Texas,
One of the
Southern States of the
United States, is bounded on the north by
Oklahoma and
Indian Territories, east by
Arkansas and
Louisiana, south by the
Gulf of Mexico and
Mexico, and west by
Mexico and
New Mexico.
It lies between lat. 25° 51′ and 36° 30′ N., and long.
93° 27′ and 106° 40′
W. Area, 265,780 square miles.
Population, 1890, 2,235,523; 1900, 3,048,710.
Capital,
Austin.
Robert
Cavalier de La Salle, sailing from
France with four ships, July 24, 1684, fails to discover the mouth of the
Mississippi and lands near the entrance to
Matagorda Bay......Feb. 18, 1685
La Salle builds
Fort St. Louis on the
Lavaca......July, 1685
La Salle murdered by two followers near the
Neches River......March 30, 1687
Captain De Leon, sent from
Mexico against French settlers at
Fort St. Louis, on the
Lavaca River, finds it deserted......April 22, 1689
Spanish mission of
San Francisco at
Fort St. Louis established......1690
Don Domingo Teran de los Rios appointed governor of Coahuila and
Texas......1691
San Antonio founded......1693
H. St. Denis sent out by
Lamothe Cadillac, governor of
Louisiana, to open commercial relation with
Mexico, reaches the mission of
St. John the
Baptist, on the
Rio Grande, where he is arrested by
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530]
the governor of Coahuila and imprisoned......August, 1714
Spanish mission established near the site of
Nacogdoches......1715
Spanish mission established at
La Bahia, now
Goliad......1721
Bienville, under orders from the company of the Indies, sends a colony by sea to
Matagorda Bay......Aug. 10, 1721
Settlement of
San Antonio de Bexar increased by thirteen families from the
Canary Islands sent by the
Spanish government; they found “La Purissima
Concepcion de Acuna” ......March 5, 1731
Don
Manuel de Sandoval appointed governor of
Texas......1734
Walls of the church of the
Alamo erected at
San Antonio de Bexar......May, 1744
Indians attack the mission of
San Saba and massacre all......1758
France cedes
Louisiana to
Spain......Nov. 3, 1762
Louisiana receded to
France by secret treaty......Oct. 1, 1800
Philip Nolan, an American, obtains a passport from the
Baron de Carondelet, governor of
Louisiana, to buy horses in
Texas, July 17, 1797.
In the belief that he was commissioned by
General Wilkinson to reconnoitre and raise an insurrection, Mexicans under
Lieut. M. Muzquiz overtake him on the banks of the Blanco;
Nolan is killed and his followers captured......March 21, 1801
Texas included in cession of
Louisiana by
France to the
United States ratified at
Washington......Oct. 21, 1803
Spanish commander,
General Herrera, enters into an agreement with
General Wilkinson, establishing the territory between the
Sabine and Arroyo Honda rivers as neutral ground......Oct. 22, 1806
Lieut.-Col. Zebulon Pike arrives at
San Antonio on his return from
Chihuahua, whither he was taken by Spanish authorities to answer for building a fort on Spanish soil on the
Rio del Norte, which he mistook for the
Red River......July, 1807
Expedition under
Lieut. Augustus W. Magee, who conceived a plan of revolutionizing
Texas, takes possession of
Nacogdoches, July, 1812, which the Mexicans evacuate; reaches
Goliad and takes possession, Nov. 1;
Governor Salcedo and
General Herrera commence an investment of the town, Nov. 7; engage in battles with the
Americans, Nov. 20, 1812–Jan. 24, and Feb. 10, 1813; raise the siege......Feb. 16, 1813
Magee dying about Feb. 1, 1813,
Colonel Kemper takes command, pursues the Mexicans to
San Antonio, who surrender......March 6, 1813
Salcedo,
Herrera, and ten officers are delivered to a company of Mexicans under
Juan Delgado and massacred......March 7, 1813
Battle of the Medina; Americans at.
