This Day In Texas History - March 5

[joe817]

1731 - Fray Gabriel de Vergara refounded Mission Concepción on the east bank of the San Antonio River about halfway between the already existing missions of San Antonio de Valero (Queretaran, 1718) to the north and San José (Zacatecan, 1720) to the south. The mission was renamed Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña in honor of viceroy Juan de Acuña, Marqués de Casafuerte.

1749 - Garza Falcón arranged for forty families from Nuevo León to settle at Camargo on the banks of the Rio Grande. He founded the villa of Camargo, a presidio for the military squadron, and a mission, San Agustín de Laredo, for the Indians. Escandón named him captain and chief justice of Camargo, the first settlement founded on the Rio Grande. In 1752 Garza Falcón established a ranch, Carnestolendas, now the site of Rio Grande City, Texas, on the north side of the river.

1823 - John Tumlinson, the newly elected alcalde of the Colorado District in Stephen F. Austin's first colony in Texas, wrote to the Baron de Bastrop in San Antonio that he had "appointed but one officer who acts in the capacity of constable to summon witnesses and bring offenders to justice." That appointee, Thomas V. Alley, thus became the first Anglo law enforcement officer in the future republic and state of Texas. Other prominent colonists who served as constable included John Austin and James Strange

1836 - On March 5, day twelve of the siege, Santa Anna announced an assault on the Alamo for the following day. This sudden declaration stunned his officers. The enemy's walls were crumbling. No Texan relief column had appeared. When the provisions ran out, surrender would remain the rebels' only option. There was simply no valid military justification for the costly attack on a stronghold bristling with cannons. But ignoring these reasonable objections, Santa Anna stubbornly insisted on storming the Alamo.

1836 - James L. Allen, was the last courier to depart the besieged Alamo.

1836 - Almanzon Huston, quartermaster general of the Texas army was in Nacogdoches raising and supplying volunteers for Houston's army.

1836 - Charles Goodnight was born in Macoupin County, Illinois. 1845, when he was 10, his mother and step-father, Hiram Daugherty, took him to live in Milam County, Texas. Charles rode the entire 800 miles bareback on his horse "Blaze". Goodnight took pride that he was born at the same time as Texas, and that he came to Texas at the same time Statehood came to Texas. He became a Texas Ranger briefly, But his greatest accomplishment was that of a cattleman. He settled in Palo Duro Canyon, had a million acres of land and 100,000 head of Cattle. He and Oliver Loving blazed the Goodnight-Loving cattle trail from Texas to the railheads in Kansas.

1842 - Mexican general Ráfael Vásquez, with 700 soldiers, occupied San Antonio. Unable to raise an army in time to resist this invasion, the Texans surrendered and evacuated the town without a fight. Vásquez raised the Mexican flag over the town, and declared Mexican laws in effect. On March 9 the Mexican army abandoned San Antonio and began to withdraw to Mexico. The incident was part of a series of raids and counter-raids in 1842 as Mexico sought to recover Texas and the Texans fought to maintain their independence.

1843 - Richard Henry Boyd began his remarkable life. He was born in Mississippi and named Dick Gray, a slave of B. A. Gray, and was later taken to his owner’s new plantation near Brenham, Texas. Boyd accompanied Gray and his three sons as a servant in the Confederate army. After Gray and his two older sons died in battle near Chattanooga, Boyd carried the youngest son, who was badly wounded, back to the Texas plantation. Boyd took charge of the plantation and managed cotton production and sales until emancipation. He then worked as a cowboy and in 1867 changed his name from Gray to Richard Henry Boyd. Self-taught, he enrolled in Bishop College at Marshall and was later ordained a Baptist minister. He organized six churches into the first black Baptist association in Texas in 1870 and went on to represent the group at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.

1857 - William Stevenson, the Texas first Methodist Minister died in Louisiana. From 1815 to 1825, he preached in the Arkansas territory, and at one point held the first Protestand service recorded in Texas at Pecan Point (now Red River Co.) At that time, only the Catholic church was permitted to hold services in Texas.

