DUANE
Duane's take
Here's the story as the official marker tells it, and I'm gonna do my best to do it justice. Now, this corner of Texas — what would become Burleson County — was sparsely settled back in the 1830s. We're talking thin country, scattered folks, people still finding their footing on the frontier.
And then Santa Anna revoked national rights, and just like that, everything changed. Thirty or more men from right around here made up their minds to go resist his armies. Thirty or more — from a *sparsely settled* area.
Think about what that meant for the ones left behind. When the able men marched off, the women, children, and elders were on their own. And the foe wasn't staying put.
The enemy came within forty miles of here, pillaging the country. Forty miles. Close enough to smell the smoke.
Those left behind didn't wait to find out what came next — they fled. Across the swollen Brazos River, pushing toward safety in the United States, carrying what they could and leaving the rest to fate. Meanwhile, their men were in it.
The Grass Fight, November 26th, 1835. The Siege of Bexar, December 5th through the 9th. Other actions besides.
Some served in Regular Infantry Company A. Some in Companies C, F, and H of the 1st Regiment. Some in the 4th Company of the 2nd Regiment, Texas Volunteers.
Different units, same cause. And then came April 21st, 1836 — the Battle of San Jacinto. These men from this thinly-populated patch of Texas helped win that fight, and with it, independence.
The families who'd run for the Brazos could stop running. The men who'd marched out could come home. That's what thirty or more people from a place most folks had barely heard of gave to the cause — and the marker out here makes sure you don't forget it.
What the marker says
When Mexican dictator Santa Anna revoked national rights, 30 or more men from this sparsely settled area left to resist his armies: in Grass Fight (Nov. 26, 1835), Siege of Bexar (Dec. 5-9) and other actions. While able men were absent, the foe came within 40 miles of here, pillaging the country. Civilians fled over the swollen Brazos, toward safety in the United States. Their men on April 21, 1836, helped win Battle of San Jacinto and independence. Some were in Regular Infantry Company A; Companies C, F, and H, 1st Regiment, and 4th Company, 2nd Regiment, Texas Volunteers. (1973)