Join us on Thursday, January 30th at 6pm for the next installment in our History At Night series: 11 Days on the Colorado – The Pivotal Battle Unfought with author James E. Brasher.
As General Sam Houston arrived in Gonzales on March 11, 1836, to take command of the gathered Texian forces there, he soon learned that the Alamo had fallen. Realizing that his small command was not equipped to meet the full force of the Mexican army, he ordered a rapid withdrawal to the Colorado River. Shortly afterward, the Mexican army, commanded by General Joaquín Ramírez y Sesma, encamped opposite the Texian camps. New volunteers poured in, and several skirmishes ensued. A pivotal battle seemed inevitable. Just as the two armies seemed prepared to engage, General Houston unexpectedly ordered a withdrawal to the Brazos River resulting in panic among the civilian population and outrage among his troops and officers. From the time of the Texian Army withdrawal from Gonzales to the unexpected order to retreat from the Colorado, Sam Houston made some curious decisions, which deserve scrutiny. A day-by-day examination of events helps to ascertain Houston’s mindset and offers some justifications for his decisions. Additionally, this book reviews the lives of some lesser known, yet influential individuals who contributed to the Texian’s fight for freedom.
James E. Brasher holds an advanced degree in geology and has worked for decades of experience in the oil and gas industry and groundwater conservation. He has written several technical articles on subsurface geology. More recently, he authored a magazine article about the Texian army’s withdrawal from Gonzales to the Colorado River during the Texas Revolution, which served as a forerunner to this book.
The presentation begins at 6pm in the Old 300 Learning Hall and is free of charge! Light refreshments to be served with any free-will donations benefiting the Friends of the San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site.