEAD IGNORANCE.
We
need lots of pasture Our
land 'cause we own lots ranch runs this far down
of cows. th'road, right, Father?
APACHES SOMETIMES RAIDED THE MISSION HERDS OF LIVESTOCK.
AFTERA PEACE TREATY WITH THEAPACHES IN 1749, PRI-
VATE RANCHERS BEGAN TO COMPETE WITH THE MISSIONS.
lr" My ranch is =
I 1 fdownriver, right next
to the mission's
pasture...
heh heh
iii/~~ ~ \~~''Y fln. 1's..G~ i y r, -
L~__THESPANIARDS PLACED A PRESIDIO AND MISSION FOR THE
APACHES ON THE SAN SABA RIVER IN 1757 -4/
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IT CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE COMANCHES AND OTHER
NATIONS OF THE NORTH. WHEN THE ATTACK CAME, THERE WERE
FEW SURVIVORS.
'
You are sheltering our
Ak 2)
sworn enemies.
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8
TO PUNISH THESE TRIBES FOR DESTROYING THE MISSION, CAPT. PARRILLA MARCHED NORTH IN AUGUST 1759 WITH AN ARMY OF OVER 500
MEN-THE LARGEST EXPEDITION SINCE CORONADO'S DAY. WITH HIM RODE SOME APACHE ALLIES.
AT THE BRAZOS RIVER HE NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS VICTORY'
j STRUCKA TONKAWA VILLAGE, PARRILLA PRESSED ON, 200
TAKING MANY CAPTIVES. C - LEAGUES INTO NOWHERE.
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o ate- ~ •-J' , i - , .
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BY MID-OCTOBER HE REACHED THE RED RIVER AND BEHELD A STARTLING SIGHT NO LITTLE HIDE-COVERED CAMP BUT A REAL FORTRESS,
SURROUNDED BYA MOAT AND FLYING THE FRENCH FLAG! NEARBY THE COMANCHES WERE CAMPED.
~ - it X / ~
J~l ~N ~~tgfl~I!~r
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'All 4
e ~rf Ap I'' 1 IMQ
Q , lip ~ y ii -
fill
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114
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1
TIMEAND AGAIN THE SPANISH SOLDIERS CHARGED THOSE STOUT WALLS, ALWAYS WITH THE SAME RESULT.
WICHITA WARRIORS RAINED DEATH DOWN ON
THEM WHILE DRUMS AND FIFES PLAYED MERRILY.
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THE SPANIARDS WERE FLUNG BACK, AND ONLY DARKNESS SAVED THEM FROM BEING WIPED OUT EMBOLDENED BY THIS VICTORY, THE
COMANCHES PUSHED THE APACHES SOUTH,
Back men, OUT OF THEIR BISON RANGE
into the woods! ° C:z'_
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1
CONSTANT INDIAN RAIDS KEPT TEXAS FROM
DEVELOPING IN THE COLONIAL ERA. AFTER SPAIN DECLARED WAR AGAINST ENGLAND IN 1779, THE RANCHERS
OF TEXAS WERE ALLOWED TO TAKE HERDS OF CATTLE TO LOUISIANA.
Look
I'm doing this at out Opelousas, here
the risk of my life. ( ~ ✓ we come..
w-/,. %I 1 IfM• 41~ 9 / Iv Tr ; .~1~ J1~• llP6>- _
, :`Yy, _ ~ t ~Th"`"4 ' '~t/1r!/'. `(J~ /j~~~7~~~1 '•Y ~ ~ rr r ~ ~V lt`,~.
THIS TRADE WAS HARD TO STOP IN LATER D
YEARS, AND SMUGGLING BECAME ENIED LEGAL TRADE WITH LOUISIANA, THE GOODS AT SALTILLO WERE SCARCEAND VERY COMMON. CITIZENS OF TEXAS HAD TO TRAVEL THE LONG EXPENSIVE, COMPARED TO THOSE AVAILABLE IN
AND DANGEROUS ROUTE TO SALTILLO.
LOUISIANA.
Somebody took a big
herd through here It takes a month
last night. to get there from San Oh my chin' feet.
Antonio.
10
i
HERDS L. WILD HORSES MULTIPLIED IN TEXAS, ATTRACTING AMERICANS LIKE- NOLAN WAS SURROUNDED BY SPANISH TROOPS
PHILIP NOLAN. AT A HORSE CORRAL NEAR THE BRAZOS RIVER,
AND A BATTLE ENSUED IN WHICH HE
WAS KILLED.
Horses bring a lot of money
in Natchez and New Orleans
these days.
t
NOLAN'S DEATH IN 1801 DIDN'T DO MUCH TO STEM NOLAN'S MEN WERE MADE PRISONERS AND THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE OF 1803 MADE THE
THE FLOW OFAMERICANS PUSHING WESTWARD. SENT TO CHIHUAHUA. ONE OF THEM WAS SPANIARDS EVEN MOREANXIQUS ABOUT PRO-
YOUNG PETER ELLIS BEAN. TECTING THEIR EXPOSED TEXAS FRONTIER.
/That's the That's what, They haven't heard the Jefferson claims that
end of that! think
last of me. Louisiana goes all the way to
the Rio Grande.
W, What?! That's
-.7 outrageous!
f 4 /7` M ~,ih q- w 4I a
A DEAL WAS STRUCK BETWEEN OPPOSING
WAR ALMOST BROKE OUT BECAUSE SPAIN AND THE UNITED GENERALS IN 1806.
STATES COULDN'T AGREE ON THEIR NEW BOUNDARY LINE.
Q You're trespassing! Get off No use of as 1 couldn't agree
our land! fighting. more.
t, 'A
of ~ - C&A
IN RESPONSE TO THE THREAT TWO NEW
EVERYTHING BETWEEN THE RED RIVER AND THE SABINE WAS DECLARED A NEUTRAL GROUND, OR SETTLEMENTS WERE FOUNDED ON THE CAMINO
NO-MAN'S LAND, UNTIL DIPLOMATS COULD SETTLE THE QUESTION. TRAVEL BECAME DANGEROUS. REAL-AT THE SAN MARCOS AND TRINITY RIVER
CROSSINGS. IT WAS TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.
Your money or
your life! c3`~- ` _y If we don't
occupy Texas the
II I r 1 `z Americans will.
THE COMANCHES RAN THE SETTLERS OUT OF SAN SEVERAL YEARS LATER AN ARMY OF FILIBUSTERS RODE INTO NACOGDOCHES FROM LOUISIANA.
MARCOS DE NEVE, AND TRINIDAD DE SALCEDO
NEVER AMOUNTED TO MUCH. Where's th' Spaniards? _
We should've - They hightailed it to r
_ stayed home. San Ant n
aul
THE MURDER OF GOV SALCEDO AND HIS OFFICERS
GUTIERREZAND MAGEE, THE EXPEDITION'S LEADERS, TURNED THEAMERICAN VOLUNTEERS AGAINST
DECLARED TEXAS A REPUBLIC WHEN THEY REACHED NEXT THEY TOOK LA BAHIA (GOLIAD) AND GUTIERREZ. HE WAS REPLACED BY TOLEDO.
THE DESERTED TRINITY OUTPOST. HEADED FOR OLD SAN ANTONIO. _
Killing prisoners of
This is a = - war is bad business.
Long live the piece of cake.
Republic of the
North.
-Am
BUT A SPANISH ARMY UNDER GEN. JOAQUIN DE / TOLEDO LED HIS TROOPS SOUTH TO MEET THEM.
ARREDONDO QUICKLY MARCHED UP FROM LAREDO. I'll teach them a
lesson they won't
forget. We need a
victory bad.
771
_Az
HIS CANNON GOT STUCK IN DEEP SAND BEFORE AT A BATTLE BELOW THE MEDINA RIVER ARREDONDO DEALT THE REBELS A SMASHING BLOW
REACHING THE BATTLEFIELD.
We're beat, boys- _
k let's head for Louisiana!
a f
S Push-our artillery w~
ixr,
s essential!
~P ~~g~'u✓ 1~►~~ V1C~s
7 !V
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12
ONE OFARREDONDO'S OFFICERS, COL. IGNACIO
MOST WHO TRIED TO ESCAPE WERE CUT DOWN, OVER 600 - ELIZONDO, CHASED THE SURVIVORS UP THE CAMINO
OF THEM. REAL TO THE TRINITY RIVER.
- That settles
= thatl
Maybe so,
maybeno...
0~/
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EXECUTIONS WERE FREQUENT FOR THOSE AFTER ARREDONDO'S PURGE, TEXAS DR. JAMES LONG LED ANOTHER FILIBUSTER
LEFT BEHIND. WAS A WASTELAND FOR YEARS. RAID ON TEXAS, MOSTLY TO GIVE LAND TO HIS
FOLLOWERS.
rN - ,r
r 41Things gotta They
get better can't get much p
j` -may worse. Down with
`'ty tis ' ; '/•~J ij tyranny!
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HE TRIED TO ENLIST THE HELP OF PIRATE JEAN BUT JEAN AND HIS BROTHER PIERRE KEPT THE RUN OUT IN 1819, DR. LONG CAME BACK AGAIN THE
LAFFITE ON GALVESTON ISLAND. SPANIARDS POSTED ON LONGS VENTURE. NEXT YEAR. HE SET UP CAMP ON GALVESTON BAY.
You can raid Sgapish
String them We'll wait for
y ships with our overn
ments okay. along till we learn % more men to
their plans. N \l i arrive. -
a'
A 414
I
77777
NONE CAME SO HE ATTACKED AND TOOK GOLIAD HIS WIFE, JANE LONG, WAITED FOR WORD ON
WITH LESS THAN THIRTY MEN BUT WAS SOON LONG AND HIS MEN WERE SENT TO MEXICO CITY THE FATE OF HER HUSBAND.
FORCED TO SURRENDER. WHERE HE WAS KILLED UNDER MYSTERIOUS
CIRCUMSTANCES.
= They say I'm a
We're freedom fighters widow but I .don't
like yourself. - believe it. _
- ~ - ~ ~ = ram
13
IN VIEW OFALL THE RECENT TROUBLE WITH BUT AUSTIN BUMPED INTO AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE
ANGLO
O GET ON MAIN PLAZA.
IN 1820 AN AMERICAN NAMED MOSES AUSTIN ADVENTURERS, GOV. MARTINEZ TOLD AUSTIN T
HEADED TO SAN ANTONIO FROM MISSOURI WITH OUT OF TOWN.
HOPES OF SETTLING THREE HUNDRED FAMILIES Why Moses
IN TEXAS. Austin, what brings Why Baron de
you here? Bastrop, this is
I' rv"
_ I'll make a American colonists? a small world.
fresh start. That's the last thing
we need.
ell 7141
s
COQ ~ v 4
BASTROP HAD PULL, SO AUSTIN GOT ANOTHER AUSTIN'S PETITION TO BEAN EMPRESARIO THE TRIP BACK TO MISSOURI BROKE AUSTIN'S HEALTH.
HEARING. (COLONIZATION AGENT) WAS ACCEPTED.
r, A ~Ij~~f~,f He's a loyal -
citizen and has Bevel C'mon Richmond.
el-
oped lead mines in our We must sign up families
territory. I back home. Tell Stephen... to
} carry on...~
Well, that V =y
changes things.
STEPHEN TOURED TEXAS AND DECIDED TO LOCATE MEXICO GAINED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN IN
WHEN MOSES DIED, THE COLONIZATION CONTRACT HIS COLONY BETWEEN THE LAVACA AND SAN 1821 SO AUSTIN HAD TO GET HIS FATHER'S GRANT
HE HAD OBTAINED FROM SPANISH AUTHORITIES JACINTO RIVERS. APPROVED BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT
PASSED TO HIS SON STEPHEN.
Father was This soil on the My colonists - _ - ° _
right-this is a grand F Brazos is the richest are already arriving.
