The Texas Splendid Expendables of 1842: Based upon the True Story of the Mier Expedition

By Rusty Wolf

Long ago the Nation of the Republic of Texas, fought an epic struggle for freedom from the tyranny of malicious government. During this struggle, the citizen soldiers of Texas, with determination and improvisation , took the battle for Texas to enemy soil. Their struggle was known as the Mier Expedition. This book is based on the true story of the snake-bitten war campaign the was high in courage, and spirit, but lacked in luck. The trials and tribulations of the Mier Expedition were extraordinary! Hooray for the Spirit of TEXAS! And for the Spirit of the Lord! that is the spark of freedom in everyone! Cheers! for the sacrifice, of the men, of the Mier Expedition and the Splendid Expendables of every generation, the heroes of the race of people known as the Decent! Who never get the recognition they deserve!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
• Release date: Nov 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662944604

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Farewell Home

To all true Texans this was the last straw. It was the last straw for me. Virgil Colter’s my name and I live on the Brazos River, deep in the heart of the Republic of Texas. For three years my brother, Nathan, and my Mother dear, as we call her, have worked a homestead in our great country of Texas. We are proud of our farm, proud of each other, and proud of our country. I was just a kid when we moved to Texas.

Now that I’m grown up enough I’ve joined the militia of Texas Citizen soldiers. Friends said I was too young to join, but I am mature for a 17 year old, and there are others who have served and are younger than I.

Texas is the first country to copy the original and superior culture of a Judeo Christian, free, democratic republic that sprung forth on the world on July 4, 1776. Texas copied from the founding fathers of America the truth of God given rights and freedom. But, we are our own people, connected to this land, and we proudly call ourselves Texian.

I dream of becoming a lawyer and raising a family. Mother Dear says I’m an old soul and that’s why I’m so serious. Our neighbor’s farm is home to the town’s lawyer, and he kindly lends me his books on law and government.

Mother Dear’s prize possession, the family Bible, is another book I am constantly reading, the study of the Bible was not elective in our family, but I am so happy now that I did.

All my hopes and dreams are on hold now. My patience and that of my country men have been sucked dry by the Mexican dictator Santa Anna. His two attacks on the defenseless citizens of southwestern Texas this year is the straw that broke out the Texas militia, and the camel’s back.

I charge Santa Anna as an evil tyrant of Mexico, and the enemy of any freedom loving citizen who lives in Texas, Mexico, Yucatan or, for that matter, the world. I am 17 years old and, as I hope to be a good lawyer someday, I will present the case against Santa Anna, of which I am sure is most damnable, that is Santa Anna, not my case.

To start with, go back to the first Anglo settlers to come to Texas from America. They signed a contract to be loyal subjects to the crown of Spain, Spain not Santa Anna. Spain welcomed them because so many hostile Indians lived in Texas, and no Spanish nor Mexican colonist would move in and pay taxes.

Next, Santa Anna led the Mexicans to victory over the Spaniards. The Mexicans formed a Republic and elected Santa Anna President. In ‘33 he tore up their constitution and he made himself a dictator. Being ignorant of many new enlightened ideas about government from 1776 America. Sadly, perhaps most Mexicans thought malevolent dictatorship was the best they could do. Texians were different; they are not uneducated of freedom’s call and they had no contract of loyalty to Santa Anna, only with Spain. Still with threats and promises, Santa Anna bullied the Texas Pioneers to verbally submit to his authority. But, when in the course of life, a man’s tyrannical government causes him so much to suffer, it is time to rise up and throw off his oppressor, his government, and so it was of those early Pioneers.

Santa Anna, I dub thee despot.

These Pioneers were also familiar with the writings of St. Paul, stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. And throw off the yoke of bondage they did. In response to the Texian temerity to try to live the triumphant, Christ driven life, how did Santa Anna respond? First, he made blanket resolutions calling for the death penalty to all Anglo Texans seeking liberty. Uprisings in the Yucatan and northern Mexican states had never seen blanket execution orders to all native Mexicans and Indians. But, being the despot he is, death to Anglos was easier to inspire the racist of his people, rather than death to freedom seekers!

In 1836, Santa Anna stormed into Texas with blitz speed, capturing Colonel Fanin and 400 proud and brave men near Goliad, Texas. He marched them out in the street, as if they were going to a prisoner of war camp, and then shot and bayoneted to death every man, save one boy of 14 or so, who escaped by a miracle. Then on to the Alamo, where again, the devil-assisted speed of his army caught the Texans by surprise. Yet, 186 martyrs bled the best from Santa Anna’s Army.

Mexicans troops were marched three times into the meat grinder of Texas cannon grape shot, courtesy of William Travis who was a lawyer by trade, I might add. They were marched into the cannon fire, I say, by Santa Anna when he could of bombarded the Alamo with cannon fire to destroy her. An evil tyrant, he disregarded the lives of his own soldiers.

Sam Houston, in charge of the Army or Texas citizen soldiers at the time, ran east as fast as he could while the siege at the Alamo raged. A general gifted in tactics or strategy would have advanced on the enemy at the very least to cover refugees fleeing east toward Louisiana. But what Sam Houston lacked in skill, he made up for in dumb luck. After those 13 days of glory, and after the Mexican troops had their fill of pitching the corpses of Travis, Bowie and Crockett in the air with their bayonets for fun, they headed east to finish off the Anglos.

Not many people know that at that same time American calvary dragoons where massing east of the Sabine River. Sam Houston knew, and I firmly believe Houston thought the only hope was to get America to come in and save us. I fear it is President Sam Houston’s plan today in 1842. I believe Houston wants to cede Texas to the United States and take away our national sovereignty to become simply a state.

Shameful, when no ten men under tyranny can stand up to one free man. We must conquer fear if we wish to remain free! I’ve also heard it tell in town that at this time, Houston wants America to annex Texas for our safety. Texians just want to be free Texans!

But, I digress, Santa Anna was moving into east Texas chasing after the Texans when he captured a letter from Houston that described Houston’s despair of his situation. Santa Anna became over confident, and let down his guard, literally, relaxing discipline around his own encampment at a place called San Jacinto. It was here, a devastating surprise counter attack, by Houston, unleashed all the pent up righteous fury in an incredible lopsided victory. Remember Goliad? Remember the Alamo? No, Remember Goliad! Remember the Alamo!! If God is real, God is just! But God does things in his time, and although his Army was crippled, Santa Anna got off the hook that day. Santa Anna should have been hung for the war crimes he committed. Mostly crimes committed against the people of Mexico. The death by