Fort McKavett

Fort McKavett, built 150 years ago, is one of the most preserved military posts from the old days.

It was quite windy there on the day when we visited the site, and no other visitors besides us.

We were paid our solder's salary - the "money" came from the old safe box.

We spent part of our earnings in the casino. It was interesting to play the Faro game and break the bank, as well. I guess, I have played it in my previous life. The game dates back to 17th century, so who knows...

As you can see in one of the above photos, we spent our winnings at an inn, despite the innkeeper's effort - he tried to convert us to follow the temperance movement and even sang us a proper song.

Finally, we gave him all our casino money and kept on sightseeing.

While visiting the site, we came across an arrowhead diary. Do you know that some arrowheads, spearheads, and knives found in the Hill Country area date back even up to 7,500 - 10,000 BC. It is hard to comprehend how old some of them are.

It was quite sad that we were the only visitors at the place. You need to make a special effort to get there - it is situated rather far from a main road, nearest town.

More about Fort McKavett on their webstite.

Photos: June 2025

I for (Texas) Independence Day

 

Texas Declaration of Independence was signed on March 02, 1836.

The Texas Independence Day is observed annually in Luckenbach, TX. The ceremony is Texas Patriotic and quite uplifting.

 It all starts with the Texas song and clapping.

Then comes the hymn.

The first responders, Texas Rangers, the military, Border Patrol, and teachers are appreciated. 

 

 

Next, the history part comes - the Alamo is mentioned of course.

 

Every year, among others, an old Texas flag is taken down and retired in a very solemn mode. It is followed by putting up a new flag. 

 

 

There is also Pistol Packing' Paula, presenting her skills.

More about the Texas Declaration of Independence - History Facts: HERE.

James A Gill

There was a man by the name of James A. Gill, who was born in Virginia in 1826. Who his parents were and when the man came to Texas, is not known. Well, at least I have no clue.

James settled in Polk County, TX. In July 1860, he lived and worked in Justice Precinct #6, Polk County, Post Office: Halifax (1).

A few months later, in November, James A Gill went to Moscow, TX, and enlisted in the CA as 3rd Sergeant with Moscow Cavalry Company, Texas State Troops. The company was drilled and was to be ready when needed in service. On 9 September 1861, James A Gill was reenlisted in Livingston, TX. He then was a private (2) with Company F of the 4th (Reiley's) Regiment, Texas Cavalry (4th Mounted Volunteers). Shortly after that, on 25 September, James was mustered in (at San Antonio). The estimated value of his horse was $150.

Private James A Gill died on 26 April 1862, in New Mexico, during the regiment's march from Santa Fe to Texas. Cause of death: illness.

More about the 4th Regiment, Texas Cavalry:
1. Texas Handbook Online
2. https://www.nps.gov

More about James Reily: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/reily-james

Nothing more have I found out about James A Gill.

Source:
1. "United States Census, 1860", familysearch.org
2. National Park Service, Soldiers, and Sailors Database

"There never were such men before: the Civil War soldiers and veterans of Polk County, Texas, 1861-1865". Ruth Peebles, Livingston, TX, Polk County Historical Commission, 1987.
 

Edward Isaac Johnson

Edward Isaac Johnson was born to Edward Isreal Johnson and his wife Elisabeth David in 1816, in Portsmouth, England. After relocating to America, the E I Johnsons became one of the prominent families in Cincinnati.

Summer of 1835 - during the Texas Revolution, Edward Isaac joined a company of volunteers in Maysville, Kentucky. Their destination was Texas. The volunteers were promised land for their participation in the Revolution fights (800 acres in case they survived/1600 if they were killed).
November of the same year - together with Capt. Thomas K Pearson's company, the man landed at Matagorda. The company soldiers hauled a cannon retrieved from the San Felipe schooner. It was delivered to Bexar, where Gen. Edward Burleson's army was stationed.