=y
place. I've seen. - -
TI ry ~ t\`~i
ell
A{ VNh. K~ nisi. 4~ ~I(c ~yL~'" ✓✓1 ~ r' ~'~7~.. .~s - - _
THINGS LOOKED BAD UNTIL THE INDIANS LEARNED
ON THE TRIP SOUTH HE AND HIS COMPANIONS a THAT AUSTIN WAS NOT MEXICAN.
WERE ATTACKED BY COMANCHES. Our goose
1 is cooked. _ You Americans - -
can go in peace. -
Hey, what's _ Americans are friends. Thanks.
the big idea? = z mil/ Our war is with I'll remember
Mexicans. _ that.
21
44
14
THE EMPIRE FELL SHORTLY AFTER AUSTIN GAINED
WHEN AUSTIN REACHED THE MEXICAN CAPITAL, GEN. AGUSTIN DE ITURBIDE'S APPROVAL, SO HIS RETURN TO TEXAS
ITURBIDE WAS RULING THE COUNTRYAS EMPEROR. I'd better WAS DELAYED.
_ - 1 start learning
~ Spanish.
We're going to
have a republic now.
G
~ ~ I r~ a ■i I ~ .
R
C i
I ~~~~d r;1, `T{'~ ~Yii'I~pNP'~ 111 .•~1 ~ Po"T~ SIG ~~'M pdi,d,fl~N hw'A~ .ipp-w-
~+ane2 1f Bouts -
~~6 I NWT - r
'1 1' _ _ J1~l~_ - -
IT WAS NOT UNTIL APRIL 1823 THAT AUSTIN TIMES WERE TOUGH FOR THE EARLY COLONISTS OF FORTUNATELY THERE WAS PLENTY OF
WAS ABLE TO LEAVE MEXICO CITY WITH ALL THE AUSTI N'S GRANT
NECESSARY PAPERWORK TO BEAN EMPRESARIO. WILD GAME.
- -T-,
shorTen of a year... Is this the Anything tastes good
right road?
- to us now.
~
THE LAND HAD TO BE CLEARED BEFORE CROPS COULD BUT SETTLERS SWARMED IN, TOWNS WERE FORMED, AND CASH CROPS LIKE COTTON WERE
BE PLANTED AND HARVESTED. DROUGHT WAS SOON BEING PRODUCED.
SOMETIMES A PROBLEM.
S
I(
~v
Wo
MEXICO'S LIBERAL LAND POLICYALLOWED OVER 4,000 ACRES TO A MAN WITH FAMILY, ALL AT PRICES APART FROM KARANKAWAS NEAR THE COAST
MUCH CHEAPER THAN IN THE UNITED STATES. AUSTIN'S SETTLERS WERE NOT BOTHERED BY
INDIANS.
° Here's your title as -
issued by Land
,v -
Commissioner Bastrop,
alllegal.
s~ i~ sri,~ll
fVf
_ l
15
THERE WERE OTHER EMPRESARIOS BESIDES
AUSTIN. ONE WAS MARTIN DE LEON WHO HIS COLONISTS SOMETIMES SUFFERED
FOUNDED THE TOWN OF VICTORIA. KARANKAWA RAIDS.
ANOTHER WAS GREEN DEWITT, WHOSE COLONY
WAS BELOW AUSTIN'S ON THE GUADALUPE RIVER.
I hope they get
We mostly what's coming to - Y
raise cattle, ° them. Gonzales is _
horses & mules. our main town. _
Y~ f
HADEN EDWARDS WAS AWARDED ALL THE TERRITORYAROUND NACOGDOCHES IN EAST TEXAS, BUT THIS CAUSED PROBLEMS FOR EDWARDS IN
REFUSED TO HONOR PRIOR LAND CLAIMS AS HE WAS SUPPOSED T0. MEXICO CITY.
Show me proof of title, don't need They're just t- y or you're nothing but squatters empresanos of this rabble
= rF , and will have to get off- type rousers. -
quick!
toa
NORTH OF NACOGDOCHES WERE MANY IMMIGRANT TRIBES FROM THE UNITED STATES, SUCH HE AND CHIEF RICHARD FIELDS GAINED PERMISSION
AS THE CHEROKEES UNDER CHIEF BOWL. = TO STAY IN TEXAS BUT NOT CLEAR TITLE TO
TtfE1R LANDS.
We're mostly We'll let you know
farmers but do a lot of when a final decision is
hunting too. reached.
(SY
_ V
r
t\ I
THE CHEROKEES LIVED IN COMPACT TOWNS AND PROSPERED, AS DID THEIR ALLIED TRIBES THE JOHN DUNN HUNTER ARRIVED AMONG THESE
DELAWARES, SHAWNEES, AND KICKAPOOS. INDIANS IN 1826 AND QUICKLY GAINED INFLUENCE
CVEP CHIEF FIELDS.
1 couldn't get our
,r land title nailed down, but
- maybe you'll have better
luck. F
_ -Y..
- p
wk ft"
HE M--
A _ = 1
16
HUNTER'S TRIP TO MEXICO CITY WAS HIS NEWS CAUSED WAR DRUMS TO SOUND IN EAST TEXAS.
UNSUCCESSFUL. / - l
You'll either have to abandon
They'll only allow us to your homes and return to the U.S,
get land in individual tracts, not or prepare to defend yourselves j. y
against all comers!
in a large communal grant like
we want y
n 1 13 F r ` /i
ly
ya) F f~ I I~
V 'wan" q]
/~{Vp,
CHIEF FIELDS WAS SO ANGRY HE WANTED TO FIGHT WHEN HIS CONTRACT WAS CANCELLED, HADEN
EDWARDS AND HIS BROTHER BENJAMIN DECIDED
'I I am a Red Man of honor Enough talk! TO DECLARE INDEPENDENCE.
It is
and won't be imposed on this time to aCt! Mexico won't let us
7y And now we
way. We will hold our rich lands
l by force of arms! manage our grant the way stand to lose
we see fit. everything!
4 T W
EDWARDS WAS COUNTING ON THE LATER IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 1826 HUNTER AND FIELDS RETURNED TO
INDIANS FOR HELP IN HIS REBELLION. _ NACOGDOCHES TO SIGN A FORMAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. The Red Man shall
wh Equal red and have all of Texas above the
ite stn es, sYmboliz - San Antonio Road, the White
p ! ~F Man everything below.
ing the union of our two
peoples. f1. w / cr _ _ f
VA j
t
PETER ELLIS BEAN, A SURVIVOR OF NOLAN'S EXPEDI- WITH NO SUPPORT THE REBELS HAD TO FLEE
TION AND NOW AN INDIAN AGENT FOR MEXICO, TEXAS. FIELDS AND HUNTER WERE KILLED BEFORE EVEN THOUGH AUSTIN'S AND DEWITT'S SETTLERS
TALKED THE CHEROKEES OUT OF JOINING EDWARDS. THEY COULD ESCAPEACROSS THE SABINE. REFUSED TO SUPPORT THIS FREDONIAN REBELLION,
THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT BECAME VERY
Mexico will C'mon boys! SUSPICIOUS OF ITS FOREIGN COLONISTS.
eventually give you Y We'll regroup in the
lands-but not if you join Neutral Ground! If we're not
in this rebellion. These Anglos We'11 see
careful, they'll about
r are getting too
Y _ take Texas away that!
strong. from us.
a ism
17
IN 1828 MEXICO SENT GEN. MIER V TERAN TO SEE IF TEXAS WAS IN DANGER OF HIS REPORT CAUSED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1830 TO
BEING LOST. PROHIBIT MORE IMMIGRATION FROM THE UNITED
STATES. AUSTIN OPPOSED THE MEASURE.
Already the
foreigners outnumber the This is a terrible law.
native Mexicans 8 to 1.
We must change it.
ss-
,p~
' a~_ • »T- _ _ ~ = 1-7, ~ 1_~~ ,mss
THE TEXANS MET AT CONVENTIONS IN 1832 AND
1833 IN FAVOR OF SEPARATE STATEHOOD FROM AUSTIN WAS CHOSEN TO DELIVER THE PETITIONS HE WAS THROWN INTO PRISON DURING THIS VISIT
COAHUILA. TO MEXICO CITY. AND STAYED THEREALL OF 1834.
These meet There'll be an uprising How can `\w 'l'r;,
ings are illegal unless you agree to what Texas live under a
' s stem such as
under Mexican + ` u p
J we want. y
law.` r Iii 1 I r _r_ this?
z~~~ _ ~ rl
rt L
ffu 111 - ~ _
THE TEXANS FEARED TO TAKEANYACTION WHILE
AUSTIN'S LIFE WAS /N DANGER. IN JUNE 1835 HOTHEAD WILLIAM B. TRAVIS FORCED THE SMALL GARRISON AT ANAHUAC, NEAR THE
MOUTH OF THE TRINITY RIVER, TO LEAVE TEXAS. A CRISIS WAS BARELY AVOIDED.
Maybe they'll let
>v
him go if we ~G/'~/J ^ep++1 IPM
stay quiet. _lsr fits- Get going while I` ""Q~~ ` Im Si senor. II;,`~q
_ t 1II ul you still have the HN° I You wm u
chance. T ; n for now.
n~'u w - olLs I✓ . vs ,e;!' h^,: _:.d ~ r Nn ;,'';d 'I~ft•pfi
:hj
. > _ , /ins ~ '
AUSTIN WAS RELEASED SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
CHANGED BY HIS TIME IN JAIL, HE SPOKE FOR WHEN MEXICO DEMANDED THAT GONZALES GIVE UP ITS
ARMED RESISTANCE CANNON, HOSTILITIES BEGAN ON OCTOBER 2.
We must
go it on our
own. /'/j.~~~ SOS }r
TAKE P,
I~
TIM/
} 1 , -
16
18
GEN MARTIN PERFECTO DE COS REINFORCED SAN ANTONIO WITH TROOPS. HE MADE THE MISTAKE OF THE TEXANS WERE ABOUT TO GIVE UP THEIR SIEGE
INSULTING ERASMO SEGUIN. AND GO HOME WHEN A MEXICAN OFFICER DEFECTED
I won't have a AND BROUGHT GOOD NEWS.
man as postmaster
whose son is an He says you hear that
their morale is really '
r. avowed revolution- bad-that we can boys? Unpack
= ary! Get out!! e take Bexar eas those mules.
I I / ' IpI f
BENJAMIN MILAM CALLED FOR AN ATTACK. THE FIGHTING WENT STREET TO STREET, HOUSE TO HOUSE.
-3-
Who'll go with
01 " Ben Milam into Now you're talking.
San Antone!
f ~ 4p.
2e- ryY % r ~ ~ i • ~ v'~'N ~nX s. ~ ~ j~~~ t, ~ A ~ iii .
HIS MEN WERE ALLOWED TO MARCH SOUTH UNDER PLEDGE THAT THEY WOULD
ALTHOUGH MILAM WAS KILLED, COS WAS FORCED TO SURRENDER. NOT FIGHT AGAIN AGAINST TEXAS.
Santa Anna
going to
F L like this
rv;
~~I p I(s'~i''II
SAM HOUSTON WAS GREAT FRIEND OF THE IN 1833 HE MOVED TO TEXAS, FRESH FROM EXPERT- ACTIVE IN THE 1835 CONSULTATION FOR TEXAS TO ESTAB-
CHEROKEESAND LIVED WITH THEM IN TENNESSEE IN ENCE WITH THESE SAME CHEROKEES IN WESTERN LISH A SEPARATE STATE GOVERNMENT FROM COAHUILA,
HIS YOUTH
.
