SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS
©1997-2023, Wallace L. McKeehan, All Rights Reserved
War of Independence-Index

Hispanic Texian Patriots in the Struggle for Independence

Compañeros de armas:   Estos restos que hemos tenido el honor de conducir en nuestros hombros son los de los valientes héroes que murieron en el Alamo. Sí mis amigos, ellos prefirieron morir mil veces a servir el yugo del tirano. Que ejemplo tan briIlante, digno de anotarse en las páginas de la historia. El genio de la libertad parece estar viendo en su elevado trono de donde con semblante halagueño nos señala diciendo: "Ahí tenéis a vuestros hermanos, Travis, Bowie, Crockett y otros varios a quienes su valor coloca en el número de mis héroes.---Yo os pido a que poniendo por testigo a los venerables restos de nuestros dignos compañeros digamos al mundo entero. Texas será libre, independiente o pereceremos con gloria en los combates---Col. Juan Seguin in his native Castillian language at the burial of the ashes of the Alamo Defenders 25 Feb 1837 Comrades in arms:  These remains which we have had the honor of carrying on our shoulders are the ones of the brave heroes who died in the Alamo. Yes, my friends, they preferred a thousand deaths rather than surrender or serve the yoke of the tyrant. What a brilliant example. Worthy indeed of being recorded in the pages of history. The genius of liberty seems to be witnessing from its high throne, from whence with praising look points out the deed saying: "Here you have your brothers, Travis, Bowie, Crockett and a few others whose valor, places them in the number of my heroes.---The worthy remains of our venerable companions bearing witness, I ask you to tell the world, Texas shall be free and independent or we shall perish with glory in battle. Laredo de Tamaulipas Marzo 28 de 1889. Señor Dn. Hamilton P. Bee, San Antonio. Muy Señor mio y amigo Paso a contestar su grata de 9. del corriente, lo que no habia hecho antes por falta de salud.  Los restos de los que murieron en el Alamo, fueron mandados quemar por orden del Gral. Santana, y las pequeñas fracciones las mande depositar en una urna; mande abrio un sepulcro en la catedral de San Antonio, inmediato al Presviterio, esto es, frente a las de Barandillas, pero muy serca de las gradas.  Es cuanto puedo decir a V. con relacion a este negocio.  Me repito de V. su amigo y servidor.  JUAN N. SEGUIN

For specific biographies, Search Handbook of Texas Online

LETTER OF GRIEVANCE ADDRESSED TO STEPHEN H. DARDEN, STATE COMPTROLLER, FROM HISPANIC TEXIAN HEROES, DATED JANUARY 12, 1875

"Sir: We the undersigned citizens of this country respectfully address you this communication to remove from your mind what seems to us an unjust impression as regards the application of certain Mexicans for pensions who participated in the Revolution which separated Texas from Mexico. We assert that the following named persons commanded companies at the taking of San Antonio in 1835. On the 20th of October 1835, Juan N. Seguin followed by thirty seven men of Mexican birth, joined on the Salado Creek according to previous appointment, the first Texan forces that gathered in order to oppose the Central Government proclaimed by Santa Anna in violation of the Federal government constitutionally existing. Placido Benavides of (La Bahia) Goliad joined on the same creek with the revolutionary troops with 26 or 28 men, so that at the Battle of Concepcion, the Mexicans who took part in that fight numbered some seventy men if we add some isolated soldiers. Directly after the Concepcion fight it was agreed between the Texian Leaders to put the siege to the city of San Antonio and to remove the camp to the Northern part of the city. But before the removal, Salvador Flores was detailed to the Mexican ranches on the San Antonio River, and Manuel Leal to the Mexican with the object of raising new forces that were very much needed; these two patriots returned soon after, Flores with 15 new men, and Manuel Leal with 26.

A conflict of authority took place at that moment between Juan N. Seguin and Placido Benavides both claiming to be Captain; it was amicably settled in favor of Seguin for the reason that he had raised more men than Benavides, but with the understanding that although Seguin was to be the Superior officer, Benavides would preserve the direct and immediate Command over the men he had brought from Goliad, and that agreement was intended to Manuel Leal and Salvador Flores; as soon as the troops reach their new camp, on the old mill, they were joined by fourteen privates of the old Company of the Alamo for the most part sons of San Antonio who deserted from Mexican forces of Gen. Cos and joined Seguin's Command with arms and baggage. There was not at that time any thing like a muster roll, or a regular register of enlistment; every volunteer who offered his services was readily accepted, and the men joined the party that suit them best, they acted with a liberty that had nothing in common with the disciplining of a regular army: generally the private followed the order of the officer who had brought them to Camp. During the stay of the troops, before San Antonio, several parties of Mexicans joined the patriots; namely, Miguel Aldrete who in company with Mayor Collensworth came from Goliad with twenty odd men; Col. J. C. Neil and Philip Dimmit who arrived also with a Mexican Company raised in Victoria and in the lower country, without counting isolated enlistment that took place every day. In fact, the company of Seguin alone amounted to over one hundred and sixty men on the day of the Storming of Bexar.

After the taking of the place, that company was sent out to protect the people of the Ranches, against the devastation made by the retiring Mexican troops. On their return they found that the Mexican volunteers of Benavides and Dimmitt had left for home, as well as the American patriots. There were not fourteen Americans in San Antonio, after the taking of the place. Col. J. C. Neil had received, first the military Command, but he was soon after superceded by B. Travis who had under his former company and that of Seguin. They continued in active service, for several months and relying on the false report that all was quiet on the Mexican borders, a large quantity of the Mexicans were authorized to retire in order to protect their families against Indian depredations. At the coming of Santa Anna, the company of Seguin had been reduced, and the arrival of the enemy being entirely unsuspected; the most part of the men received the authorization to secure the safety of their families and to join the Texians at the Alamo; it is due to that circumstance that fifteen Mexicans only entered the Alamo with Travis.

At the gathering of the Texian Army at Gonzalez, Seguin had a large Company, in fact the largest of the Army, but it was a new Company quite different from the one he had commanded at the taking of Bexar. He had above one hundred men; out of whom 25 were detached to protect the invaded population. From 15 to 20 were at the order of Deaf Smith; thirty odd were sent Eastward to escort and protect American families, three men were sick at San Felipe, about ten at least were with the baggage at Harrisburg, four or five remained behind in charge of the horses at the moment of the battle of San Jacinto., so that he mustered only twenty two men, when he was ordered to give the names of those who had actually fought.

We would respectfully remind you that we and our comrades took up arms against our own kindred and country, believing we were right, and now we feel humiliated to find that when we have testified on oath to the services rendered by us and our (own) old companions, many of whom are not only suffering from the infirmities of age but also from extreme poverty that their claims should be disregarded and forced to wait for weeks and months for their pensions, when Americans have been promptly paid upon what we consider no better evidence than our friends have furnished. We feel assured, Honored Sir, that you must have been misled or misinformed as to the parties who have applied for pensions as well as their witnesses, and we address you this communication to disabuse your mind of any prejudice you may entertained, and to assure you that we entertained for you personally the kindest feelings and only ask for our old companions simply justice and nothing more."

Signed: Juan Jimenes, Ygnacio Espinaso, Martine Maldonado, Ignacio Arocha, Tomas Martines, Narciso Leal, Juan Martines, Antonio Oliva, Estevan Uron, Manuel Montalvo, Crescencio Montes, Pablo Salinas, Quirino Garza, Nepomuceno Flores, Juan N. Seguin, Antonio Menchaca, Jose Antonio Rodriguez, Antonio Vasquez, Damaso de Los Reyes

SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS
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