In between the Texas Revolution (1835-36) and the U.S. Civil War (1861-65), there was the war between the United States and Mexico (1846-1847).
The United States fought a war with Mexico for several reasons: annexation of Texas to the United States, the American belief in Manifest Destiny, political instability in Mexico, and a desire for war in both countries.
Thus begins Charles M. Robinson III’s short (91 pages) overview, Texas and the Mexican War.
Mr. Robinson reviews not only the actions of the armies of both sides, but the political activities, which echo those occurring in our own times. It focuses mainly on those events that affected or were affected by Texans. The majority of the book follows the path of General Zachary Taylor, from gathering troops in Louisiana to support Texas in anticipation of annexation through moving his troops from Corpus Christi up to the Nueces River boundary (where Mexico believed the border was) and down to the Rio Grande (where the United States wanted the border to be). (more…)
For anyone with interest in history in general and World War II in particular, the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas is a must see.
There are three main buildings housing separate exhibits:
- the George H.W. Bush Gallery, which has a chronological exhibit of the war in the Pacific;
- the Pacific Combat Zone, which has the large pieces, including planes, PT boats and artillery;
- the Admiral Nimitz Museum, housing a history of the Nimitz Hotel and a short history of Admiral Nimitz.
There are also other areas, including the Plaza of the Presidents (featuring the ten Presidents who served in WWII), the Memorial Courtyard and the Japanese Garden of Peace. The staff recommends a day and a half to see everything; we (my son, my step-father who is a WWII Vet (and thus got in free!) and I) spent most of a full day. Details below and more photos below.
(more…)
We always new it was true…or at least wanted it to be.
From the Dec. 12 UK Telegraph:
“To the naked eye the symbols are not visible but with a magnifying glass they can clearly be seen,” said Silvano Vinceti, president of the Committee.
In the right eye appear to be the letters LV which could well stand for his name Leonardo Da Vinci while in the left eye there are also symbols but they are not as defined.
He said: “It is very difficult to make them out clearly but they appear to be the letters CE or it could be the letter B - you have to remember the picture is almost 500 years old so it is not as sharp and clear as when first painted.
“While in the arch of the bridge in the background the number 72 can be seen, or it could be an L and the number 2.”
Or maybe he was just doodling. Or maybe these (except for the LV, which seems obvious) are just cracks in the centuries old paint the look like symbols but are actually gibberish.
While most people are so focused on the short term, it is nice to find that somebody planted something they hoped for people to find hundreds of years later. It is always more difficult to take the long view. I am currently reading Jack of Ravens by Mark Chadbourn, in which the protagonist takes a very long view of time, leaving clues along the way. Enjoyable read, great history…I’ll post a review here or at SFSignal soon.
Winston Churchill was a prolific author, and received the Nobel prize in Literature in 1953. His more well know historical works are his six volume memoirs of the Second World War, and his four volume History of the English Speaking Peoples. Both of these sit upon my shelves, but I started with his lesser known history/memoir of World War I, The World Crisis.
Though I am reading the “Abridged and Revised Edition, With an Additional Chapter on The Battle of the Marne”, I’m making my notes in accordance with The World Crisis‘ original separated books (that, and the fact that the book is longer than my memory). The Abridgment contains the first four volumes:
- Volume 1: 1911 - 1914
- Volume 2: 1915
- Volume 3: 1916-1918
- Volume 4: The Eastern Front
Volume 5, The Aftermath, is not included in the Abridged version, and is difficult to find. If anyone has a spare copy, they are welcomed to speed it my way.
The first volume was published in 1923, with the last volume and the Abridgment in 1931. Initially it was to only cover the Admiralty and the naval war with Germany, but expanded to cover the full of the war, including Churchill’s defense of his own actions in the Dardanelles and Gallipoli (the genesis for these volumes, according to the intro from Churchill biographer Martin Gilbert) and Churchill’s disdain for the decisions in the trench warfare stage.
As opposed to an event by event history, this is more of an observer’s record, with the observer in this case having a front row seat to the Admiralty, the fall of Antwerp and other events. It falls short it detailing some of the non-naval happenings at the beginning, and it is certainly biased; but it is an excellent read, infused with Churchill’s passion. (more…)
How do you continue a series that has ended, without making it droll, repetitive, unimaginative? (See the twelfth SF Signal podcast for a discussion on series that have gone on too long).