ARKANSAS. - - HE WAS ELECTED A MAJOR GENERAL OF THE THEN NON-
` EXISTENT TEXAS
- They adapted me into ~j
the tribe. y _ We haven't declared
- ,
our independence yet, but
war Is inevitable
-FORT GIBBON- / -
-S ` t / - _ h Jot r7 -
r, :1 r
-t
19
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHEROKEES DIDN'T TAKE THE MEXICAN SIDE, HOUSTON, ALTHOUGH NEUTRALIZING THE
HOUSTON SIGNED A TREATY WITH CHIEF BOWL ON FEBRUARY 23, 1836. CHEROKEES IN THE COMING STRUGGLE, COULD NOT
fi GAIN THEIR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION.
Here's where
the boundary line will We just want to
Alright.
run. !l1 l 7 stay out of the blood-
That's good
o T r1C1( shed entire/
enough.
~ 5~ ,k..,~~,;✓ ( ~ ~ ITT ~ ~ ~I ~ -
MAY
'FAT
- - i G~
171
WORD SOON CAME THAT GEN. SANTA ANNA WAS MARCHING A LARGE ARMY NORTH TO RETAKE TEXAS, HE REACHED SAN ANTONIO ON THE SAME DAY
THOUGH NO ONE EXPECTED HIM TO MAKE IT SO SOON. THAT HOUSTON SIGNED HIS TREATY WITH THE
CHEROKEES.
Rouse our men! Carry
off everything you can to the
- - ) Alamo, double-quick!
r °4
P Al
SANTA ANNA BEGAN A SIEGE OF THE ALAMO THAT LASTED THIRTEEN DAYS. / j THIS CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT GAVE THE
- ALAMO DEFENDERS LITTLE CHANCE FOR
SLEEP.
Bravo! Keep pounding
the walls till they tumble n
down.
l"J
a
-
ONLYA FEW REINFORCEMENTS CAME ON MARCH 1. - BUT NO MORE HELP ARRIVED, DESPITE TRAVIS'S PLEAS. THEIR
SITUATION WAS BECOMING DESPERATE. -
See boys? Its still possible
for help to reach us! If these
32 can make it in, so can - - _ - -S ~f, -
Fannin's 332! ~1In'IIrl ~i ( -
T(' {fir f trt
J:kl
/i
' In i ~ ~ ! - #
' n
20
ONCE HE REALIZED THE SITUATION WAS HOPELESS, COL. TRAVIS GAVE HIS As for me, l will not
MEN A CHOICE. abandon my post and have Let my bones be a
I i~ resolved to die in these reproach to our fellow
Boys, we can either surrender cold ditches. Texians for their neglect in
and be shot, run and be cut down, our hour of need!
or stand and sell our lives dearly!
a
4 r IT IS BELIEVED THAT TRAVIS DRAMATIZED THIS OFFER BY DRAWING A LINE IN THE SAND WITH HIS SWORD. I Q JJ I i }
MYTH OR NOT, THIS STORY HAS REFUSED TO DIE. ° I 3 :~-y
If any of you will stand
beside me and fight until the . '
l last breath of life expires, let them
cross this line!
v p U \ 1 a I I
~U Tip f
~ _ III 'G
r -
t .
' Step over boys! AMONG THOSE STAVING TO rWe might as well fight
° THE END WERE JAMES for escape is well nigh
Who will be the first? BOWIE, WHO WAS SICK
AND BEDRIDDEN, AND impossible.
DAVID CROCKETT.
~S
D
5
21
UNKNOWN TO TRAVIS AND HIS BRAVE MEN, TEXAS LED BY GEN. AMADOR ONE, THEN ANOTHER, MADE IT OVER THE WALL AT DAWN ON MARCH 6.
HAD DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE ON MARCH 2. 'r-
TEJANOS FRANCISCO RUIZ AND JOSE ANTONIO
NAVARRO WERE SIGNERS. f fi
teady, nephew. Your
hand need not tremble True, but when Santa
for the cause of Anna sees what we ve
freedom. signed, it'll be our death
warrant.
/ ~l~ 7 - YC. 0 S
I
n~
mil/ ~ - ~ - = - > ~V ( AFh]i FRAY)
i
TRAVIS, BESIDE HIS CANNON, WAS AN EARLY AFTER THE MEXICAN SOLDIERS STREAMED INTO THE COMPOUND,
CASUALTY. THE TEXAN DEFENDERS STOOD LITTLE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.
z - v I,T
R. S
~i
a
THE FATE OF CROCKETT IS STILL DEBATED. DID HE GO DOWN
BOWIEAWAITED DEATH IN HIS SICKROOM. FIGHTING OR WAS HE CAPTURED AND EXECUTED?
Keep at it fellers. 01' J = z1
From the sound of
l J , - } Gabriel ain't blowed his w 3 t v~"
it, that door will opener
v Soon. horn yet!
' ~ VII fyr y = -
SUSANNA DICKINSON WAS RELEASED TO CARRY
WORD OF THE MEXICAN VICTORY TO THE ANGLO THUS BEGAN WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE RUNAWAY SCRAPE. WOMEN AND
SETTLEMENTS. CHILDREN HASTENED TO ESCAPE SANTA ANNA'S ARMY ;
Won't be safe until
we're over th' Sabme
-1
22
r
NA BORDER --~~_EN
THIS MEXICAN VICTORY WAS FOLLOWED BY DEFEATED NEAR CO WAS EXECUTEDNBY SANTA ANU ORCE OF ALMOST
ANOTHER AT GOLIAD, WHERE JAMES FANNIN
DELAYED UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO
WITHDRAW SAFELY.
t My post at Goliad is ~ /
more critical to the
defense of Texas thane,
theAlamol S r 4~
_7:S
I, RACING HEARD OF H SAMAIN ARMY WITH A
DECSONY TO THE BRAZOS, WHERE HE MADE A SMALL FORCE.
SANTA ANNA PURSUED HOUSTON'S RETREATING
If we capture the rebel - J
ot
We've finally g
government the war will
^ be over. ~ him where we want
Good him. Let's ride!!
T thinking Your
" S Excellency.
JUAN SEGUIN LED A COMPANY OF TEJANOS IN THE
BATTLE, SHOUTING THE SAME CRY.
THE TEXANS MET SANTA ANNA'S VANGUARD AT SAN JACINTO ON APRIL 21,
SCORING A COMPLETE VICTORY
RECUEROEN EL
ALAMO!
~i - - Remember the Alamo! i
=1 Remember Goliad!!
r ~
1 /cat %rlt y - NEXTDAY ,a BUT SANTA ANNA WAS CAPTURED T LEAVE TEXA SHE ORDERED HIS 4,000 MAN ARMY TO
SAM HOUSTON, SUFFERING FROM A GUNSHOT He says Z
WOUND IN HIS ANKLE, SPENT AN UNEASY ,
f+ i they'll go if he , k PIT%
NIGHT FEARING HIS PREY HAD ELUDED HIM.
tells them to.
Boys, we've got to "
. ,
- catch Santa Anna
or face another 1i
_ r ~r #
23
~~Y
THE RETREAT CONTINUED TO THE RIO GRANDE IN BAD WEATHER, THUS ASSURING TEXAS INDEPENDENCE. SAM HOUSTON, THE HERO OF SAN JACINTO,
WAS ELECTED THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF TEXAS. „III II j
For the time being
# anyway. We face some hard l
II
times and must conserve
our energy.
µ u
c " " t!a
44-
t~
LATER THAT YEAR STEPHEN F. AUSTIN, THE FATHER BUT THE UN/TED STATES WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE HOUSTON WANTED TO AVOID MURt ; ~HTING
OF TEXAS, DIED AT AGE 43. THE INDEPENDENCE OF TEXAS OR ADMIT HER WITH MEXICO AND KEEP PEACE WITH THE
TO THE UNION. INDIANS.
Texas is recognized. We must wait and Lets make treaties with
see if a free Texas can them and not attack Mexico
Did you see it in the L
endure. till we're attacked.
papers.
r
THE CHEROKEES WERE QUIET, BUT COMANCHES KEPT UP THEIR ATTACKS ON EXPOSED SETTLEMENTS AFTER THE ATTACK BEGAN LUCY PARKER TRIED TO _
LIKE PARKER'S FORT. i ESCAPE WITH HER FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN.
" Cynthia!! Hurry
' Well use - children, run!
white flag to geta in. That ~I Ifl~ I
,f
always works. 1111(H(!~11" JII i Ul1
u • , _~s _ w, J4 +...1 Yd ~Id sB'3 Wt ill,, .wll~ lt([ ! vv",1.
MOUNTED WARRIORS FORCED HER TO HOIST THUS CYNTHIA ANN PARKER WAS SWEPT AWAY
CYNTHIA AND JOHN UP BEHIND THEM. TO BE RAISED AS A COMANCHE, HER BROTHER RAIDS LIKE THIS, WITH THE LOSS OF WOMEN `
JOHN AS WELL. AND CHILDREN AS CAPTIVES, MADE THE
TEXANS HATE THE COMANCHES _
Momma, Momma alwa
momma/ said crying rr 4
doesn t ~
help sniff.
~ ~111(d0
A*A
Please
i'
k don't taken
my babies
r
24
AT THE END OF 1837 THE TEXAS SENATE REFUSED TO RATIFY HOUSTON'S TREATY WITH THE CHEROKEES. THIS MADE BOWL LISTEN TO MEXICAN
PROMISES OF A RECONQUEST OF TEXAS.
Don't worry chief,
just a temporary
We want you to take the
setback. field immediately. Here's
s k > y = powder, lead, and tobacco
for you men! +
7f _4 14
A FEW MEXICAN CITIZENS OF NACOGDOCHES, LED
BY VICENTE CORDOVA, PROMOTED THIS UNREST. BUT GEN. THOMAS RUSK CHASED THESE MEXICAN AGENTS OUT OF BOWL'S VILLAGE.
Do not allow these bad
Gen. Filisola's organizing men to come into your -
a big campaign down at nation. -
Matamoros right now. We've
got to be ready..
x.
N,- - f d- -
i
KNOWING HOUSTON'S REGARD FOR THE
CHEROKEES, AND BEING A FRIEND OF HIS, RUSK IN MID-OCTOBER 1838 RUSK TRIED TO ATTACK A COMBINED KICKAP00, MEXICAN, CADDO,
WAS IN A DIFFICULT SPOT. COUSHATTA, AND KICHAI CAMP BUT WAS AMBUSHED BEFORE REACHING IT _
General, settle this infernal Pull back men
- - - -
question of whether it's peace or - - _ - - They are too well (7
war with the Cherokees so we concealed.
cangetgoing ! - -
C
A
i'
MEANWHILE PRESIDENT HOUSTON ORDERED THE = DESPITE THESE TROUBLES, SETTLERS KEPT
SURVEY OF CHEROKEE LANDS. - COMING TO TEXAS. PORTS WERE OPENED AND MORE NEW ROADS
Rusk's troops won't attack LINKED THE INTERIOR TO THESE BUSTLING TRADE
MIRR17111 you, long as you kee your CENTERS ALONG THE GULF COAST
p
oung men out of this war.
Where you folks Missouri's th' Can we buy some
1-1 - from? latest place. fancy chocolate, Pa?
And a french harp
for Ollie.
AfA,
s AD v~GOODS -i IJ
25
WAR HERO JUAN SEGUIN SERVED AS A SENATOR
FROM SAN ANTONIO. HE WORKED FOR THE RIGHTS EARLY TEXAS RANGERS RENAMED THEIR TOWN OF WALNUT SPRINGS ON THE GUADALUPE RIVER FOR HIM.
OF HIS PEOPLE.
Thanks for getting
New laws need to we
us a postal office
be published in English needed it
and Spanish. Senator.
'2
r ~ IOa~ " , it / '1'v -a -
ANOTHER WAR HERO, MIRABEAU LAMAR, BECAME LAMAR'S FIRST POLICY STATEMENT LET TEXANS PAPERS TAKEN FROM THE BODY OFA SLAIN j
THE SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS KNOW THE COURSE HE INTENDED TO PURSUE. MEXICAN AGENT GAVE LAMAR THE PROOF HE
AT THE END OF 1838. NEEDED TO ACT.
