Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Texas Navy: The Trial of Edwin W. Moore
Commodore Moore was given a hero's welcome after returning to Galveston. But this didn't last long, as he was dishonorably discharged from the Texas Navy and charged with "disobedience and piracy" and "murder for the execution of the San...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Texas Navy: Epilogue
What happened to the Texas Navy when the revolution was over and Texas was annexed by the U.S. in 1846? Check out primary texts from this time in Texas' history to research this topic: "First four pages of Edwin Moore's claims for...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas Treasures: William Barret Travis' Letter From the Alamo, 1836: About
Read about William Barret Travis' "heroic message" through which he called for reinforcements at the Alamo in San Antonio. Includes quotes from the original letter, analysis, and information on the state of the original letter today.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas Treasures: William Barret Travis Letter From the Alamo 1836 Full Text
Read William Barret Travis' "heroic message" through which he called for reinforcements at the Alamo in San Antonio.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Santa Anna to Mc Ardle, March 16, 1864
Read Santa Anna's letter in which he explains why "the Alamo defenders had to be killed." Includes images of the actual letter.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: David G Burnet to m.b. Menard, Mar 1836
Read this letter through which the interim president of Texas wrote to Michel B. Menard, "a trader and adopted member of the Shawnee nation," asking Menard "to negotiate a peace treaty with the Shawnees, Delawares, and Kickapoos." This...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: Sam Houston to Edmund P Gaines Aug 1836
Read this letter by Sam Houston through which he "asks for American help in preventing uprising in Nacogdoches, 1836." This site includes images of the original letter, as well as line-by-line transcription of the handwritten text.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: Sam Houston to John Linney, Sept 1836
Read a letter through which Sam Houston recruits Indian tribes "to act in the policing of" Texas. This site includes images of the original letter, as well as line-by-line transcription of the handwritten text.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: Bowl to Sam Houston, August 16, 1836
Read a letter through which Chief Bowl of the Cherokees writes to Sam Houston, hoping to have a face-to-face meeting with him concerning Native American relations. Includes an image of the original letter as well as line-by-line...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: Indians and the Texas Revolution
Read about the importance of the support of various Indian tribes in the success of the Texas Revolution. See primary sources that explore this topic.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: Don Ramon Musquiz to Jose Maria Letona
Read a letter from 1831 that relays the efforts of the Cherokees to keep their land through negotiations with the Mexican government. This site includes images of the original letter as well as line-by-line transcription of the...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas/ "The Raven"
Read about Sam Houston's attempt to keep the peace between whites and Indians as president of the Republic of Texas. See primary source documents addressing this issue and read transcripts of the documents.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Movement Comes of Age: e.l. Dohoney to Erminia Folsom, Dec 20, 1914
Read about E.L. Dahoney, a prohibitionist in favor of women's suffrage, and read a letter in which he ties together the two causes he supported.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: James Bowie, Report to Political Chief
See all of a 3-page letter James Bowie wrote concerning the Native Americans he met through his "tour through the Indian villages." Includes line-by-line typed transcription below each page for easier reading.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Battle of San Jacinto: Certified Copies of Letters on the Sherman Flag
Texas Soldier Edward Miles provides his "Letter on the Sherman Flag," a "description of arms, uniforms, and account of battle." Also included here is a letter from the wife of soldier Sidney Sherman, Carrie Sherman. Part of artist Henry...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Battle of San Jacinto: Reuben M. Potter, Magazine of American History
Texas soldier Reuben Potter writes his account of the Battle of San Jacinto, which was published in the Magazine of American History in May 1880. Artist Henry McArdle provides his notes, as he carried out research for his painting, "The...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Battle of San Jacinto: Pamphlet, General Sam Houston's Official Report
Here is pamphlet printed in 1878 that gave General Sam Houston's official report on the Battle of San Jacinto. Eight pages long, it is annotated by artist Henry McArdle, as he did research for his painting, "The Battle of San Jacinto."
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Battle of San Jacinto: Official Report on the Capture of Santa Anna
Here is James A. Sylvester's report his capture of General Santa Anna. This site provides images of the original handwritten letter, as well as typed line-by-line transcription. Part of artist Henry McArdle's research for his painting,...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Battle of San Jacinto: Account of Battle and Santa Anna's Attempt to Escape
William S. Taylor provides a very interesting account of the Battle of San Jacinto, and also writes of General Santa Anna's attempt to escape. There are eight pages of handwritten text accompanied by typed transcription. Part of artist...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Sam Houston's Copy of His Official Report of the Battle of San Jacinto
Sam Houston's personal account in his own handwriting of the Battle of San Jacinto written on April 25, 1836, is offered on this site. There is also a transcription of the document.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: Spanish Texas
Texas was home to a "clash of three European empires" long before it became part of the United States. How did the Spanish claim Texas, and how was Spain outed by the Mexicans? Read about it all in this article, and check out related...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hazardous Business: The Railroads Come to Texas
What made transportation in early Texas so difficult? What were the road conditions like? This article talks about land and water transportation in Texas in the years leading up to and after the Civil War. Also, check out photos and...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Railroads Come to Texas: Land/water Transportation in Early Texas
What made transportation in early Texas so difficult? What were the road conditions like? This article talks about land and water transportation in Texas in the years leading up to and after the Civil War. Also, check out photos and...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas Joins the Battle: A New Kind of Father, a New Kind of Daughter
After Baylor University and University of Texas opened their doors to women in the late 19th century, more Texas women had access to education as well as paying jobs. Read how this new opportunity for women as well as the formation of...