San Antonio under
Don Jose Alvarez Toledo fall into ambush formed by Spaniards under
General Arredondo......Aug. 18, 1813
Galveston Island occupied for
Mexico by
Don Jose Manuel Herrera, minister of the
Mexican patriots to the
United States; a government is organized and
Don Luis Aury chosen governor of
Texas and
Galveston Island......Sept. 12, 1816
Jean Lafitte with a band of buccaneers occupies
Galveston Island during Aury's absence and calls his settlement Campeachy......April, 1817
Sabine River agreed upon as boundary between
United States and Spanish possessions......Feb. 22, 1819
A company of volunteers under
Dr. James Long, raised at
Natchez to invade
Texas, occupy
Nacogdoches, establish a provisional government, and issue a declaration proclaiming
Texas to be a free and independent republic......June, 1819
First printing-office in
Texas established at
Nacogdoches by
Mr. Bigelow......1819
Lafitte is taken into the service of the Republican party of
Mexico and appointed governor of
Galveston......1819
Lafitte is compelled to evacuate
Galveston Island by
Lieutenant Kearney of the
United States brig
Enterprise......1821
Stephen F. Austin leaves
Natchitoches, June 10, and founds the colony for which his father,
Moses Austin, received a grant from
Mexico, on the
Brazos River......July, 1821
He founds
San Felipe de Austin as colonial town......1823
By decree of the constituent Mexican congress, Coahuila and
Texas are united in one State......May 7, 1824
Constitution of the
United Mexican States proclaimed......Oct. 4, 1824
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531]
Don Jose Antonio Saucedo appointed chief of the department of Texas, to reside at
Bexar......Feb. 1, 1825
Henry Clay,
United States Secretary of State, instructs the
United States minister to endeavor to procure from
Mexico the retransfer of
Texas......March 26, 1825
Hayden Edwards, having procured a grant for a colony, locates at
Nacogdoches......October, 1825
Edwards's grant annulled and the
American settlers, known as “Fredonians,” evacuate
Nacogdoches and cross the
Sabine, before Mexicans under Ahumada......Jan. 31, 1827
Constitution for the
State of Coahuila and
Texas framed by a State congress at
Saltillo, proclaimed......March 11, 1827
Battle of Nacogdoches; Texans under
Col. Hayden Edwards defeat the Mexicans under
Colonel Piedras......Aug. 2, 1827
Treaty of limits concluded between the
United States and United Mexican States......Jan. 12, 1828
Vice-President Bustamente, succeeding
Guerrero, deposed, by decree prohibits further immigration from the
United States......April 6, 1830
Colonization laws repealed as to natives of the
United States......April 28, 1832
Fort of
Velasco at the mouth of the
Brazos taken by Texans under
John Austin......June 26, 1832
Nacogdoches retaken by Texans......Aug. 2, 1832
First step towards independence, the framing of a State constitution, never recognized by the
Mexican government and never put in operation, by a convention which met at
San Felipe, April 1, and adjourned......April 13, 1833
Law passed forming
Texas into one judicial circuit and three districts—
Bexar,
Brazos, and
Nacogdoches......April 17, 1834
Legislature of Coahuila and
Texas, in session at
Monclova, disperses on approach of army under
Gen. Martin P. de Cos, brother-in-law to
General Santa Ana......April 21, 1835
Committee of safety organized at
Bastrop on the
Colorado......May 17, 1835
Lone-star flag made at
Harrisburg and presented to the company of
Capt. Andrew Robinson......1835
Garrison of
Anahuac captured by Texans under
Col. William B. Travis......June, 1835
Permanent council of one from each of the committees of safety, at
San Felipe, chooses
R. R. Royall president......October, 1835
First permanent newspaper in
Texas, the
Telegraph, established at
San Felipe......October, 1835
Commandant at
Bexar having furnished the corporation of
Gonzales with a brass 6-pounder against the Indians in 1831, the Mexicans call it a loan, the
Texans a gift; the
Texans win its possession in a fight......Oct. 2, 1835
Capture of
Goliad from Mexicans under
Lieutenant-Colonel Sandoval, by patriot forces under