All Cherokees belong in _
Maybe he will do Indian Territory, not here. We will Wonder what We'd better turn
something about Houston's mark the boundaries of Texas these letters say? them over to the War
with the sword!
/ pet Indians. Department.
THE CHIEF STALLED ON SIGNING A TREATY FOR
_ PRESIDENT LAMAR GAVE CHIEF BOWL REMOVAL. RUSK'S ARMYADVANCED ON BOWL'S
AN ULTIMATUM. VILLAGE, ONLY TO FIND IT EMPTY
All our chiefs need to
You cannot live in Texas as a sign, not just me. It's required by - So that's why he
nation within a nation. Go back Cherokee law. = was giving us the
across the Red River, or blood will j e run-around.
ii be shed.
7•~ V/ Ulu
M,
~ ~ r M _ o` 1. ~ - - `-=";TE '-4 .s.~=~•, .mac THE TEXANS PURSUED AND DROVE THE CHEROKEES OUT OF TEXAS, JUST AS LAMAR HAD PROMISED WHEN
ELECTED AS PRESIDENT. CHIEF BOWL, SAM HOUSTON'S FRIEND,
WAS KILLED IN THE BATTLE
01
~ L
26
PRESIDENT LAMAR MOVED THE CAPITAL FROM HOUSTON TO AN ISOLATED SPOT ON LAMAR WAS A STRONG BELIEVER IN THE
THE FRONTIER. _ E,'c NI FITS OF EDUCATION.
We'll call it
- Austin. Kinda off' Let's set aside public
- th' beaten path ~1 rt_,,•_; _ land to fund good
isn't it? schools.
r -
.~LAMAR ALSO WANTED WAR WITH THE COMANCHES. TWELVE CHIEFS WERE KILLED IN 1840 AT SAN
ANTONIO'S COUNCIL HOUSE WHEN THEY CAME FOR PEACE TALKS BUT FAILED TO DELIVER THEIR
SAM HOUSTON, AS A REPRESENTATIVE WHITE CAPTIVES.
IN THE TEXAS HOUSE, OPPOSED MANY
OF LAMAR'S MEASURES-ESPECIALLY Not a single one _
THOSE CONCERNING INDIANS. left alive.
N tf s p .J 1 M~
His war on
the Cherokees was
unjustified. A WOMAN WAS RELEASED TO CARRY BACK THE COMANCHES RETALIATED BY RAIDING ALL THE WAY TO THE COAST, DESTROYING THE PORT OF
THE NEWS. LINNVILLE AND PICKING THE COUNTRY CLEAN.
Tell Your tribe we Ahh...just like
old times.
want our prisoners
0
brought in. _ y
9 77,47,
r
t
L 4
THE ONLY REAL WAY TO FIGHT THE INDIANS WAS
ALTHOUGH RANGERS TRACKED THE RAIDERS AND FROM HORSEBACK, BUT WHEN IT CAME TO THE TEXANS' MUZZLE LOADERS WERE CLUMSY AFFAIRS
RECOVERED MUCH OF THEIR BOOTY, THIS RUNNING MOUNTED WARFARE, NO ONE WAS SUPERIOR TO NO COULDN'T BE FIRED EFFECTIVELY OR RELOADED AT
FIGHT REVEALED A PROBLEM. THE WILD COMANCHES. A GALLOP
Oops, there
r G~ for ~Jla went my ramrod -
need better µlIr a th' ustol
_ Y<<<
weapons for this kind of
- war.
1 ~ ,I? I ~l ~ - .J;tV`cC. I F
- III Ill ~~r - /`fi/" 1 p ~ ` ~ • o r^
-Ile
27
THIS MEANT THE RANGERS HAD TO DISMOUNT AND FIRE ONE VOLLEY, AFTER THUS THE RANGERS HAD TO WAGE A STRICTLY
WHICH THE CIRCLING INDIANS SWOOPED IN TO ATTACK WHILE THE TEXANS WERE DEFENSIVE WAR AND COULDN'T DO MUCH DA
DESPERATELY TRYING TO RELOAD. AGE TO THE HARD-RIDING COMANCHES, WHO
REMAINED MASTERS OF THE
Brace yourself ~S PLAINS AND HILL COUNTRY.
boys. Here they ` You fellers need
come! to try some modern
Ball ...didI s. weapons bows'n
r - putth'ballin Powders Ouch, arrows!
before or??? lumpy.
A
-41
IbLl
ALL THIS BEGAN TO CHANGE IN 1839 WHEN A FRIEND OF PRESIDENT LAMAR'S SHOWED HIM
A SWEDISH TRADER NAMED GE N 8 9 WHEN THE 5-SHOOTERS ON BEHALF OF THE STARVING LAMAR SENT TWO OF THE REVOLVERS TO A
CARRIED BACK TO TEXAS A DOZEN NEW INVENTOR. YOUNG RANGER NAMED JACK HAYS.
FANGLED PISTOLS INVENTED BY SAMUEL COLT. Boys, this is
an Five shots! Hmm..nowy
z i, 1 'r what we've been ~i
that's a concept whose
These things time has come. r^ waitinH for.
oughts sell like
hotcakes.
~G ~,@~ail I = ~ ♦ ..e~` ,l _
6B,BEftf-1 \ 0:7.'1E1...ate y 1 y
11j~ T' r
BUT HAYS WAS FRUSTRATED IN HIS ATTEMPT TO GET COLTS FOR HIS RANGERS. THE FIRST
ORDER OF PISTOLS AND RIFLES WENT TO LAMAR'S BRASH NEW NAVY IN SUPPORT OF YUCATAN'S ONLY A FEW PISTOLS MADE THEIR WAY INTO
FREEDOM FROM MEXICO. RANGER HANDS FROM PRIVATE SOURCES LIKE
j Eat lead, SWENSON.
you lubbers! L"r They're
expensive but
worth it.
~%1' y~j1f .z»7r~E~-I.~~~ -r l _ _ 6 1~SA y oo✓J 1 ~ _
1
a
ANTONIO CANALES, A PROMINENT CITIZEN OF
DURINGLAMAR'S Viva Viva TAMAULIPAS, WAS THE MILITARY LEADER OF THIS
TERM OF OFFICE Canales Arista REBELLION.
REVOLTS BROKE OUT
IN NORTHERN MEXICO r We want to set
IN WHICH THE FEDER- ( up our own republic
ALIST REBELS WERE along the Rio
ANXIOUS TO GAIN _
Grande.
TEXAN SUPPORT.
a
v rd s
a rv- k y to
28
NDITS ON THE FRONT ER.000STOMED TO FIGHTING
THESE PRESIDENT LAMAR STAYED NEUTRAL BUT ALLOWED MANY TEXANS ENLISTED IND ANS AND CAMPAIGNS
THE REBELS TO RECRUIT IN TEXAS.
Anything that Si, si, amigo.
Welcome ! Youbetcha..
distracts Mexico is / companeros! You
good for us. ( come to help as win
h ~ our freedom, no. > f ?
IM
E CENTRALISTS CARED JUAN SEGUIN RESIGNED AS SENATOR T
HE TEXANS FOUND THAT NEITHER THE FEDERALISTS NOR TH COMPANY OF VOLUNTEERS IN
DEEP IN MEXICO T THIS REVOLT
MUCH FOR THEM. UPON REACHING THE RIO GRANDE, HE LEARNED
Looks like we'll have to THAT THE SITUATION HAD CHANGED.
fight our way to the border, boys.
t _ It's getting sticky down We were lucky
=
They're both shooting at us.
rye
there Juan. Canales has made to get back with
peace with Arista's troops. our skins!
y,
5 "T~ a RwII ul „ .,L.~,,,.~.uFrwT' r
l~ - iaM I ~C~d;w~I~~aV,.S`{WW,RurWr'I~IIWa'.- r 1~
~~ON HE PICKED JOSE ANTONIO NAVARRO LAMAR'S AGENTS FOOLISHLY WARNED THE NEW
IN 1841 LAMAR BACKED AN EXPEDITION TO SANTA AS ONE OF THE MEN TO HEAD HIS MEXICANS IN AN OPEN LETTER THAT TEXANS
FE, NEW MEXICO. GRANDIOSE SCHEME. WERE ON THE WAY
6Trade through Santa Fe 1 have reserva Nonsense!! mph! Le /
tions about this, I You're the only man We tore them come
ery rich, and we need to Mr President n; f,L qualified for the ob. down all wWe'll give 'um a
Control It. It"s your patriotic duty founin thhotrecepilull Tasl paza. We'll offethem Texas
citizenship.
Z4r s C.
I srI` ~e - t
IT WAS A FIASCO, AND THE TEXANS WERE CAPTURED BEFORE EVEN REACHING ALL THE TEXAN PRISONERS ENDURED GREAT SUFFER-
SANTA FE. ONE OF THEIR COMRADES TALKED THEM INTO SURRENDERING ING, BUT NAVARRO-HATED BY SANTA ANNA BECAUSE
THEIR WEAPONS. HE HAD SIGNED THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
FROM MEXICO-SUFFERED WORST OF ALL.
- - Believe me boys, giving
up your guns is only a 71 -
formalitcyfe fcustomary i -
procedure the Santa r, I have sworn to
Fe trade. be a Texan, and I
remain o iel
r
~l~ ~1 I .I,r b ` i _ 9I 1
10
~ 1 ~ fr''Zli I ~ all ~ ~ ~I _
29
T
TEXAS WAS DEEP IN DEBT BY THE TIME LAMAR'S TERM ENDED AND HOUSTON HE REVERSED LAMAR'S INDIAN POLICY AND TRIED
BECAME PRESIDENT ONCE AGAIN. - -r_ y TO MAKE TREATIES WITH THE DIFFERENT TRIBES.
M It's much cheaper
Not a dollar in the treasury
i _ - I and more humane to pur-
and our credit's no good. chase their friendship than
it is to fight them.
i
AGENTS AND TRADERS SUCH AS JESSE CHISHOLM WERE SENT OUT TO MEND MEXICO LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON SAN =
LAMAR'S DAMAGE WITH THE WILD TRIBES, ESPECIALLY THE FIERCE = ANTONIO EARLY IN 1842.
COMANCHES. ~
- _ _ - I hereby declare you
I bring gifts for - - to be citizens of Mexico-
e ou. Lets hold a bi
again !
y peace talk. g _
3
A LARGER INVASION CAME LATER THAT YEAR, _ GEN. ADRIAN WOLL OCCUPIED THE CITY FOR TEN DAYS BEFORE RETREATING SOUTH WITH 58 PROMINENT
BUT MATHEW OLD PAINT CALDWELL RALLIED _ CITIZENS AS PRISONERS OF WAR. SAM MAVERICK WAS AMONG THEM.
RESISTANCE.
Keep cool and remember- 1 we fight for liberty and our
insulted country!
S a
1 V `I C°a r i°.
SAM HOUSTON WAS NEVER FOND OF THE EXPOSED LOCATION THAT MIRABEAU LAMAR HAD
CHOSEN FOR THE REPUBLIC'S CAPITAL.
AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE HOUSTON DECIDED TO MOVE IT EAST,
- Z- TOWARD THE ESTABLISHED SETTLEMENTS.
CsWIYDL --a t~~ HoN1E ~ "
l { L Z' I'll use the Mexican
_J ✓ _ / - ; M; _ threat as an excuse.
