DUANE
Duane's take
Here's the story as the official marker tells it — and friend, this one's worth the telling. The year is 1842, and the Republic of Texas is barely holding itself together. That year, Mexican troops launched not one but two major invasions into Texas.
The second of those expeditions fell to Active Brigade General Adrian Woll, who had orders to do one thing: capture San Antonio. Now, Woll was not a man who telegraphed his moves. He ordered Brevet Colonel Jose Maria Carrasco to construct a brand new road — not following any existing roads or trails, but cutting fresh through the land — so that his force could reach the city undetected.
And what a force it was. Traveling with General Woll were at least twenty officers on his staff, eight hundred and fifty infantry soldiers, artillery, at least fifty supply wagons and carts, and a large herd of livestock moving along behind. That is not a scouting party.
That is an army on the march. It all got moving on August 24th, 1842, when Woll's forces forded the Rio Grande at the Nogal Crossing — approximately twenty miles downriver from present-day Eagle Pass, near where the river meets Saus Creek. From there, that new road carried them north through the Texas brush country.
By September 9th, Woll and his troops were passing through the Quihi area. Then came September 11th. At daybreak, General Woll attacked San Antonio — and took the city in just two hours.
Two hours. His forces held San Antonio captive for seven days. But here is where Texas pushed back.
The invasion was stopped at the Battle of Salado Creek, by two hundred and twenty-five Texian volunteers led by Captains Matthew Caldwell and John C. Hays. During that same battle, Texian Captain Nicholas M.
Dawson's Volunteer Company was intercepted just a mile and a half from San Antonio. Most of them were killed by Woll's troops. Only fifteen Texian soldiers from that company survived, and they were taken prisoner.
Fearing another encounter with Texian forces, General Woll retreated from San Antonio during the night on September 19th — and he retreated along the very same road that had been constructed just days before. On September 20th, his column passed back through the Quihi area, marching toward Mexico. The road Carrasco built for stealth and surprise outlasted the campaign it was made for.
Military expeditions, settlers, and freight haulers kept on using it for many years after. A road built to sneak an army through Texas ended up serving the people who stayed.
What the marker says
In 1842, there were two major invasions into the Republic of Texas by Mexican troops. Active Brigade General Adrian Woll was ordered to lead the second of the two expeditions into Texas in order to capture San Antonio. Woll ordered Brevet Colonel Jose Maria Carrasco to construct a new road that avoided existing roads and trails, in order to reach the city undetected. Traveling on the road with General Woll would be his staff of at least 20 officers, 850 infantry soldiers, artillery, at least 50 supply wagons and carts, and a large herd of livestock. The invasion and road construction began on August 24th, 1842, when Wolls forces forded the Rio Grande at the Nogal Crossing approximately 20 miles downriver from the present day Eagle Pass, near the river's confluence with the Saus Creek. General Woll and his troops passed through the Quihi area on September 9, 1842. Woll attacked San Antonio at daybreak on September 11, and took the city in just two hours. His forces kept the city captive for 7 days. The invasion was then stopped during the Battle of Salado Creek by 225 Texian volunteers led by captains Matthew Caldwell and John C. Hays. During this battle, Texian Captain Nicholas M. Dawson's Volunteer Company was intercepted 1.5 mi from San Antonio and most were killed by Woll's troops. The 15 Texian soldiers that survived were taken prisoner. Fearing another encounter with Texian forces, Woll retreated from San Antonio during the night on September 19, along the road that had been constructed just days before. The troops passed through the Quihi area again on September 20, as they marched back to Mexico. The road continue to be used for many years by military expeditions, settlers and freight haulers. (2009)