1861 – Texas once again declared itself an independent nation for a few days before joining the Confederate States of America.

1863 - The Ross Brigade(aka the Texas Cavalry Brigade), defeated and captured a strong federal reconnoitering expedition at Thompson's Station, Tennessee.

1938 - In one of Eugene Alexander Howe's(journalist in Amarillo) most famous promotional stunts was his proclamation of March 5 as National Mothers-in-Law Day in honor of his wife's mother, Mrs. Nellie Donald. He wanted to make amends for having ruffled her feelings in a 1934 column. For the occasion Howe staged a parade that featured the "world's largest float," a block long and carrying 650 mothers-in-law. Eleanor Roosevelt, who was in Amarillo during a lecture tour, joined officials on the reviewing stand and was presented the "world's largest bouquet" of 4,000 roses, hoisted by a crane.

1955 - Bascom Giles (often referred to as "the father of the Veterans' Land Bill"), was indicted in Austin and charged with conspiracy to commit theft of $83,500 in state money in Veterans' Land Board deals. He was finally sentenced to serve six years in the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, having received thirteen sentences totaling seventy-five years, which were to be served concurrently. On investigating the report concerning the activities of two Cuero men, Towery(managing editor for the Cuero Record) found that veterans who were signing applications to buy land were not aware that they were doing so, having been told by unscrupulous land promoters that they were getting the land free or that they were applying for soldiers' cash bonuses. Amounts varying from ten to three hundred dollars were paid to veterans for their signatures. Many of those who signed were barely literate. Rumors having reached him that local veterans were receiving bills from the state for payments on land they did not know they had bought. These actions became known as The VETERANS' LAND BOARD SCANDAL.

1984 - The Gulf Oil Corp. board voted to sell the company to Chevron (Standard Oil of California) for $13.2 billion. Gulf operations were merged into Chevron in what was the largest corporate merger to date.

[joe817]

On 5 March, General Santa Anna issued the formal written order to his troops to storm the Alamo garrison (translated from the Spanish):

To the Generals, Chiefs of Sections and Commanding Officers: The time has come to strike a decisive blow upon the enemy occupying the Fortress of the Alamo. Consequently, His Excellency, the General in Chief, has decided that tomorrow at 4 o'clock a.m., the columns of attack shall be stationed at musket-shot distance from the first entrenchments, ready for the charge, which shall commence, at a signal given with the bugle, from the Northern Battery.

The first column will be commanded by General Don Martin Perfecto de Cos, and, in his absence, by myself. The Permanent Battalion of Aldama (except the company of Grenadiers) and the three right center companies of the Active Battalion of San Luis, will comprise the first column. The second column will be commanded by Colonel Don Francisco Duque, and, in his absence, by General Don Manuel Fernindez Castrillon; it will be composed of the Active Battalion (except the company of Grenadiers) and the three remaining center companies of the Active Battalion of San Luis.

The third column will be commanded by Colonel Jose Maria Romero and in his absence Mariano Salas; it will be Composed of the permanent Battalion Of Matamoros and Jimenes. The fourth column will be commanded by Colonel Juan Morales, and in his absence, by Colonel Jose Minon; it will be composed of the light companies of the Battalions of Matamoros and Jimenes and of the Active Battalion of San Luis.

His Excellency the General in Chief will, in due time designate the points of attack, and give his instructions to the Commanding Officers. The reserve will be composed of the Battalion of Engineers and the five companies of Grenadiers of the Permanent Battalions of Matamoros, Jimenes and Allama, and the Active Battalions of Toluca and San Luis. The reserve will be commanded by the General in Chief in person, during the attack; but General Augustin Amat will assemble this party which will report to him, this evening at 5 o’clock, to be marched to the designated station. The first column will carry ten ladders, two crowbars and two axes; the second, ten ladders; the third, six ladders; and the fourth, two ladders. The men carrying the ladders will sling their guns on their shoulders, to be enabled to place the ladders wherever they may be required.