.k-•.e .?+S~' r. pr ~`WJ.i'.o..~ iW~' . TF%ll ~ ~iLS q~,~'S" tY~" - _ ~ i i _ - -
~a
~F? . f yy" = vECaN 5TME
~ air'` ~1' g1ioN^n nau:~il ' N ~WV
~~/.~iJr, ~ ~ a~~~~ h ~•'+~i`, li^s~.--~~:,°'~ ~f 4 ,d ~C:ytu;~ ~ .~q ~ cam'
30
HIS ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE ARCHIVES OUT OFAUSTIN THE TWO MEXICAN INVASIONS IN 1842 MADE WARLIKE TEXANS CALL FOR
WAS THWARTED BYANGELINA EBERLY, WHO FIRED AN ARMED RESPONSE AGAINST THE BORDER TOWNS. IT ENDED IN DEFEAT
OFF A CANNON TO ALERT THE CITIZENS. AT MIER WITH MORE THAN 200 PRISONERS TAKEN. - We're in for it
_ now, boys.
Wake up! They're
stealing the public - f"~ -
papers! 1'` -p9 a t" f
THE TEXANS BROKE THEIR WEAPONS SO THE MEXICANS AN ESCAPE ATTEMPT LED BY EWEN CAMERON RESULTED IN THE BLACK BEAN
COULDN'T CAPTURE AND USE THEM IN FUTURE BATTLES. EPISODE. SEVENTEEN MEN WHO DREW BLACK BEANS WERE EXECUTED.
Quic ! - o -
now 4a - "Z
.ti
l ~
MEN WHO MANAGED TO ESCAPE BLAMED
k; CAMERON DREW A WHITE BEAN BUT WAS THE REST OF THE TEXAN PRISONERS JOINED PRESIDENT HOUSTON FOR ABANDONING THEM
KILLED ANYWAY THOSE TAKEN AT SANTA FE AND SAN ANTONIO. IN THEIR HOUR OF NEED.
No blindfold. For the NO Houston, l
berty of Texas I can Sorry you
look death in the will not shake your
9,r face, feel that way,
r r poor hand Mr. Walker.
devil a T r L 4
HOUSTON KEPT UP HIS EFFORTS FOR PEACE WITH
THE INDIANS. WITH LITTLE MONEY IN THE TREASURY, EARLY IN 1844 HOUSTON GAVE HAYS THE COLT
FRONTIER DEFENSE WAS LEFT TO RANGING I PISTOLS FORMERLY USED BY LAMAR'S NAVY.
Chief Placido, Yeah, we "1 NIES LED BY MEN LIKE JACK HAYS. Better late
this stew is mi 9 htY like our dog Me and Jack than never, eh
's pa
"i tasty meat boiled with u _ fought together at son? a'
~s herbs.
orseshoe Bend!
ire ~ ~ ~ ~q " I ~>,&,< II I~ r
31
7
o~ Hit them before they THAT JUNE HAYS'S MEN GOT
can reload. THEIR CHANCE IN THE
Now!! PEDERNALES HILLS. THEY
' ASTOUNDED A COMANCHE
y WAR PARTY, LONG ACCUSTOMED
TO A FOE WITH ONLY ONE ROUND
OFFIREPOWER.
i - 4
rizj
P1 J~
MA
THIS BATTLE MARKED A TURNING POINT IN INDIAN WARFARE ON THE FRONTIER. FOR THE FIRST TIME THE
TEXANS HELD THE ADVANTAGE IN A RUNNING FIGHT.
Throw down your
rifles and mount up! 3
IWIA)
knon
(6t)L ell,
-i - _ -t, ~BEFORE LONG, THE COMANCHES CAME TO FEAR THE MEN WITH A SHOT FOR EACH FINGER, AND THEIR POWER BEGAN TO STEADILY DECLINE.
Keep on
pushing 'um boys. °
Don't let up! '
Y
W I~
_ a
32
THANKS TO THIS VICTORY, CHIEF BUFFALO HUMP AGREED TO HAVEA PEACE BUFFALO HUMP WAS PLEASED, BUT HE DEMANDED
COUNCIL WITH PRESIDENT HOUSTON IN OCTOBER 1844. THAT A LINE BE DRAWN TO MARK COMANCHE LANDS.
My peace with the We must be able to follow
T~ Comanches held until a Bad Chief the buffalo on their winter
took my place and made war on migration south.
your people at San Antonio.
UNABLE TO DECIDE ON WHERE A DIVISION LINE
WOULD RUN, THEY SIGNED A PEACE TREATY WITH- SCOUTS AND INTERPRETERS-MOST OF THEM DELAWARES OR SHAWNEES-SECURED I
OUT THIS PROVISION. PEACE WITH OTHER TRIBES SUCH AS THE WICHITAS. r
We will rub out that Trading posts
part and go on as before, will be established near
-
until we can agree. your country so that you
1G[t4u~L y tiy~ lack in nothing. (l a~~~
- . il/l~u l~ f fLr 1"
It 414-1 11
4,1
HOUSTON'S SUCCESSOR AS PRESIDENT, ANSON JOSE ANTONIO NAVARRO ESCAPED FROM PRISON BARELY IN TIME TO ATTEND THE
JONES, CONTINUED THIS PEACEFUL APPROACH. CONVENTION THAT DECIDED FOR ANNEXATION TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1845.
Looks like
The new president has I'm the only
sent us to say that he is still Tejano here.,
anxious to live in harmony with his
red brothers on the plains.
77
w }HE SPOKE AGAINST THE WORD "WHITE" a THE VOTERS OF TEXAS GAVE THEIR APPROVAL TO ANNEXATION, AND ON FEBRUARY
BEING WRITTEN IN THE STATE CONSTITU- = 19, 1846, ANSON JONES PROCLAIMED THAT THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS WAS NO MORE.
TION AS A VOTER QUALIFICATION.
Some election judge
might use it as an
CA t
excuse to keep my j
~
people from voting.®
-Tq
16 09 F0
33
MEXICO'S REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON, U.S. TROOPS UNDER GEN. ZACHARY TAYLOR MOVED SOUTH FROM THEIR BASE AT
JUAN ALMONTE, HAD ALREADY TOLD THE U.S. GOV- CORPUS CHRISTI, ANTICIPATING MEXICO'S RESPONSE.
ERNMENT THAT ANNEXATION WOULD MEAN WAR. p ,Q
Mexico claims everything below
Texas has the Nueces River.
always belonged I-~
to Mexico! - -
_ r° 6 f
THE RESPONSE CAME QUICKLY AT PALO ALTO AND RESACA DE LA PALMA, JUST
ABOVE MATAMOROS, BUT TAYLOR'S TROOPS PUT GEN. ARISTA AND THE MEXICAN GEN. TAYLOR WAS EAGER TO HAVE MORE TEXANS IN
ARMY TO FLIGHT _ HIS ARMY AS HE PLANNED OPERATIONS AGAINST
MONTERREY
s-T
Nobody can tell
+ p > me what's happening
-
14-0 better than these
rangers from Texas.
r
WHEN JACK HAYS, SAM WALKER, BEN MCCULLOCH, AND OTHER FORMER RANGERS JOINED AFTER THE SURRENDER OF MONTERREY WALKER
TAYLOR'S ARMY THEY CARRIED THEIR COLTS WITH THEM, WENT TO SEE COLT IN NEW YORK WITH A WHITTLED
MODEL OFA NEW PISTOL THE TEXANS WANTED.
Tell him to make it
heavier so we can use it
for a club when we run
~y
rtdf out of bullets.
, V6
t COLT'S 5 SHOOTER HAD MET WITH LITTLE SUC HE NAMED IT THE WALKER COLT, IN HONOR OF
COLT APART FROM ITS POPULARITY IN TEXAS. WALKER'S ORDER FOR A THOUSAND OF THE NEW 6- THE DASHING YOUNG WAR HERO WHO HAD
HE WAS BANKRUPT AND LIVING IN POVERTY SHOOTERS PUT SAM COLT BACK IN BUSINESS. HELPED HIM IMPROVE HIS DESIGN-AND CON-
= Captain Walker, - Bless VINCE THE U. S. ARMY TO BUY IT!
you "re on to some- _ TeUlu
Dn't worry. I'll
xans
thing here.. seoe to it that you Thanks nt
r President.
but selling the get your pistols. yl
~ military brass on it !
is another matter {T dT
entirely.,
~ TIC
/ 10
1 it ✓ _ ( _ , \"i `.:`\1 - ,1,!rj1 a ' _ ; I. / ' r,. I 1
`may` ~ i r
r~ ~ r ' r oas
•H Ali ~~<i ~~1 r,
34
COL. HAYS EQUIPPED ALL HIS TEXAN VOLUNTEERS WITH TWO OF THE- CAPT. WALKER WAS ARMED WITH A SPECIAL PRESENTATION BRACE WHEN
HEFTY NEW 6-SHOOTERS WHEN THEY REACHED HIM AT VERACRUZ - HE FELL IN THE STORMING OF HUAMANTLA ON OCTOBER 9, 1847.
Don't lose them"
The Army's slow about
replacements.. g, - -
Laid.
r
/
AFTER VICTORY IN THE MEXICAN WAR, TEXAS-AS RANCHERS BEGAN TO TRAIL HERDS TO OUTSIDE MARKETS. SAM HOUSTON AND TOM RUSK SERVED AS SEN-
PART OF THE UNION-ENTERED A PERIOD OF ATORS FROM TEXAS, WORKING ON ISSUES LIKE
___GROWTH AND STABILITY THE COMPROMISE OF 1850.
Gold miners in California
Cotton is king, and we like to eat beef. >r? This boundary
raise lots of cotton. ` settlement will allow
t Texas to pay off its
debts.
J
_ ~ - - ldtiglF ~~r ._,t4&r~'y~rtt,vY1>. ` t f i I 6 {
1 y{~Yi j E A NEW STATE CAPITOL WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1850s AT AUSTIN. HAVING RETAINED CONTROL OVER ITS PUBLIC LANDS,
TEXAS IN THE MID-1850s ESTABLISHED TWO SMALL
Now this town - Wish weRESERVATIONS FOR THE INDIANS.
will grow, had abig =
school. - Probably, won't work
1 1 1 1 1 °~tt-: but we'll give it a try.
!44
ROBERT S. NEIGHBORS WAS APPOINTED AGENT NEIGHBORS WAS A BEAR OFA MAN, WELL-LIKED
TO TALK THE VARIOUS TRIBES INTO ACCEPTING AND TRUSTED BY THE INDIANS BECAUSE HE THE PEACEFUL TRIBES MADE SOME PROGRESS IN
RESERVATION LIFE. SEEMED TO HAVE THEIR INTERESTS AT HEART. THEIR NEW HOME. THE COMANCHES, HOWEVER, DID-
. Come on up to th' N'T WANT TO SETTLE DOWN AND BECOME FARMERS.
new Brazos eserve- 33,you'll be safe there. n f
f-These melons
and squash look
I real good, wife.
t -rte may.
III
a,
35
r
THEY WON A BATTLE AGAINST THE NOTED CHIEF IRON JACKET IN 1858.
AIDED BY CHIEF PLACIDO I don't like those wild Indians \
AND HIS TONKAWA WAR- any better than you, Col. John
RIORS, RANGER CAPTAIN Hey Hey, you possum ` i -
JOHN S. RIP FORD DECIDED \ lovers, come out and j
TO ATTACK THE VZ1 fight Iron Jacket!!
COMANCHES ON THEIR
HOME GROUND.. \
- "
All
MARRIED TO CHIEF PETA NOCONA WITH THREE CHILDREN, SHE COULD NOT MAKE THE TRANSITION
IN ANOTHER BATTLE CYNTHIA ANN PARKER WAS BACK TO LIFE WITH WHITE PEOPLE. THE DEATH OF HER LITTLE DAUGHTER TOPSANNAH CRUSHED
RECAPTURED FROM THE COMANCHES. HER SPIRIT
_ = 1'll betcha this is the
Parker girl we keep Cynthia, eat some- ~
hearing about thing, honey... You'll
starve yourself hke ~ - ~f \ 1t~!'aw } ~ ~
1 lit,,
a
f ~ I:
1
V ,
CYNTHIA ANN WASTED AWAYAND FINALLY DIED OFA THE RESERVATION EXPERIMENT WAS
BROKEN HEART, BUT HER SON OUANAH WENT ON TO A FAILURE Couldn't be any
BECOME A FAMOUS COMANCHE CHIEF , AND AGENT NEIGHBORS worse for us there
HAD TO TAKE THESE TRIBES TO than it is here.