Capt. George Collingsworth......Oct. 9, 1835
S. F. Austin appointed commander-inchief of the patriot forces......Oct. 10, 1835
Battle of Concepcion, about 1 1/2 miles from
San Antonio; Texans under
General Austin and Mexicans under
General De Cos, the latter retreating......Oct. 28, 1835
Assembly known as the General Consultation of
Texas meets at
San Felipe de Austin, establishes a provisional government with
Henry Smith as governor, and sends
Branch T. Archer,
S. F. Austin, and
William H. Wharton to the
United States to solicit aid in the struggle for independence......November, 1835
Declaration of independence of
Texas, and a provisional constitution framed by a convention which meets at
San Felipe, Oct. 17; constitution signed......Nov. 13, 1835
One thousand four hundred Mexicans under
General De Cos surrender to the
Texans who attack
San Antonio de Bexar......Dec. 10, 1835
Colonists besiege the
Mexican garrison of the
Alamo at
San Antonio, and, after a week's fighting, capture the fort......Dec. 16, 1835
Declaration of independence made and signed by ninety-one Texans at
Goliad......Dec. 20, 1835
General Santa Ana, with 6,000 troops, leaves
Monclova for
Texas to drive out revolutionists and persons of foreign birth......Feb. 4, 1836
Town of
Bexar taken by Mexicans, and the
Texans retire to the
Alamo......Feb. 21, 1836
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532]
Declaration of independence adopted by a convention at
Washington on the
Brazos River......March 2, 1836
Alamo invested eleven days by
Santa Ana; the garrison, under
Colonel Travis,
Bowie, and
David Crockett, are overpowered and massacred......March 6, 1836
Mexicans defeated in the first fight at the
Mission del Refugio by Texans under
Captain King......March 9, 1836
Second fight of the
Mission del Refugio;
Colonel Ward attacks and drives back the Mexicans......March 10, 1836
Constitution adopted for the
Republic of
Texas by a convention which met at
Washington, March 1......March 17, 1836
Col. J. W. Fannin and 415 men, captured at Coleto by the Mexicans under
General Urrea, are taken to
Goliad, and 330 shot by
Santa Ana......Sunday, March 27, 1836
Colonel Ward retreats from Refugio, March 11; he surrenders his forces at
Victoria, March 24, and is massacred......March 28, 1836
San Felipe de Austin burned by the
Texans......March 31, 1836
New Washington burned by the Mexicans......April 20, 1836
Battle of San Jacinto; 750 Texans under
General Houston defeat 1,600 Mexicans under
Santa Ana, and capture him......April 21, 1836
Mexicans retreat beyond the frontier of
Texas......April 24, 1836
Congress meets at
Washington, March; at
Harrisburg, March; at
Galveston, April 16; and at
Velasco......May, 1836
Public and secret treaties with
Santa Ana signed at
Velasco......May 14, 1836
Gen. Sam Houston inaugurated as president of
Texas at
Columbia......Oct. 22, 1836
Congress of
United States acknowledges independence of
Texas......March, 1837
Congress meets at
Houston......May, 1837
Convention to fix the boundary-line between the
United States and
Texas concluded at
Washington, April 25, 1838, and ratifications exchanged Oct. 12, and proclaimed ......Oct. 13, 1838
Act of congress approved for carrying into effect the convention of Oct. 13, 1838......Jan. 11, 1839
By act of Texan congress, Dec. 10, 1836, the permanent flag of the republic bears three horizontal stripes of equal width, the upper one white, the middle one blue, with a five-pointed white star in the centre, and the lower one red......Jan. 25, 1839
Congress passes first educational act, appropriating certain lands for a general system of education......Jan. 26, 1839
Congress meets at
Austin......November, 1839
France acknowledges the independence of
Texas......1839
England,
Holland, and
Belgium acknowledge the independence of
Texas......1840
Expedition under
Gen. Hugh McLeod leaves
Austin, June 18, 1841, for Santa Fe. When near
San Miguel, his force is met by
Mexican troops under Damacio Salazar, captured, and marched under guard to the city of
Mexico......Oct. 17, 1841
Twelve hundred Mexicans under
Gen. Adrian Woll capture
