This Day in Texas History - 9 December

[ELB]

First item quoted from the Handbook of Texas Online; second item from that and my memory (secondary sources only; I am not that old!):


1716 - "On this day in 1716, Martín de Alarcón was appointed Spanish governor of Texas. Alarcón, though governor for just three short years, played a pivotal role in Texas history. In the spring of 1718 he led settlers across the Rio Grande and assisted in the founding of San Antonio de Valero mission and San Antonio de Béxar presidio. The accompanying families formed the beginnings of a settlement. Thus Alarcón is credited as the founder of San Antonio, the most important town in Spanish Texas and the eye of the storm of the Texas Revolution. As part of his official duties, Alarcón also inspected the East Texas missions and was constantly vigilant against the widespread French contraband trade, advising explorer and trader Jean Baptiste Bénard de La Harpe to leave Spanish territory. Alarcón was relieved of his gubernatorial duties in the fall of 1719."

1835 - Mexican General Martin Perfecto de Cós surrendered the town of San Antonio to a volunteer Texas army, essentially taking Texas out of Mexican control. Ben Milam and Francis Johnson led an attack that almost did not happen due to cold weather, a shortage of supplies, and arguments in the volunteer Texian army about what to do. This is when Ben Milam seized the moment and asked, ""Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?" About 300 did go with him, with other parts of the volunteer army providing distractions and security. The attack was launched on 5 December; Milam was killed by a single shot on 7 December, and Cós surrendered two days later. The Texians suffered about 35 deaths, the Mexicans about 150, with the difference attributed by most accounts (that I have read) to Texan riflery vs Mexican musketry.

Cos (and his men) was spared and allowed to return to Mexico upon the promise that he would not return. His brother-in-law, Santa Anna, was not pleased with this pact...

[USA1]