OKLAHOMA (THEN CALLED INDIAN
Won't stir, won't TERRITORY). /
eat, never smiles ...I _
last don'tknow.
)
rr
a~ rt
i - r ~ ~rryl Y ~ I N
~ - - ~ " - r~ ,,,6666 ~ , f J l~~ I~!• ~ I
AS A SENATOR, SAM HOUSTON CONTINUED TO SPEAK FOR - BUT THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY SOON v
INDIAN RIGHTS IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS. Ulf J, TESTED THE BONDS OF THE UNION.
u .
What was the result of
j this extermination policy in he North can't us what to do with tell
Our
= {
o
Texas? Years of bloody warfare -
on our exposed frontier! L)i l~ I' t 1~ ;F r slaves.
> *d, - - t---"
In trr
36
HOUSTON BECAME UNPOPULAR AS A SENATOR RETURNING TO TEXAS FROM WASHINGTON, TROUBLE ERUPTED AT BROWNSVILLE WITH
BECAUSE HE WANTED TO PRESERVE THE UNION HE STILL HAD ENOUGH SUPPORT TO BE JUAN CORTINA, WHO BELONGED TO AN OLD _
FIRST AND FOREMOST. ELECTED GOVERNOR. HE MADE ONLY ONE RANCHING FAMILY
CAMPAIGN SPEECH. When I was a kid, _
Preserve Union and you this was just another
® If the Union sinks, - preserve Liberty. They are - of mama's pastures. -
let me go down with it. - the same, indivisible. _
ti _ A. - z
4, v
I
tt
l
d - ✓ flip / i i
CORT/NA MADEA DRAMATIC ENTRANCE INTO THE PUBLIC EYE, SHOOTING THE HE DEFEATED SEVERAL FORCES SENT AGAINST
MARSHAL OF BROWNSVILLE AND SAVING A POOR VAQUERO FROM ARREST.
HIM IN WHAT BECAMEA POPULAR UPRISING.
raci
_ J ml patron,5
Gracias! ,M-
_
i
a
/T y r♦Y
s
l> ,
pp
AFTER A SIX-MONTH REIGN, CORTINA WAS
FORCED TO FLEE INTO THE INTERIOR OF MEXICO TO DISTRACT THE MOVE FOR SECESSION AND HE EVEN TRIED TO TALK ROBERT E LEE INTO HEAD-
RIP U.S. TROOPS AND RANGERS UNDER UNIFY THE NATION, GOV HOUSTON PUSHED A ING THE OPERATION, BACKED BY BEN INTO H AD-
RIP FORD. GRAND SCHEME. MCCULLOCH.
Now if a protectorate If we had done it after the
w~,» he'll just stay over Mexico with i Mexican War, we wouldn't have
there... me at the helm! r* had a decade of border
headaches.
THE ELECTION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN AS PRESIDENT AT A CONVENTION CALLED IN AUSTIN IN
DECIDED THE QUESTION OF UNION OR DISUNION FOR JANUARY 1861 THE ASSEMBLED DELEGATES, LED HOUSTON WOULD NOT TAKE AN OATH TO
THE SOUTH AND DISRUPTED HOUSTON'S PLAN. BY ORAN ROBERTS, DECLARED FOR SECESSION. SUPPORT THE CONFEDERACYAND WAS
VOTERS APPROVED THE MEASURE BY FOUR REMOVED FROM OFFICE.
k - TO ONE.
y Sam Houston!
r
Sam Houston!!
This nation cannot l Under Lincoln our rights r »Come up!
t~ exist half slave and in the Union will go
half free.
37
'IF
ED CLARK BECAME THE NEW GOVERNOR OF TEXAS TEXANS MARCHED OFF TO BATTLE, THINKING THE WAR WOULD BE A SHORT ONE WITH VICTORY FOR
JOINED TO THE CONFEDERACY. THE SOUTH.
Sam says it's butnobodY all illegal, listens to him Whip them of
anymore. Cy + Yankees and come
1 I home soon, Ned. = r z;
:.h o
A BUT IT PROVED OTHERWISE, OTHER MEN STAYED AT HOME TO -
\ AND A NUMBER OF PROMINENT PROTECT THE FRONTIER.
TEXANS-MEN SUCH AS _
BENMCCULLOCHAND ~ALBERT SIDNEY - Somebody has
JOHNSTON-WERE - to do it.
KILLED IN THE FIGHTING.
OfW
yi ~ h ~'a~ rl ii lv ill ~ l~.,l ~ a~ _-`---5'-~•-%\ \ ~ ~
31;
~ ~ •~jr>f pia:. '/~C iii~c. - ~ _ - _ _
EMBOLDENED BY THE LACK OF TROOPS THE THEIR RAIDS DEVASTATED THE ENTIRE FRONTIER
COMANCHES SOUGHT TO REGAIN THEIR LOST TERRITORY R%
DURING THE COURSE OF THE CIVIL WAR. i /
~ IN,
All the soldiers~~~
K have gone to fight in
° the b g war-now is
ourchancel
THE SETTLEMENT LINE WAS PUSHED BACK 100 MILES, WITH BURNED OUT HOMES AND HASTILY DUG RARELY COULD THE SWIFT RAIDERS BE CAUGHT AND
GRAVES A COMMON SIGHT. PUNISHED.
a o ° Looks like th' o
v McAlister, stayed Gues s we
too long... - P - os 'um r
again.
,r
38
7
WITH TEXAS PORTS BLOCKADED BY THE UNION, MATAMOROS ENJOYED A COTTON TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY IN TOWNS ALL ALONG THE
PROSPEROUS COTTON TRADE. RIO GRANDE, AND THE WEALTH TRICKLED DOWN.
r .v
I'm dreaming of a
GWhite Christmas.
U
69
M11M0 MADSRA ' L o3
_ t fit '
rr - 1 L y t - ~r ~ - - - r r Jb
MANY VALLEY TEJANOS JOINED THE
CONFEDERACY. SOME, LIKE SANTOS BENAVIDES, SPARED THE BRUNT OF MAJOR FIGHTING, TEXAS BELTS TIGHTENED AS THE WAR DRAGGED ON. ^
FOUGHT IN LOCAL BATTLES. SETTLED INTO A DULL ROUTINE.
We aristocrats '
have to stick Let's have With who? Nobody left What l wouldn't
together to invite except old men -
aparty.1 give for areal -
and little boys.
J~r.,~; cup of coffee. = t a
0 1 a ~ rJ~y" ~a _ - - -
LY 1 _ o
TEXAN CASUALTIES WERE HIGH BEYOND THE ONCE THE SOLDIERS STARTED STRAGGLING BACK, GLOOM AND ANXIETY GRIPPED THE STATE.
MISSISSIPPI AND WOUNDED VETERANS RETURNED
HOME WITH DISCOURAGING NEWS. _ We're beat
f i _ Maude. Theygive
Lee has _ us a lickin'.
surrendered. Our = - But at least
prospects are dim. a I got VOL] back
alive. R - ~
d11 ~ ~ - ~ o -s„ oS
ON JUNE 19, 1865,GEN, GRANGER LANDED AT GALVESTON, HE DECLARED FEDERAL AUTHOR- WITHOUT SLAVES, THE LARGE PLANTERS VYERE
ITV RESTORED AND FREED THE SLAVES, A DAY THAT BECAME CELEBRATED AS JUNETEENTH. IN TROUBLE.
- By the power r % I got a field
We need some
vested in me... - full of cotton and
n - x ,I new kind of labor
code
no pickers. or this whole country
ntry
~1~-~.~fi perish.
J Gr L117
i un L(~~l c_ i~
e ~ / \ r i*,, ~ ~iP,✓~' 6G71t its l~<`~/~ r %/~f i ~ f
fAC /
ll ~1 r Y ~ Ir ~ ~ k + A ~ 4
39
THE SLAVE OWNERS HOPED THAT INTERIM GOVERNOR A. ALL BUT HARD-CORE UNIONISTS WERE DISAPPOINTED.
J. JACK HAMILTON WOULD SET UP A STATE-REGULATED IN THE NEXT ELECTION JAMES THROCKMORTON
LABOR SYSTEM. Jack's a Union Slavery is wholly dead an BEAT THE RADICAL UNION CANDIDATE ELISHA M.
, but he's n Texan 1j III cannot be revised in any form. PEASE FOR GOVERNOR.
man
i who understands our ~I I I,I y' The North will not allow it.
I attended the
problems. ! ,f secession convention and
s_~ ~ ~ I ~i!I u
was one of the few to
vote against it.
W II ll J" 11
'!I !I\~~ I I III ~ J
IN AUGUST 1866 PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON THROCKMORTON, IN HIS ATTEMPT TO MAIN- ALL THIS POLITICAL BICKERING WAS SWEPT ASIDE
DECLARED THE REBELLION AT AN END IN TEXAS. TAIN WHITE CONTROL AND RESTRICT THE FREE- WHEN THE U.S. CONGRESS PASSED THE FIRST
DOM OF BLACKS, RAN INTO STIFF OPPOSITION. RECONSTRUCTION ACT IN MARCH 1867 THE NEW
We'll soon be one f; lrl µ REGIMES WERE DECLARED ILLEGAL AL AND THE
big happy family, just SOUTH DIVIDED INTO 5 MILITARYZONES.
9 PPY Y These labor codes
like before. they've passed amount
I t F- to slavery in disguise. 2111
'ff,I~ 1- C~L , I t d a b'✓ h " Pres. Johnson
r + IC r t t n - used his veto, but
.
-j" it didn t do no
Vr
917 71 i,good. T?l
V"I
PHIL SHERIDAN WAS THE FIRST OFA SERIES OF IN JULY THROCKMORTON WAS DECLARED AN
GENERALS TO HEAD THE FIFTH DISTRICT WHICH IMPEDIMENT TO RECONSTRUCTION AND UNDER THE NEW SETUP, THE MILITARY HAD
INCLUDED TEXAS. REPLACED BY THE RADICAL PEASE. THE POWER TO REMOVE ANY DULY ELECTED
PUBLIC OFFICIAL.
Texas? Not a fit
place to live in from f' Now we're We're wiped
out
gonna' sesome
what 1 hear. changes made. Horace. Not a thing
we can do
~l as -
THE POSTWAR MILITARY GOVERNMENT WAS MUCH RESENTED BY THE BEATEN BUT UNBOWED TEXANS. KILLINGS SOMETIMES RESULTED, AND A NUMBER OF
. - r - = = - YOUNG TEXANS HAD TO GO IN HIDING.
The quicker these Rebs
_ < learn who won th' war, the
-r> - quicker we can go home
r ~ I
40
1 -
THE BLACKS NOW HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN 1869 FOURTEEN BLACKS WERE ELECTED TO SERVE THE Ex-SLAVES SOMETIMES SETTLED COMMUNITIES OF
AND MADE A VALIANT EFFORT TO TAKE IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. THEIR OWN.
CHARGE OF THEIR LIVES. '
Let's call it
Education is the The Freedman's C Peyton Colony, after
way to a better Bureau is improving our Mr. Peyton Roberts.
future. situation. I I I ~I! I!
't7_~_ e R~
PRESIDENT GRANT BECAME UPSET WITH THE HE SUPPORTED THE TICKET OF E J. DAVIS IN 1869
GEN. REYNOLDS ISSUED ORDERS TO CURB VIO- RESISTANCE FEDERAL FORCES FACED IN AND MADE SURE THAT SOLDIERS GUARDED THE
LENCE DIRECTED AGAINST BLACKS, UNION MEN, TEXAS. POLLING PLACES.
