THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER

It’s happy now. Wasn’t on this day in 1836. The Alamo was under siege by the Mexican thousands and the Texians, despite today’s issuance of their proclamation of Texas independence, were about as disorganized and fractious as you might expect a fledgling government and its ad hoc military to be. Four days from now, with [...]

As Lyle Lovette says: "No, you’re not from Texas. But Texas wants you anyway." So, here’s what you do. Read the following aloud, with a measured cadence and a certain solemnity: Commandancy of the Alamo    Bexar, Feby. 24th, 1836     To the People of Texas & all Americans in the World– FellowCitizens and Compatriots–                          [...]

As Lyle Lovette says: "No, you’re not from Texas. But Texas wants you anyway." So, here’s what you do. Read the following aloud, with a measured cadence and a certain solemnity: Commandancy of the Alamo    Bexar, Feby. 24th, 1836     To the People of Texas & all Americans in the World– FellowCitizens and Compatriots–                          [...]

…is Monday, actually, the anniversary of the defeat of the forces of Mexican dictator/Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at San Jacinto, in the bayous southeast of present-day Houston, practically in Galveston Bay. The Texian victory led to establishment of the Republic of Texas. The day is the last of what Texana author Mike Cox [...]

So I’m reading this detective novel, published in Great Britain, and enjoying it, despite the many typos. The proofreader must have been drunk. Then, in a little history sequence, a character pronounces the Texas Brigade a cavalry outfit. Not hardly. Straight-leg infantry, entirely. Then April 21 is named as Texas Independence Day. Uh, uh. It’s [...]

It seems like only yesterday when certain phrases spoken aloud were enough to gain a smile from an older Texan who knew the history well enough to have read and heard such phrases all his life. You can still see the smile if you pick the right person to ask "Who will go with old [...]

On this Texas Independence Day, it’s traditional to fly the flag. The question is, which one of the twelve? UPDATE  Happy Birthday, Texas! Photos at the daily’s Web site from birthday events at the Capitol. Includes re-enactors in period dress, schoolchildren and dancers. Only the beer bellies on some of the re-enactors look out-of-place. But [...]

The Alamo a) as planned, b) as it appeared in 1836, and c) as it appears today./Texas Almanac. "The Texas Declaration of Independence was produced, literally, overnight. Its urgency was paramount, because while it was being prepared, the Alamo in San Antonio was under seige by Santa Anna’s army of Mexico." "In the early morning [...]

Texas Independence Day isn’t until tomorrow, March 2, but I wanted to give you non-Texans a head start on a Texas tradition. As Lyle Lovette says: "No, you’re not from Texas. But Texas wants you anyway." So, here’s what you do. On Friday, whenever you like–sunrise is a decent time–you take out of your wallet [...]