The companies of Grenadiers will be supplied with six packages of cartridges to every man, and the center companies with two packages and two spare flints. The men will wear neither overcoats nor blankets nor anything that may impede the rapidity of their motions. The Commanding Officers will see that the men have their chin straps of their caps down, and that they wear either shoes or sandals. The troops composing the columns of attack will turn in to sleep at dark; to be in readiness to move at 12 o'clock at light. Recruits deficient in instruction will remain in their quarters. The arms, principally the bayonets, should be in perfect order.

As soon as the moon rises, the center companies of the Active Battalion of San Luis will abandon the points they are now occupying on the line, in order to have time to prepare. The cavalry, under Colonel Joaquin Ramirez y Sesma, will be stationed at the Alameda, saddling up at 3 o'clock a.m. It shall be its duty to scout the country, to prevent the possibility of an escape.

The honor of the nation being interested in this engagement against the bold and lawless foreigners who are opposing us, His Excellency expects that every man will do his duty, and exert himself to give a day of glory to the country, and of gratification to the Supreme Government, who will know how to reward the distinguished deeds of the brave soldiers of the Army of Operations.

[joe817]

Letter from Robinson to Fannin:

" Executive Department of Texas Washington March 6, 1836. To Col. J W Fannin Jr. Dr. Sir Yours of the 1st inst, is just recd. In answer permit us to say that unfortunately we are too much divided for the benefit of our country and promotion of the true interest to render you that effectual aid you so much need. Party spirit lays hold with her infernal fangs, upon everything that might be of any service to our country in their deadly struggle for her rights. The spirit of party rages to an unprecedented hight, & its bitter rancor is truly alarming & heartrending to any true friend to the country.

We however believe that under the organic law we were and are yet clothed with the power that law gives, for some days however we have not acted officially, and in fact the very letters addressed to us by you are seized by others and Read and commented upon before we are permitted to see them. Not withstanding this we feel that we are still legally in office & will continue to act until superseded by some future government. In accordance with our official duty & our oaths we have to say & instruct you to use your own discretion to remain where you are or to retreat as you may think best for the safety of the brave Volunteers Under your command, & the Regulars & Militia, and the interest of our beloved country requires unless you shall be instructed otherwise by Genl. Houston who has been by this new convention confirmed & appointed commander in chief of the Army of Texas Militia & volunteers; as well as regulars.

The bearer can give you all other information necessary as well as if it were here written. As we are informed that this new convention intends to form immediately an other provisional Government, therefore. when you communicate again, it may be well for you to direct your communications to the Provisional Government of Texas This moment information has been given that about 30 men has thrown themselfs into Bears for its relief from Gonzales, that many more is on the way under Coll. Neill Genl. Barlison & to raise the siege if possible. Captn. Dimitt with 200 men I am informed are marching for your relief.--

Genl. Houston has been ordered to the Army by the convention forthwith, it is thought he will go to day or to [torn] not say how he may order his movements

The God of Battles shield your and our countryman from home in the field, is the parting adieu of your friends. James W. Robinson Acting Governor Alex. Thomson Geo. Pattillo John McMullen

[joe817]

The Battle Of The Alamo - Siege Chronology

Day Twelve – Saturday March 5, 1836

Santa Anna issues orders for the assault to begin on the following day utilizing four assault columns and one reserve column.

Santa Anna calls for reconnaissance to determine Mexican attack positions and approaches.

A messenger arrives at the compound with the grim news that reinforcements aren't coming.

Travis gathers his men and informs them of their options.

At midnight the Mexicans begin moving into attack position.

[joe817]

When I posted this entry on March 5, 2016, member JALLEN posted a really nifty link with an interactive map, before and today pictures, and general history of the Siege Of The Alamo. Give it a look!

http://www.thealamo.org/