San Antonio, Sept. 11, 1842, but are forced to retreat by
Mexican troops......Sept. 18, 1842
Texan congress meets at
Washington......November, 1842
Battle at Mier on the Alcantra; Texans, under
Colonel Fisher, surrender to
General Ampudia......Dec. 26, 1842
Joint resolution for the annexation of
Texas to the
United States passes the House of Representatives by 120 to 98, Feb. 25, 1845; the Senate by 27 to 25, and is approved......March 1, 1845
Joint resolution of Congress of
United States is approved by Texan congress......June 23, 1845
Ordinance of Texan congress for annexation accepted by convention of people assembled at
Austin......July 4, 1845
Convention at
Austin frames a constitution which is ratified by the people, 4,174 to 312......Oct. 13, 1845
Texas admitted into the
Union by act approved......Dec. 29, 1845
Charles A. Wickliffe sent on a secret mission to
Texas in the interest of an nexation, by
President Polk......1845
First State legislature convenes at
Austin......Feb. 16, 1846
J. P. Henderson inaugurated first governor of the
State......Feb. 19, 1846
Fort Brown at
Brownsville established......March 28, 1846
Battle of Palo Alto, May 8, and of
Resaca de la Palma......May 9, 1846
Act of congress sets apart one-tenth of
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533]
the general revenues of the
State for educational purposes......May 13, 1846
Baylor University at
Waco chartered 1845, and opened......1846
Treaty of
Guadalupe-Hidalgo concluded Feb. 2; ratification exchanged at
Queretaro, May 30, and proclaimed......July 4, 1848
Austin city chosen as the seat of government for twenty years by vote of the people......1850
Texas formally accepts the boundary designated by the boundary bill for
New Mexico, approved Sept. 9, 1850, by which
Texas is to receive $10,000,000 from the
United States......Nov. 25, 1852
First overland mail from
San Diego, Cal., arrives at
San Antonio......Sept. 6, 1857
Enthusiastic Union meeting held at
Austin......Dec. 23, 1860
Brig.-Gen. David E. Twiggs surrenders to the
State of Texas the
United States ordnance depot at
San Antonio and contents, valued at $1,200,500......Feb. 18, 1861
State People's convention meets at
Austin, Jan. 21; passes an ordinance of secession by vote of 166 to 7, Feb. 1; ratified by popular vote, 34,794 to 11,235......Feb. 23, 1861
Fort Brown, at
Brownsville, evacuated and occupied by Texan troops......March 5, 1861
Gov. Sam Houston, opposing secession and favoring separate State action, deposed;
Lieutenant-Governor Clark inaugurated......March 20, 1861
Constitution of the
Confederate States ratified by legislature, 68 to 2......March 23, 1861
Col. Earl Van Dorn captures 450 United States troops at Saluria......April 25, 1861
Governor Clark proclaims it treasonable to pay debts to citizens of States at war with the
Confederate States......June 18, 1861
Galveston surrendered to
Commodore Renshaw......Oct. 8, 1862
Gen. N. J. T. Dana occupies
Brazos,
Santiago, and
Brownsville with 6,000 soldiers from New Orleans......November, 1862
Confederates under
Gen. J. B. Magruder defeat
Renshaw and capture
Galveston......Jan. 1, 1863
Confederate privateer
Alabama destroys the
Hatteras in an engagement off
Galveston......Jan. 11, 1863
Samuel Houston, born in
Virginia, dies at
Huntersville, aged seventy......July 25, 1863
Battle of Aransas Pass;
General Ransom captures the
Confederate works......Nov. 18, 1863
Battle of Fort Esperanza,
Matagorda Bay;
Gen. C. C. Washburn defeats the
Confederates......Nov. 30, 1863
Last fight of the war; Federals under
Colonel Barret defeated in
western Texas by Confederates under
General Slaughter......May 13, 1865
Gen. Kirby Smith surrenders last Confederate army......May 26, 1865
Gen. A. J. Hamilton, appointed provisional governor by
President Johnson, arrives at
Galveston......July 21, 1865
Constitution, framed by a convention which met at
Austin, Feb. 10, and adjourned April 2, is ratified by the people, 34,794 to 11,235......June, 1866
Gov. J. W. Throckmorton enters upon his duties......Aug. 13, 1866
Gen. P. H. Sheridan appointed commander of the 5th Military District, comprising