AND U.S. SOLDIERS.
We'll make an Things are moving
example of too slow down there j
to suit me.
all murderers.
} 5ti
rh- ; _,1~( yy1' Icy ~ , ~ • ~j ' ~ , /r/ I'c' ' 1~
t 11 ,x~ ~i = D / ~
DAVIS WON AS GOVERNOR BY A NARROW MAR TO Do SO, HE HAD To ARRESrANO HoLD~ RECRUITS TO THIS STATE POLICE WERE NOT
GIN, AND ONE OF HIS FIRST ACTS WAS TO PUSH CAPTIVE EIGHT OPPOSING SENATORS. _ ALWAYS OF THE HIGHEST TYPE.
A POLICEAND MILITIA BILL THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE. They'll say it was
Texas will rue the - another attempted
day this infernal machine L
Due to the lawlessness t Y escape. -
+p man arts of Texas, we was created
77ust take appropriate and
11 1 ti timely measures.
F HERS, LIKE FUTURE RANGER CAPTAIN BUT THE LEGISLATURE DID AWAY WITH THE STATE POLICE IN APRIL 1873, AND FEUDISTS GRADUALLY EANDER MCNELLY, DID A GOOD JOB. MADE PEACE
_ Maybe we can
get some sleep for a
I'll crack down on all change. ADD
these feuds. r !
CL ~ ~ ~ 1 ~ ~ 4 ~ ~1j, 'P r ~ Ili -j~,~~~~ 9G 1~. ~ -
41
r
WHEN DAVIS TRIED TO HAVE THE RESULTS
ENCOURAGED BY THE DEFEAT OF THE POLICE BILL, OVERTURNED, THE CAPITAL DIVIDED INTO
DEMOCRATS RALLIED TO BEAT GOV. DAVIS AT THE TWO ARMED CAMPS.
POLLS IN 1873. RICHARD COKE WAS ELECTED. F-044
r L- -,I 7
PAI
BAIZERY ~o _
`➢I
_ ul`i _ 9 (
fill
EMBITTERED BY THE FAILURE OF HIS NORTHERN -
FRIENDS TO SUPPORT HIM, DAVIS YIELDED TO COKE. RADICAL RECONSTRUCTION WAS OVER. GOV. COKE RE-ESTABLISHED THE TEXAS RANGERS TO
RID THE STATE OF HOSTILE INDIANS, RUSTLERS, AND OUTLAWS.
This is th' It's a big job boys, but
th' citizens of Texas want
thanks 1 get!
,y She's law and order.
th' Yellow Rose F s
of Texas.l"
17
~`7W ~~a+_• ~ r 1~I iii.. t 4 ~ ~~l;i~n ` t ~
TO SURVIVE THESE HARD TIMES, TEXANS USED SHORTLY AFTER THE WAR, JOSEPH MCCOY HAD OPENED A MARKET FOR
THEIR GREATEST NATURAL RESOURCE: WILD CATTLE. TEXAS CATTLE AT ABILENE, KANSAS.
Bring them cows on -
up, boys. We'll all
get rich.
- -
~yy v
THE U, S. ARMY COMMENCED VIGOROUS CAMPAIGNS
T E PLAINS INDIANS. COL. RANALD
-
TEXANS QUICKLY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF MCCOY'S CO OWN, DRIVING COUNTLESS AGAINST TH
HERDS UP THE TRAIL AND LATER STOCKING NORTHERN RANCHES. MACKENZIE WAS AN ABLE COMMANDER.
I
- rte-
We'll get 'um
z - 4
this Urne ~,r! ~ ~u
~ o-x~w v..,r~ ~ . ~ Y r• ,z a i sv' q:lW. t :y,~, rte,
fir,
„ / JU r4 ~ r - Ni s5 t
7 "42
AFTER MACKENZIE'S SMASHING VICTORY OVER THE COMANCHES AT PALO DURO CANYON IN 1874, CHIEF QUANAH PARKER LED HIS PEOPLE TO RESERVATION
LIFE. THEY WERE THE LAST HOLDOUTS.
1.~ r + Y~ + y+, \f l <4 < 7f~i i~f t ?F ~r'~ rl r JfJ .~.C
T
Al
II iti; +orii'`:-/! _ 1 ~I/ 1 i 111
.+1 ~ ✓iI ~ 'in ~ ~:fv lf`:,~4 1,//.. r.i~.~ ~'1Y ~
.tr " r 3 A~,ii/, ~'/.i-~• ~ ,i fin: t~..
w : mil` e~ - r
WITH THE COMING OF THE RAILROAD AND TELEGRAPH, TEXAS ENTERED THE MODERN AGE. THE DISCOVERY OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS
CAUSED MORE PROSPERITY, BUT SOME TOWNS PAID A PRICE.
7 77 1-
(71 1 r. I
It's either pick up and move
or become a ghost town.
r 1 ~
Ijl~
at.s~. 411'
ANOTHER ASSET-PUBLIC LAND-PROVIDED THE MONEY FOR A BEAUTIFUL NEW STATE CAPITOL BUILDING, THE SAME WE USE TODAY
Q'I
fAt
,-u
I
43
A BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT
i
I
n the October 3, 1926, well as educational. Effort
edition of the Dallas has been to make the fig-
Morning News there ures of Texas history liv-
appeared a quarter-page ing, vital, human figures 1e1
advertisement for a "New ' and not stilted personages.
Educational Art Feature" In order that the human
with the intriguing title ness of the story can be
Texas History Movies. The s 1
presented, the pictures and
ad featured a cartoon of r text material are at all
Philip Nolan, a mustanger, ~ times colloquial and
one of the first Anglo-1` a'; 1 idiomatic. Such liberties
Americans to penetrate z ' are self confessed."
a ~
Spanish Texas, under the The article went on
x 17", 7
banner "Wild Horses d to emphasize that these
Dragged 'Em In"Thus was ) "liberties" did not distort
initiated one of the most actual facts, which had
influential and long-lasting been carefully researched,
educational comic strip but merely accentuated
experiments in Texas, if not and colored the historical
the entire United States. record. Further, the sparse
Texas History Movies t. t text that accompanied the
was the concept of E. B. strip (captions, similar to
Doran, then director of School booklet, iy2s. Courtesy CenterforAmerican Histog, those in silent movies) had
news and telegraph for the University ofTexas atAustin. DI 43o39. the sole purpose of clarify-
Dallas News and the Dallas ing or explaining the pan-
journal. The title came from J. F Kimball, a former els, for it was the creators' aim to "let the pictures tell
superintendent of the public schools in Dallas. Jack the story."
Patton, a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, born in Such an approach was revolutionary for 1926,
19oo, was the artist of the strip. Previously he had and especially so for boondocks Texas. It expressed
tried a gag-filled series called "The Restless Years" for an awareness that the lowly comic strip had come of
the Journal and his work continued to grace the age as an artform in America, distinct from the con-
pages of the Morning News until his retirement in ventional method of presenting a mass of text, illus-
1961. Handling the text was a Dallas native, John trated by several drawings. Here the drawings carried
Rosenfield Jr., a University of Texas graduate who the weight, not the text.The format of the strip was
was amusements editor for the paper in 1926. Both uniform and simple, each daily installment consisting
Patton and Rosenfield were history buffs and shared of four panels generally run at the bottom of the
an obvious delight in the assignment. paper's second section. It measured a whopping 14
Accompanying the "prologue" sequence of the inches across and was set apart from other syndicated
strip in the October 5 edition was an article that set strips. Reflecting the old work-for-hire mentality,
forth what the newspaper hoped to accomplish with credit to neither artist nor writer was given and
its unusual approach: "The News offers this series to copyright was vested in the publisher of the News,
its readers with trust that it will be entertaining as A. H. Belo Corporation. The creators, however,
would soon get their due
because of the strip's popularity.
As an added incentive for its
younger readers, the paper
~4r~r rr i ; t ~,a ,pay
~o f Sl } RARRU }h) Ci
M Tiff _ A t I✓ WI)RK E C
offered a prize of five dollars for Tri,Nc ~ r ELP ; r >u a ~ ,ra 4r S r7 ' 1~
7
{ ~ 'U.i t1r
Gf li i~g R1x. _7
the best answers to ten questions
t s~c~ t
posed about each weekly install- ? t
mo _J
ment of the strip. Five dollars was
j:1 T, I
a lot of money 1926, ~z 26, especially x.-
r c
Al;
! f
° ~ r e~ l r ,
for kids in elementary school. 4C4
cj-
The hope was expressed that, if 'J~~' i
school children followed the
series, they would "acquire a 'A C~EVILU fi 9 vk a ,*E ~c s .,,a a 7~ e C *a,~
m
priceless knowledge of their state
t~~ F s
LS 4ri 07 i a e>~ r >Liv l l NK. 'd3 I
and a love for its traditions."~~
n e{r Wile his father saes, ~f
ss~vc e~~, r r tnalsim, his first trip to Follow it they did, and with a 1
' Texas Stephtn V ~Inain
Iva, in Nec l 0,4anS tryl3ng i ~
devotion little imagined when
f e fcr basin a zaa~z~,
the strip was launched. Texras~r
History Movies ran continuously
fir Stephen rereived a Jett€r l '
in the Dallas Morning News until a F from his father inforwmg
hear that flit, '+t eirani E
June of 1927, when-by request t i CoNernment had graotttl
permi.sion for the Colom,
of history teachers all over the
y AS 5 wT ExT SR N's; t .any
state-it was suspended until the°
following fall, when school
l~.. b3~' Eye j„ t ~ j t.p .~r>Jthi
resumed. By the time the series 'y"_
Tsar tn~ ra
crNeft To Aar Pu 1..10
ended on June 9, 1928, its cre-
f~ r~ t a~ ~i t z f
atorshad togged over 1,6oo Pgin-
els (428 dally installments) and
( d Tw t } 8 Nr q , i1
ji } F-
40
greatly influenced the way that , d (t~fl, x 1 (1{( 1 ~1
j} ~y} jpjjf 1 i t t It i1 7t 1~e ~fii
Texans would perceive their his- i x 1,1~jj~ t,:t1 4t ar.,u`k l {S{.
torical heritage. Adults loved the
its 1E lAj6 t 6rtNt STIN,v A~AnL h$ AUSTM AN-, S tsh uT G`, Mci On rK
series as much as the kids, and its Is PA4}t% Hta n£4 r-~ ta,s sEwa str AVVIht oast was 14CI J0L10Ev 1A 30 X-,T "Q[A~ j 1"13
nil, Kam Me L' t >iS t7"N, tiTtCflTJCBES rNATCVWW~Eg,
iAExtCAM; vNXR D NAaM0 T1ktE 6:erP~~ K AR1 J~ NC~a fP`tkf~.6 AfA°4ri,
appeal to "Young and Old" guar- Atsostrvrnu~rroa E ~~ecawntl
anteed that the cartoon strip
would not be forgotten any time [321
soon.
No sooner did the series end Sample page, at actual size. d-onr the iyis rhool booklet. Courtrsy C,wi,) f ,r 41n,,riean Hislory,,
than efforts to perpetuate its influ- University of Texas atAustin. DI 03040.
ence began. In 1928 the P. L.