After the siege of Bexar, E. Johnson was a man of Capt. A B King's company and he took part in the battle of Refugio. When the Company commander was killed, Edward marched to Goliad, where he joined Capt. B H Duval's unit. During the executions of the Texan prisoners in Goliad, Edward Isaac Johnson set off the explosion of the gunpowder storage area and perished, killed by the detonation. It happened on Palm Sunday, 27 March 1836.

Fort Martin Scott, Fredericksburg, TX

More about
Siege of Bexar: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/bexar-siege-of

Battle of Refugio: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/refugio-battle-of

Goliad Campaign of 1836: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/goliad-campaign-of-1836

Goliad Massacre: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/goliad-massacre

Source:
"The Jewish Texans. The Texians and the Texans ", Institute of Texan Cultures, University of Texas, Institue of Texan Cultures, San Antonio, 1996.
Texas Handbook Online

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This post is part of our series: They Lived in Texas

Monument to Dawson's Men

The Monument is dedicated to the men who fell during the so-called Dawson Massacre (1842) and Mier Expedition. 

 

One of the men who took part in the Somervell/Mier Expedition was Mr. Kinchen William Davis. He was captured by Mexican troops and happened to draw a white bean, then was kept at the Perote prison. 

More about Mr. Davis, his fate, and family in the post HERE.  

 

More information related to the historical events mentioned above:

• Dawson Massacre: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/dawson-massacre
• Somervell Expedition: https://www.tshaonline.org/.../entries/somervell-expedition
• Mier Expedition: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/mier-expedition
• Black Bean Episode/Drawing: https://www.tshaonline.org/han.../entries/black-bean-episode 

Pictures taken in La Grange, TX.

H is for...

 

The letter H is for two things in the second edition of "My Texas Alphabet".

The first one is the Hill Country with its beautiful vast land, fresh air, plenty of deer and other critters, and our day trips.

 When I was little, I drew people dressed in 19th-century-type clothes, ladies in long dresses, and men with top hats and cloaks around their arms. There were also single hills in the background. My teacher laughed at those hills. She said they looked like haystacks. Well, I agree the hilly areas of Poland look different indeed. Anyway, my work was laughed at in the classroom, I got ashamed and never drew those people and landscape again.

Decades later, when still in Poland and with no faintest idea or desire to leave the country, I was told by a psychic that in my previous life in the 1850s, I had lived in the very south of the US. Frankly speaking, I did not take it seriously, so I did not give any thought to that at all then. All in all, soon, I totally forgot about the psychic and her reading.

When I came to the Hill Country, in a strange way it felt like coming home. I found the hills, vast landscape, and views somehow familiar. Then, I recalled my early childhood drawings and the psychic message. Maybe I did live here before? Or maybe not?

The other alphabet "H" is History.
We love learning about the history of the Land, its places, and its people.

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"My Texas Alphabet" is quite a personal summary of our hitherto life in Texas. 

G for Goliad and Gonzales

 

In "My Texas Alphabet", the letter "G" is for Goliad and Gonzales. Both are connected with the early history of Texas State and its fights for independence.

In 1835, Texas was still part of Mexico, however, the Texas insurrection had already begun. The Goliad Campaign, which took place that year, was related to suppressing the Texas uprising by the Mexican government and their army.

I am not going to describe it all here, as experts in Texas history have done it already.
You can read about the Goliad Campaign here.

Gonzales was a crucial spot during the Campaign. On 2 October 1835, the battle of Gonzales took place. The attack of Texan troops made the Mexican army withdraw their forces from Gonzales to Bexar. A certain cannon played an important part in it all. Upon the request of the citizens of Gonzales who needed protection from the Indian attacks, the cannon had been provided by the Mexican army. There was one condition, though. The cannon was to be returned to the givers whenever they wanted it back. That time came during the Goliad Campaign in 1835, when the representatives of the Mexican army came to Gonzales to retrieve the gift. Nevertheless, the colonists, who were not willing to give the cannon back, arrested the soldiers. All in all, the conflict arose and led to the Battle of Gonzales. Before the battle, two women of Gonzales made a flag that became symbolic later. It contained the picture of the cannon and the slogan "Come and Take It". 