Louisiana and
Texas......March 19, 1867
Governor Throckmorton removed,
E. M. Pease appointed......July 30, 1867
General Sheridan relieved and
General Hancock substituted as commander of the 5th Military District......Aug. 17, 1867
Gen. J. Reynolds appointed to command of 5th Military District......July 28, 1868
Constitution, framed by a convention called under the reconstruction acts by
General Hancock, which sat at
Austin, June 1, to December, 1868, is submitted to Congress, March 30, and ratified by people, 72,395 to 4,924......Nov. 30–Dec. 3, 1869
Legislature ratifies the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments to the
Constitution of the United States......Feb. 18, 1870
Congress readmits
Texas into the
Union......March 30, 1870
Public school system inaugurated......September, 1871
A special election for State officers:
Richard Coke, Democrat, elected governor by 85,549 votes to 42,663 for
Governor Davis, Republican......Dec. 2, 1873
Supreme Court decides that the law
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534]
authorizing the election of Dec. 2, 1873, is unconstitutional......Jan. 5, 1874
New legislature organizes; not recognized by
Governor Davis; old legislature meets in the basement of the
capitol......Jan. 13, 1874
Old legislature adjourns......June 7, 1874
Constitution, framed by a convention which sat at
Austin, Sept. 6 to Nov. 24, 1875, ratified by the people......Feb. 17, 1876
State Agricultural and Mechanical College of
Texas at
College Station, chartered 1871, opened......1876
Armed band of
Mexican outlaws enter
Rio Grande City, break open the jail, release two notorious criminals, Esproneda and
Garza, and escape with them to
Mexico......Aug. 12, 1877
Mob of Mexicans and Texan citizens of
Mexican birth attack State troops at
San Elizario and six persons are killed......Dec. 13, 1877
State capitol destroyed by fire......Nov. 9, 1881
University of
Texas at
Austin, chartered 1881, opened......1883
Corner-stone of new capitol laid......March 2, 1885
New State capitol dedicated......May 16, 1888
State reformatory near
Gatesville opened......Jan. 1, 1889
Convention of delegates from fifteen States and Territories assembles at
Topeka, Kan., to devise means for securing a deep harbor on the coast of
Texas......Oct. 1, 1889
Act passed designating Feb. 22 as Arbor Day......1889
John T. Dickinson appointed secretary of the
National World's Columbian commission......June 27, 1890
Congress appropriates $500,000 to improve Galveston Harbor, and authorizes the
Secretary of War to contract for the completion of the work; estimated to cost $6,200,000......September, 1890
United States Senator John H. Reagan resigns, to take effect June 10......April 24, 1891
Five constitutional amendments ratified at special election......Aug. 11, 1891
Experiments in rain-making by explosives......Aug. 18-26, 1891
Horace Chilton appointed, qualifies as
United States Senator......Dec. 7, 1891
A small force of United States cavalry and infantry attack and break up the
camp of Catarino Garza,
Mexican revolutionist, at Retampal Springs......Dec. 22, 1891
Roger Q. Mills chosen
United States Senator by the legislature, March 22, qualifies......March 30, 1892
A band of revolutionists under
Garza cross the border, burn a Mexican barrack, and return to
Texas......Dec. 12, 1892
Town of
Cisco destroyed by a tornado; thirty killed......April 29, 1893
The
Austin Dam completed......May 2, 1893
[Colorado River Dam, near
Austin, destroyed by a flood, with loss of fifty lives and $3,000,000 in property.]
Land
Commissioner W. L. McGaughey impeached, April 6; acquitted......May 5, 1893
Great reunion of Confederate veterans at
Houston......May 22, 1895
Great floods; over 200 negroes drowned......July 4, 1899
Monument to the heroes of the
Texas Revolution of 1836, presented by
Henry Rosenberg, unveiled at
Galveston......April 21, 1900
Monument erected by school-children of the
State unveiled on the site where independence was proclaimed......April 21, 1900
Great tornado at
Galveston, with loss of 1,000 lives and $30,000,000 in property......Sept. 8, 1900
Utah 