You simply follow history, as with Rick Riordan’s new series The Heroes of Olympus, the follow-up to his excellent Percy Jackson series). The Percy Jackson series has the Greek Gods of Olympus being challenged by the Titans they dethroned long ago. This new series combines Roman mythology with another set of ancients (no spoilers) set on revenge against the gods, following the stories of mythology again. This book, like the first series, not only provides a great family read (we will all pass this book around) but really invests the reader into the tales of mythology in a greatly entertaining way.
The first book, The Lost Hero, starts where the Percy Jackson series ended, with Rachael Dare making her first prophecy:
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call.
To storm or fire, the world must fall
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
The Lost Hero opens with Jason, Leo and Piper, three misfits at a camp for wayward kids who are obviously (if you read the first series) demi-gods. But Jason has no memory of anything before that moment. (more…)
Driving south on I-35 through Austin, Texas, I often wonder two things:
- why didn’t I take the tollway so I wouldn’t be stuck in traffic?
- what is The French Legation, pointed towards by sign tempting one in the direction opposite 6th Street?
A History of the French Legation in Texas by Kenneth Hafertepe answers at least the second question, describing “the oldest remaining structure in Austin”, starting with the building of the Legation in 1840 and 1841, when Austin was a year old. This is the 4th book in TSHA’s (Texas State Historical Association) Fred Rider Cotten Popular History Series (list of the series here). Early in the book, he explains what a Legation is:
Today all nations send ambassadors to each other and set up embassies, but in the nineteenth century, only the great powers sent and received ambassadors. In dealing with lesser states a great power like France would send and receive a minister, who operate a legation. Fledgling states - like Texas - were entitled to a legation, but without a minister. Instead, an officer of lower rank was left in charge - a charge d’affaires.
(more…)
Every kid who has gone through elementary school in or around Houston has been to the San Jacinto Monument on a field trip (and skinned a knee going down the stairs of the Battleship Texas, the WWI and II era ship which some kids mistakenly thought helped Sam Houston win the battle of San Jacinto). This book, the 3rd book in TSHA’s (Texas State Historical Association) Fred Rider Cotten Popular History Series (list of the series here), provides a concise description of the events leading to “one of the most decisive battles of the world” and the battle itself.
The book starts with colonists from America settling in Texas, content to be Mexican citizens. Changes in the Mexican government, brought about by Santa Anna as he came into power, swayed many of these settlers against Mexico, including the influential Stephen F, Austin; Austin was imprisoned under false pretenses for two years in Mexico, and upon his release, he used his influence for revolution and against Mexico.
Early victories heartened the revolutionaries, but the massacre at Goliad and defeat at the Alamo by Santa Anna’s massive army put general Sam Houston and his smaller, undisciplined force retreating towards East Texas. (more…)
This 2nd book in TSHA’s (Texas State Historical Association) Fred Rider Cotten Popular History Series (list of the series here) starts on December 4, 1835, with Ben Milam challenging the Texas rag tag army to attack the Mexican army under General Cos that was entrenched in San Antonio. The Texans pushed the Mexican army across the San Antonio River, leading Cos to negotiate terms to leave Texas forever.
But obviously that is not the end of the story. Ben Proctor’s concise but thorough history describes the build up, the battle and the aftermath. As with the other books in this series, the included black and white images and references are superb.
The Texas revolutionaries, appealing to words and ideas that inspired Americans, spread the word of Mexican oppression, causing a flood of volunteers from all parts of the young country. Proctor gives a good background on this, including a brief bio of Jim Bowie, sent to destroy the Alamo but partnering with Col. James Neill in declaring “we would rather die in these ditches than give them to the enemy.”
The arrival of William Barret Travis on February 3 and Davy Crockett on February 8 completed the legendary triumvirate. Proctor describes each, including the rivalry between Travis and Bowie, resolved ultimately through Bowie’s ongoing illness. He then moves to describe Santa Anna, bent on making a statement after Cos’ defeat. The description of Santa Anna’s army, including Mayan conscripts who did not speak Spanish, and the harsh march from Mexico to San Antonio, is particularly well written.