More about the Gonzales cannon and flag here.

 Recently, the flag and the slogan have become controversial, to say the least.

Well, I do not intend to provoke any political discussion here regarding the flag, the places mentioned or the people who were involved in the Campaign. According to philosophers, everything is subjective. That was what I have been taught during my philosophy studies. I would say, (history) facts are just facts. Yet, adding interpretation to those facts is a totally different matter.

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"My Texas Alphabet" is quite a particular and personal summary of our hitherto life in Texas.

You can find more Alphabet entries Here

Photos from:

1. La Grange, TX.

2, 3. Bandera, TX

May 2022

I have not done a monthly summary for some time. May was so busy and eventful that I decided to make a post to sum it all up.

Maifest - the Spring Fest with the German Choirs of Fbg, TX.

 

 

175th Anniversary of day when the first European settlers came to the town area - anniversary weekend.

• Lasting Friendship (between the settlers and the Comanche Indians of the area) ceremony.
  

After the official part we enjoyed the lunched sponsored by the local State Fair Council, live music by a country and western band, and the fireworks.

 

• The Peace Treaty - the original document - signed in 1847 by the settlers and the Comanche chiefs was on display at the Nimitz Museum.
  

• Next day, Comanche Indians of Oklahoma presented their traditional dances. 

The last dance was also a community dance.

 

• History of the Lutheran church - exhibition

The display was quite interesting - the collection of items related to the Lutheran religion and the local Lutheran churches. Some of the items (such as a Bible printed in the 1700s) were very old. It was quite cool to see them.

1736 Luther Bible translation

• A few days later - Open day at the Meusebach Historic school was not what we had expected. 

We went there to learn something about the school itself, their first teachers, students, and so on. What we found there was a book presentation (by its author) not related to the school history at all. However, we met some nice people there including acquaintances of ours.

 

• Music concert - pianist and virtuoso Doug Montgomery gave quite a long and very enjoyable show. 

 

• Summertime dance night in the park came back in May as well.

 

We (and other people as well) danced a lot and had a very good time.

 

And I danced schottische for the first time - it is a kind of polka which originates in Bohemia.

 

 

What was your May like?

 Credits:

Schottische played by Rocky King Band

L for Luckenbach

Currently, I am working on another genealogy-related post. The research regarding that particular family which I am going to write about is difficult and is taking me a lot of time. However, I think I will complete it by the end of March.

In the meantime, another letter in the "My Texas Alphabet" series. 

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L for Luckenbach

No surprise here - Luckenbach is a legendary spot in the Hill Country popular with visitors. Well, years ago, we almost got married in Luckenbach.

Within a few past years, the place changed quite a bit. The venue doubled or maybe tripled in size. A big stage was built, the old toilets were turned into another bar (there are new bathrooms, though), the stream which ran under the bridge disappeared. 

The old cotton gin is still there, however, it is fenced now.

At the beginning of March, Texas Independence Day was observed in Luckenbach. It was quite a patriotic event with a religious touch as well. 

The ceremony started with firing three cannon salutes. 

 

After the salvo, the air seemed to have different properties above one of the cannons. At first, it seemed to be just a heatwave, but even an hour + later, it did look as if the atmosphere in that one area had had a different density, it was a bit shaky, too. 

You could think that it might be the presence of spirits of Texans from the past, attending the Independence Day festivities. The effect lasted until the end of the commemoration. Anyhow, most likely, nobody paid any attention to it besides us.

The retirement of the Texas flag ceremony closed the event program.

A brand new flag was brought and put up then.

 

While we were visiting Luckenbach, a rooster did not jump on tree branches as it had before. We did not see any roosters or chicken at all. Maybe the crowds had scared them away.

There was one more attraction on that day, though. It was a display of Texas Rangers' memorabilia.

 

✰ 

On the blog, you can find a few more earlier posts related to Luckenbach.

Luckenbach history by Texas Handbook Online: here