Turner Company of Dallas, a noted textbook pub- vivid, and real." It also defended their use of "slang,
lisher, bought hardcover rights to the strip. Under colloquialisms, modernisnis, and deliberate anachro-
imprint of The Southwest Press, Turner that year nisms" to capture what they believed to be "the spirit
released the first compilation of Movies in its entire- of an episode" This 1928 first edition (done in blue
ty, running 217 pages. Deservedly so, Patton received ink) is now extremely rare, though it gave birth to
credit for the illustrations and Rosenfield for the many subsequent printings.
text.The book's foreword by them reaffirmed their That same year the Magnolia Petroleum
purpose of keeping the stories "humorous, human, Company, "prompted by a desire to be of service to
45
the pupils of the 1928 booklet at
public schools = actual size-so
1 L
{ maw m ,X'ri 1 x
Of Texas and to xr small it is a nnr-
have some small >
! acle that Texas
tt
part in helping school children
impress upon' didn't damage
them the
their eyesight
g e t av, r; 7 a n € ~
remarkable past reading the
Of their state, St,~ki« I Au,tira wid hhparty rearhs , am Arttcnio iv, l qvW, 1827, thing. Patton's
made an art work might
Ave al s the San Antonio Rive a ,tl be fr 17 1 "Iv e n R1, . , n MIMI l,a tfe
arrangement u &C r6a, iwc al, ,1e,., nm d, V also, er ap 3 ol, n, , It .S,,.n a,.a o t t!n O !C'S, have helped
aP*nYnt €1e' sts :VI , ( ao c Lill r t e',. kbcd 4 1 ,al " }1-a a I„ -on t( ia<"e
with the Turner two -a 0 t !.at l;r~w, <n , nov, 4, _t._ !"art ,oi, ns I, l a, " 13„ because his p1c-
thc, Sal, An atxThe 'Sam de Seaa7 u,s ~t~_It+ ,nxrty U
Company to guar , dzu.. ,k In 1 3, e, {"ur, s n r, as at, aan tile, d z , lde;t ,n 11tt uO, ,c Nv,a , t , tures were clean
rgb f-ar'k f ri~e,. The usrc, _m'! , aw,r} than th, u°v
print an al,,.11~,7 b . sml, Ind d of tfk a, 5a, .i ,i,u, : n Ooe -d t ter„ 0,1 n l- and simple, yet
pt ,d t~ I .7 a ;c t aa,ag ..izt t
abridged ver- "1 „ €,\,i ft is uo re- ~ 1,l, f._ 6 l 162S packed with
tom J >ba, «i It tau z , , z iea p( c a
lion. It ran 64 suggestive detail
pages and ended and expressive
with the battle Page from 1935 edition, showing disjunction between text and art. Courtesy Center movement. Jack
of San Jacinto. forAmerican History, University of Texas atAustin. DI 030¢2. Patton had a
The booklet was knack for giving
later expanded to 128 pages and some version of it the eye all the essentials needed to comprehend the
was given to the schools free of charge for three event portrayed without cluttering his panels.
decades until millions of copies had been distributed. Studying his work, it is not surprising that Movies
The amazing thing is that this booklet was in circu- captured the imagination of Texans for generations.
lation in Texas some years before comic books, as we In 1943 Magnolia purchased the copyright to the
now know them, had been "invented" in America! booklet, with the Turner Company retaining publi-
The hardcover edition was large, measuring 9 by cation rights to the larger book. The booklet cover
12 inches. It had a bold cover design with title at the design changed several times, but most were red and
top, curtains drawn back, and a scene from the battle blue with a Texas flag and several panels of Patton's
of the Alamo on the screen. At the bottom sat an art. One notable change came in 1935 with a differ-
enthralled audience. This design was also on the ent format, lengthwise 9 inches, 6 inches tall, and the
cover of the school booklet, only 5 by 7 inches. In addition of some text by "one of the foremost histo-
other words, the reader was at the "movies" and each rians of the state." In this edition there were four
panel represented a frozen scene or frame from the panels at the top with the text below and taking up
larger story's movie reel. Patton and Rosenfield made as much space as the art. One big problem was that
reference to this technique in their foreword: "Thus the new text described events far behind the art on
the pictures themselves tell the story and. not the the same page. As an example the text talks about the
printed captions, which serve in the fashion of tine- founding of missions at San Antonio in 1731 while
ma sub-titles" As a tribute to their creation, we have Patton's art shows Stephen E Austin's arrival in Texas
kept the same title on this complete revision of the in 1821. This was poor planning that made the story
story in graphic form. harder to follow. In this edition a Part Two has been
Both the hardcover and the booklet-despite added on the "Industrial Development of Texas"
their size difference-had the same page arrange- extending the overall length to 128 pages. By the
ment.Two newspaper installments (eight panels) 1950s the booklet was issued under Magnolia
graced each page. They made a three-panel frame on Petroleum's more familiar Mobil logo featuring the
the page with Rosenfield's brief explanation in the "Flying Red Horse" It was back to the 5 by 7 inch
middle. We have reproduced a sample page from the digest format but twice the size of the original
46
school edition, containing 248 newspaper strips in with the movie theatre illustration laminated in a
128 pages instead of 124 strips in 64 pages. frame, sometimes without. One issue came in 1935,
In 1959, the year I graduated from Stockdale known as the "Centennial Edition," celebrating
High School in South Texas, Magnolia merged with Texas's Tooth birthday the next year. It ran 244 pages
Socony-Mobil, a global operation that extended far instead of the usual 217. Turner's last edition came in
beyond the borders of Texas. Consequently, a deci- 1963, packaged with a selection of reading material
sion was made to discontinue publication of the little by Bertha Mae Cox and titled Let's Read About
comic book that had shaped the minds of several Texas. This print run lasted until 1968. As with the
generations of Texas school children. The exact rea- school booklets, it is difficult to assign a year to these
sons for this decision vary. Some say that "economy hardcover editions because they often list a string of
measures" were a factor. Others point out that after copyright dates going back to the beginning. I have
Magnolia became Mobil and went national it could only seen three different examples of the school
no longer justify providing a free booklet for Texas booklet's contents, even though the covers changed
school children without doing the same for kids in with various printings.
all the other states. A company called Graphic Ideas, under the lead-
Another reason for Mobil's decision cannot be ership of Jim Box, acquired the Turner Company's
ignored, however, and that is the comic book's depic- rights and brought out a 197o hardcover edition with
tion of ethnic minorities and the increasing criticism "fresh" text by Orlo Mitchell of Houston. Mitchell,
that the oil company was receiving because of it. while admitting that Patton-Rosenfield had skipped
Clearly what had passed for legitimate humor in the important sequences of Texas history (like the wan-
1920s was becoming more offensive to growing derings of Cabeza de Vaca), left the original sequence
numbers of Texans. Particularly offended were intact. Nor were the racial slurs that had so annoyed
Hispanics, especially ex-servicemen who had served Hispanics taken out. The format remained the
their country during World War 11 and the Korean same-eight panels to a page-with Mitchell's new
conflict. Upon returning home they protested the text placed in the center. At least it described the art
way in which Texas History Movies treated on the same page. This was the last edition before
Mexicans, criticisms that many Anglos had to admit Texas History Movies underwent drastic revision by
were valid. In addition to the generally unfavorable both copyright holders to bring it in line with mod-
way that Mexicans were visually depicted by Patton, ern ethnic perceptions.
Rosenfield's captions and talk balloons sometimes The TSHA, upon receiving copyright to the
contained racial slurs. Indians said "Ugh" and not booklet version in 1961, knew that Mobil had caught
much else, except to remark how tough and what some flak from Hispanics over the "image" that the
good shots the "Pale-Faces" were. Blacks fared even book projected. It was sensitive to the changes that
worse, typical of the accepted cartoon stereotypes of would be necessary if the state's oldest learned socie-
the 1920s. In fairness to Patton, it should be noted ty was to play any part in the continued use of
that many of his Anglos were drawn as scruffy, unsa- Movies in the public schools. In 1969 a group called
vory characters of bad behavior. the Texas History Education Advisory Committee
Whatever the actual reason, in 196o Mobil Oil was organized to "revitalize" the teaching of Texas
ceased distribution and donated its copyright to the history. High priority was given by this elite group
Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). Believing of educators to the old Movies booklet, for its value
the booklet still had some merit and certainly a his- as a teaching aid had long been recognized.
torical significance, Fred H. Moore, president of An article by Jack Loftis in the Sunday supple-
Mobil North America and a friend of the naent of the Houston Chronicle, February 28, 1971,
Association, made the actual bequest. noted that the TSHA was planning to reissue the
Meanwhile, the I? L. Turner Company had con- classic with "minor changes" to those panels that var-
tinued, since 1928, to issue a number of hardcover ious ethnic groups might find offensive. This version
editions. The cover was usually green, sometimes appeared in 1974, called Texas History Illustrated, and
47
the changes were far more than minor. Although failed to receive the Sesquicentennial Committee's
an "Editorial Advisory Board" of three Hispanic official seal of approval. Sales suffered as a result,
males and a black woman was selected for input, it especially orders that might have gone to various
appears that most of the objectionable points were school districts. PJM did not help its case by adding
mulled over and decided by Dr. L. Tuffiy Ellis, head some controversial panels on Santa Anna's mock
of the TSHA at the time, and his assistant, Dr. marriage at San Antonio and how he was caught at
Kenneth Ragsdale. Changes-both in art and dia- San Jacinto literally with his pants down, which
logue-were then forwarded to the Houston caused him to lose the battle-and Texas.
Chronicle, which had offered to do the printing and When I first read Texas History Movies in
provide technical help.To avoid identification with school I was a budding artist and the booklet was a
the old, biased version, Dr. Ellis suggested the new great inspiration to me. It told me about events
title Illustrated. that had happened long ago and stimulated an
This 1974 TSHA edition is printed on corn- interest in our historical heritage as Texans.
coon newsprint, measuring 7 by 10 inches and 55 Coming home after school I wandered the coun-
pages in length. There are two rows of four panels tryside and imagined ferocious Indians behind
on each page, and the text remained the same as in every bush. Other times I was an Indian myself,
Mobil's 1935 booklet except for a few corrections complete with my homemade bow and arrows.
of historical accuracy. This, again, meant that the Real arrowheads picked up on my roamings were
text had nothing to do with the art, a shortcoming proof that these people had once lived here. Where
that should have been recognized and fixed. The had they gone? Even with its cartoony treatment
booklet had an initial printing of 5o,ooo copies, Texas History Movies suggested the answer: They
followed by another 50,000 with a grant from the had been killed or driven out in years of violent
Texas Educational Association. In 1986 yet another struggle. A few managed to survive and blend in
printing was done, with better paper and a glossy with the larger society, but it took me awhile to
two-color cover. Although the title was changed learn this and meet their descendants.
back to Texas History Movies, the content is the In time I decided to draw my own version of
same as the revised edition of 1974. In his introduc- these events in a more realistic style than Jack
tion George B. Ward of the TSHA proudly noted Patton. My object was to create a "time machine"
that of 1oo,ooo copies distributed to Texas schools, effect that would make the readers feel like they
not one complaint had been received. were there when the events occurred. This requires
The TSHA was not alone in its revision a lot of research, which I did anyway to get the
process. The hardcover rights that had passed from story right. But I borrowed freely from Patton-
the Turner Company to Graphic Ideas were Rosenfield, especially their use of slang to make
acquired in 1981 by Pepper Jones Martinez, Inc., of my characters real human beings instead of lofty
Dallas (PJM).They issued a $250 facsimile of the cardboard figures that few of us can identify with.
Turner original-in blue ink-in 1984. It now sells When possible I tried to inject humor, for it is a
for a fraction of the cost and is the edition often painless way to learn about the past and appreciate
seen in used book stores. For one who wishes to the long distance we have traveled to reach our
examine the unexpurgated original, and discover present prospects for the 21st century.
what all the fuss is about, this is the most accessible I hope that my rendition of the old classic,
route. In 1986 PJM brought out a soft cover Texas History Movies, will "grab" a few young
"Sesquicentennial Edition" booklet reasonably minds and make them want to learn more about
priced at $5.95. It contained 155 pages in the the interesting people and events briefly touched
lengthwise format, also in blue ink, and Dr. Joe B. on in this booklet.
Frantz, a noted historian and former TSHA direc-
tor, was hired to write a new text. PJM optimisti ~CCC~CCC >(~fZ/
tally printed 150,000 copies of the booklet but it Austin, Texas
48