DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Lynchburg Volunteers, out of Harris County, Texas. Pull up a chair — this one goes back to the very beginning of the fight. In the 1820s, most folks living in that stretch of east and southeast Texas were loyal citizens of Mexico.
That was the deal, and by most accounts, it held — until Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna abrogated the constitution of 1824. Once that constitution was gone, the arrangement started fraying fast. Hostilities between Mexico City and the newly-arrived Texian settlers began to escalate, and a lot of people in that region started warming to a different idea — the idea of a Texas separate from the Mexican Republic altogether.
It hadn't come out of nowhere, either. There'd been conflicts at Anahuac — once in 1832, and again in 1835. Each time, the tension ratcheted up a little tighter.
Texian groups across the territory began forming military companies, calling it what they believed it was: defense of their rights. Now, living down in Lynchburg at this time was a farmer named William Scott. Born in 1784.
And William Scott was not a man who waited for trouble to come find him. When Texians started mobilizing, Scott made an offer that was either very brave or very serious — probably both. He said he would personally arm and equip anyone willing to fight for the cause of Texas independence.
Anyone. You show up ready to fight, Scott would see you had what you needed. People showed up.
On September 15, 1835, the Lynchburg Volunteers were organized. Right there at Scott's home — which doubled as headquarters, out at his Point Pleasant plantation — around thirty men came together and formed a company. They elected William Scott as their Captain.
Peter J. Duncan, born in 1799, came in as First Lieutenant. James S.
McGahey, born in 1805, took the rank of Second Lieutenant. And they didn't just stand around shaking hands — they trained at that plantation before they ever marched a step. A few weeks later, the company reported for service at San Felipe.
From there, they were sent to join Colonel James Fannin's men at Béxar. And here's where the story stops being about one corner of Texas and becomes part of something much larger. As part of the newly-formed Texian Army of the People, the Lynchburg Volunteers took part in the Grass Fight.
They fought at the Battle of Concepción. And from October through December of 1835, they were present throughout the siege and the battles around Béxar — the whole grinding, dangerous stretch of it. Some of these men kept going.
Some of them fought at the Battle of San Jacinto. And when the fighting was done, many of them stayed in the area — not as soldiers anymore, but as citizens. Farming.
Practicing medicine and law. Engaging in politics and education. Building the thing they'd gone out to defend.
William Scott, who'd started it all, who'd put up his own arms and his own land and said come on, let's do this — he died in 1837. The marker calls these men brave and dedicated individuals, and among the first volunteer responders to the call for Texan independence. Thirty men who gathered at a plantation on the Texas coast in September of 1835, and said yes before almost anyone else did.
That's the Lynchburg Volunteers.
What the marker says
In the 1820s, most area residents were loyal citizens of Mexico until Mexican President Antonio L��pez de Santa Anna Abrogated the constitution of 1824. As hostilities between Mexico City and newly-arrived Texian settlers escalated, many in east and southeast Texas began to support the idea of a Texas that was separate from the Mexican Republic. After the conflicts at Anahuac in 1832 and again in 1835, many Texian groups formed military companies for what they viewed as defense of their rights. As Texians began to mobilize, Lynchburg resident and farmer William Scott (1784-1837) offered to arm and equip anyone who would fight for the cause of Texas independence. On September 15, 1835, the Lynchburg Volunteers were organized, with William Scott elected as Captain, Peter J. Duncan (1799-1870) as first lieutenant and James S. McGahey (1805-1885) as Second Lieutenant. Around 30 men joined the company at Scott's home, which served as headquarters where they trained at Scott's point pleasant plantation. The company reported for service at San Felipe a few weeks later and was then sent to join Colonel James Fannin's men at B��xar. As part of the newly-formed Texian Army of the people, they took part in the Grass Fight and the Battle of Concepci��n and were present throughout the siege and battles around B��xar in October through December 1835. Some of these men continued Texas" fight for independence at the Battle of San Jacinto and afterwards remained in the area as patriot citizens, continuing their endeavors in farming, medicine, law, politics, education and more. The Lynchburg Volunteers are remembered as brave and dedicated individuals and among the First Volunteer Responders to the call for Texan Independence. (2017)