This Day In Texas History - May 8
Posted: Wed May 08, 2019 8:49 am
1846 - The Battle of Palo Alto marked the first major battle of the Mexican-American War, starting off about five miles from Brownsville. Mexican troops, who were trying to take over "Fort Texas," outnumbered American troops in the battle, 3,400 Mexicans to 2,400 members of the U.S. Army of Observation. The Mexicans thought Fort Texas was built on their territory.
U.S. Gen. Zachary Taylor rushed troops to the fort to assist defenders, but they were stopped by a Mexican force. Taylor ordered his artillery to attack the Mexicans in a move that later became known as the "Flying Artillery," involving the use of light artillery and quick movements. The Mexicans had gunpowder that was inferior to the Americans', and it tended to explode too early. It also shortened the range of their firing. Their inferior weaponry helped lead the Americans to victory. The battlefield is now officially known as Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site, maintained by the National park Service.
1846 - The first wagontrain of 120 settlers arrived in Fredericksburg traveling from New Braunfels on May 8, 1846, after a sixteen-day journey, accompanied by an eight-man military escort
1847 - The German scientist Ferdinand von Roemer concluded his tour of Texas, begun in November 1845. Roemer studied the flora, fauna, and geology of Texas from Galveston to Houston, as far west as New Braunfels and Fredericksburg, and as far north as Waco. Roemer's account of his travels, published in Germany in 1849, became an influential source of information for European emigrants, though he did not romanticize what he found: after noting that the early settlers of Texas had included "the most degraded riff-raff, adventurers, gamblers, swindlers and murderers--the scum not only of the United States but of all nations," he added with faint praise that "the present morals and respect for the laws of the land are as a general rule not any lower than in the adjoining Southwestern States."
1873 - The Houston Light Guards, one of the oldest national guard companies in the state, became the first uniformed militia company in post-Reconstruction Houston. It could not form until elimination of the Republican state administration seemed imminent. Confederate veterans began to organize the unit in the fall of 1872. By April 6, 1873, the necessary signatures appeared on the roll, and city officials notarized the charter. Members completed a petition that requested state approval of the charter on April 21, 1873, San Jacinto Day, which is now celebrated as the unit's organization day. On April 25, 1873, Edwin Fairfax Gray became the first company commander; Henry B. Johnson, first lieutenant; and Decimus U. Barzizaqv, second lieutenant. On May 8, 1873, the company filed the charter in Austin. The Light Guards served in both world wars as an infantry company of the Thirty-sixth Infantry Division.
1914 – Mildred “Babe” Didrickson Zaharias was born in Port Arthur. She was called “the Greatest Woman Athlete of the 20th century.”
1917 - The First Officers Training Camp was established just north of Anderson Hill at Camp Funston on the Leon Springs Military Reservation, near San Antonio. As part of America's mobilization for World War I, the FOTC was to provide in ninety days most of the junior officers for newly formed divisions. The trainees became known as "ninety-day wonders." By the end of World War I more than 32,000 acres near Leon Springs was in use by the army.
1970 - Miguel Keith, Medal of Honor recipient, was born at San Antonio, Texas. He entered military service at Omaha, Nebraska. Lance Corporal Keith, United States Marine Corps, was a member of the Third Marine Amphibious Force at Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam, on May 8, 1970. In the early morning he was seriously wounded during a ground attack by a large enemy force. In spite of his wounds, he ran across fire-swept terrain to check the security of vital defense positions. Completely exposed, he proceeded to deliver a hail of machine-gun fire against the enemy. As five of the enemy approached the command post he rushed forward and disposed of three of the attackers and dispersed the others. A grenade exploded near Keith, knocking him to the ground, and inflicted further severe wounds. He again braved concentrated hostile fire and charged an estimated twenty-five enemy soldiers. His assault and well-placed fire eliminated four of the enemy and scattered the remainder. During this valiant effort he was mortally wounded. Keith's heroic effort contributed to the success of his platoon in routing the enemy force.
U.S. Gen. Zachary Taylor rushed troops to the fort to assist defenders, but they were stopped by a Mexican force. Taylor ordered his artillery to attack the Mexicans in a move that later became known as the "Flying Artillery," involving the use of light artillery and quick movements. The Mexicans had gunpowder that was inferior to the Americans', and it tended to explode too early. It also shortened the range of their firing. Their inferior weaponry helped lead the Americans to victory. The battlefield is now officially known as Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site, maintained by the National park Service.
1846 - The first wagontrain of 120 settlers arrived in Fredericksburg traveling from New Braunfels on May 8, 1846, after a sixteen-day journey, accompanied by an eight-man military escort
1847 - The German scientist Ferdinand von Roemer concluded his tour of Texas, begun in November 1845. Roemer studied the flora, fauna, and geology of Texas from Galveston to Houston, as far west as New Braunfels and Fredericksburg, and as far north as Waco. Roemer's account of his travels, published in Germany in 1849, became an influential source of information for European emigrants, though he did not romanticize what he found: after noting that the early settlers of Texas had included "the most degraded riff-raff, adventurers, gamblers, swindlers and murderers--the scum not only of the United States but of all nations," he added with faint praise that "the present morals and respect for the laws of the land are as a general rule not any lower than in the adjoining Southwestern States."
1873 - The Houston Light Guards, one of the oldest national guard companies in the state, became the first uniformed militia company in post-Reconstruction Houston. It could not form until elimination of the Republican state administration seemed imminent. Confederate veterans began to organize the unit in the fall of 1872. By April 6, 1873, the necessary signatures appeared on the roll, and city officials notarized the charter. Members completed a petition that requested state approval of the charter on April 21, 1873, San Jacinto Day, which is now celebrated as the unit's organization day. On April 25, 1873, Edwin Fairfax Gray became the first company commander; Henry B. Johnson, first lieutenant; and Decimus U. Barzizaqv, second lieutenant. On May 8, 1873, the company filed the charter in Austin. The Light Guards served in both world wars as an infantry company of the Thirty-sixth Infantry Division.
1914 – Mildred “Babe” Didrickson Zaharias was born in Port Arthur. She was called “the Greatest Woman Athlete of the 20th century.”
1917 - The First Officers Training Camp was established just north of Anderson Hill at Camp Funston on the Leon Springs Military Reservation, near San Antonio. As part of America's mobilization for World War I, the FOTC was to provide in ninety days most of the junior officers for newly formed divisions. The trainees became known as "ninety-day wonders." By the end of World War I more than 32,000 acres near Leon Springs was in use by the army.
1970 - Miguel Keith, Medal of Honor recipient, was born at San Antonio, Texas. He entered military service at Omaha, Nebraska. Lance Corporal Keith, United States Marine Corps, was a member of the Third Marine Amphibious Force at Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam, on May 8, 1970. In the early morning he was seriously wounded during a ground attack by a large enemy force. In spite of his wounds, he ran across fire-swept terrain to check the security of vital defense positions. Completely exposed, he proceeded to deliver a hail of machine-gun fire against the enemy. As five of the enemy approached the command post he rushed forward and disposed of three of the attackers and dispersed the others. A grenade exploded near Keith, knocking him to the ground, and inflicted further severe wounds. He again braved concentrated hostile fire and charged an estimated twenty-five enemy soldiers. His assault and well-placed fire eliminated four of the enemy and scattered the remainder. During this valiant effort he was mortally wounded. Keith's heroic effort contributed to the success of his platoon in routing the enemy force.