The commanders of the Alamo were surprised at the size of Santa Anna’s force, and set several legendary requests for aid. But, after many days of siege, cannon fire and nightly bugle calls, on March 6 the fort was breached, it’s defenders killed.
The Battle of the Alamo has 9 excellent black and white images, and is 40 pages in the print edition. This review is of the Kindle edition.
We’ve been working with the good folks at the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), publishers of the Texas Almanac, to convert an excellent series of 19 popular history books. This series, the Fred Rider Cotten Popular History series, features books about different places and events in Texas’ rich history. Each book is well documented and footnoted, with great pictures. They range between 40 to 144 pages, and they are extremely affordable on the Kindle at $4.99 each. They are also available in bundles (cleverly named “Cotten Bales”, get it?) of like topics.
The series chronicles:
- Six historical battles (Alamo, San Jacinto, Goliad, Texas/Mexican War and two books on Texas in the Civil War);
- The history of five cities/places (Austin, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Galveston and McKinney Falls);
- Four historic houses and the people who occupied them;
- Four Forts, and their impact on Texas History.
A more detailed list is in the table below. I’ll post reviews of each one (look for titles with underlines) and links to the Kindle versions via the covers (clickable) in the table below as they become available for Kindle.
| COVER | Title | Author | Year Published | Pgs
Print Edition |
| The Old Stone Fort | McDonald, Archie | 1971 | 48 |
| The Battle of the Alamo | Proctor, Ben H. | 1986 | 40 |
 | The Battle of San Jacinto | Harfertepe, Kenneth | 1989 | 64 |
| A History of the French Legation in Texas | Pohl, James W. | 1989 | 56 |
 | A History of Aston Villa | Harfertepe, Kenneth | 1991 | 68 |
 | The McFaddin-Ward House | Foy, Jessica and Linsley, Judith Walker | 1992 | 72 |
 | The Samuel May Williams Home | Henson, Margaret Swett | 1992 | 52 |
 | Remember Goliad | Roell, Craig H, | 1994 | 100 |
 | Fort Davis | Wooster, Robert | 1994 | 58 |
 | Austin: A History of the Capital City | Humphrey, David C. | 1997 | 84 |
| Dallas: A History of “Big D” | Hazel, Michael V. | 1997 | 80 |
 | Fort Lancaster | Francell, Lawrence J. | 1999 | 76 |
 | Civil War Texas | Wooster, Ralph A. | 1999 | 88 |
 | McKinney Falls | Henson, Margaret Swett | 1999 | 64 |
 | Galveston: A History and Guide | McComb, David G. | 2000 | 68 |
| Texas and the Mexican War | Robinson, Charles M. III | 2004 | 117 |
| Fort Worth: A Texas Original | Selcer, Richard F. | 2004 | 144 |
 | Fort Concho | Matthews, James T. | 2005 | 100 |
| Sacred Memories | McMichael, Kelly | 2009 | 128 |
 | Galveston History Series | combines Galveston, Ashton Villa and Samuel May Williams Home eBooks | 2010 | |
 | Austin History Series | combines Austin, French Legation and McKinney Falls eBooks | 2010 | |
 | Battles of the Texas Revolution Series | combines The Battle of San Jacinto, Battle of the Alamo, and Remember Goliad eBooks | 2010 | |
| Texas Cities History Series | combines Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Galveston eBooks | 2010 | |
San Antonio, where I went to high school and college, sits atop the Edwards Aquifer, the underground water source for most of the surrounding area. Though we never went into drought conditions, water rationing was common and still is today, with car washing and yard watering monitored and banned during tight water times.
Water from Stone describes a land reclamation project in Blanco County, which provides a path for land and water reclamation for not only the Texas Hill Country but other areas of the world as well. The story of the force behind this effort, J. David Bamberger, co-founder of Church’s Fried Chicken (also a San Antonio hometown product!) is intertwined with a description of the Selah Ranch where the reclamation project has been put into action over many years and several thousand acres.
The ranch sits on several thousand acres in Blanco County, west of Austin and north of San Antonio. Described multiple times in the book as the worst parcel of land in Texas, the book contains (more…)
