Texas marks state Independence Day on Sunday

It’s that time of year again: feelings of pride, independence and occasional defiance wash over Texans everywhere from the Red River to the Rio Grande.

Texas Independence Day is March 2, when the Republic of Texas was born. The date marks the historic adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos.

Although the Texans lost at the Alamo and Goliad within weeks of the signing of the declaration, Santa Ana was defeated on April 21, 1836, at the Battle of San Jacinto and Texas was an independent nation for 10 years. The small band of Texans’ victory over the large Mexican army is partially credited with giving the state a lingering reputation as gun-slinging and defiant.

“The native Texan is a subculture within the American subculture,” historian T.R. Fehrenbach said. “There is a definite Texas mystique. There’s a feeling of statehood. Being a Texan to most Texans actually means something.”

Part of Texas’ swaggering pride comes from having been a sovereign nation once recognized by England, France and the United States, among other countries, Mr. Fehrenbach said.

“A small group of rebels fought a bigger power and made it stick,” he said. “Our pride grows out of the sense of identity based on our history … and the kind of people who came here. Timid types don’t go to the frontier. It’s dangerous.”

John L. Davis, director of research at the Institute of Texan Cultures at the University of Texas-San Antonio, agreed that Texas’ reputation can be tied to the 1836 revolution.

“It was a time of strong engagements with Mexico, and Texas successfully enforced its independence,” he said. “The campaigns were very brutal on both sides and heroic. It was romanticized as the years went by. There were absolute individualists and strong personalities. It was a place one could come to start over.”

Texas Independence Day is celebrated throughout the state at both public and private parties.

In Austin, a Texas Independence Day parade begins at First Street and Congress Avenue at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by speeches and musical entertainment hosted by state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos. A 2 p.m. Sunday memorial ceremony at the Texas State Cemetery will honor veterans of the Texas Revolution.

Since 1980, Austin resident Terry Booth has hosted his family and friends with barbecue and beer, of course, a reading of William B. Travis’ defiant letter from the Alamo, a firing of cannons and the selection of a person who is considered to have held true to his Texas roots for the year.

Mr. Booth said he wanted to bring the historic day to the attention of both native Texans and newcomers. He usually has a “few hundred people” at his party.

“The onslaught of the Yankees was driving me crazy and nobody was celebrating Texas Independence Day,” he said.

Texas pride and independence are glorified in a calendar created by Texas editorial cartoonist Roger T. Moore. The calendar starts with March 2 and spotlights important dates in Texas history.

“Cowboys do all their thinking in the saddle and I do mine in the pickup and that’s where I got my idea,” Mr. Moore said. “It’s one day a year to be happy you are a Texan. It’s special. We have a good attitude and maybe we are a little boisterous at times, but that’s OK.”

Mr. Moore also makes and sells Texas Independence Day cards with messages such as this one: “You’re from New Jersey? Hell, Boy … we’ve got ranches beggern’ that. March 2 is Texas Independence Day. Celebrate in style …agitate a yankee.”

Filmmaker Grant Guthrie took a more serious turn after he was inspired to film a documentary on Texas independence by his daughter, who was studying the state’s history in school.

Seventh-graders were finding the subject dull, so he wanted to make it more lively. His film, Texas Independence, premiers Sunday night at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin.

The documentary features two fictional families living in the battle-torn region. It follows them as revolution breaks out with one of the men ultimately dying at the Alamo. The documentary includes battle re-enactments, interviews with historians and video of archival paintings and documents.

The filmmaker plans to distribute the film free to Texas middle school teachers. “I wanted it to be family viewable but specifically geared to be used in school and make it interesting enough to engage adults,” Mr. Guthrie said.

The Texas Declaration of Independence (March 2, 1836)

"The Texas Declaration of Independence was produced, literally, overnight. Its urgency was paramount, because while it was being prepared, the Alamo in San Antonio was under seige by Santa Anna's army of Mexico."

"Immediately upon the assemblage of the Convention of 1836 on March 1, a committee of five of its delegates were appointed to draft the document. The committee, consisting of George C. Childress, Edward Conrad, James Gaines, Bailey Hardeman, and Collin McKinney, prepared the declaration in record time. It was briefly reviewed, then adopted by the delegates of the convention the following day."

"As seen from the transcription below, the document parallels somewhat that of the United States, signed almost sixty years earlier. It contains statements on the function and responsibility of government, followed by a list of grievances. Finally, it concludes by declaring Texas a free and independent republic."

Siege and Battle of the Alamo, (March 6, 1836)

"...the vanguard of Santa Anna's army arrived in San Antonio about 23 February 1836. Some 145 Texans in the area took refuge in the fortified grounds of an old mission known as the Alamo, under the joint command of William B. Travis (for the regular army) and Jim Bowie (for the volunteers)."

"Over the following two weeks, the Mexican forces continually strengthened to over 2000 troops. During the same period, a few reinforcements for the Texans answered Travis' famous Appeal for Aid and managed to penetrate enemy lines and enter the Alamo grounds, bringing the total strength of the defenders to about 189 men."

"After periodic bombardment, the siege ended on the morning of 6 March when the Mexicans storm the Alamo fortress. During the battle, all of the Texan defenders were killed. Several non-combatants were spared, including Susanna Dickenson, the wife of one of the defenders, Susanna's baby, and a servant of Travis. Partly to reinforce his goal of terrorizing colonists in Texas, Santa Anna released this small party to inform Texans of the fate of the defenders."

"Losses in the battle have been placed at 189 Texans against about 1600 for the Mexicans."

The Ballad of the Alamo
performed by Marty Robbins

In the southern part of Texas, in the town of San Antone
There's a fortress all in ruins that the weeds have overgrown
You may look in vain for crosses and you'll never see a-one
But sometimes between the setting and the rising of the sun
You can hear a ghostly bugle, as the men go marching by
You can hear them as they answer, to that roll call in the sky.

Colonel Travis, Davy Crockett, and a hundred eighty more
Captain Dickinson, Jim Bowie, present and accounted for.

Back in 1836, Houston said to Travis
"Get some volunteers and go, fortify the Alamo."
Well the men came from Texas, and from old Tennessee
And they joined up with Travis, just to fight for the right to be free.

Indian scouts with squirrel guns, men with muzzle-loaders
Stood together, heel and toe, to defend the Alamo.
"You may ne'er see your loved ones," Travis told them that day
"Those who want to can leave now, those who fight to the death let 'em stay."

In the sand he drew a line, with his army sabre
Out of a hundred eighty five, not a soldier crossed the line
With his banners a-dancin', in the dawn's golden light
Santa Anna came prancing, on a horse that was black as the night.

He sent an officer to tell, Travis to surrender
Travis answered with a shell, and a rousing rebel yell
Santa Anna turned scarlet, "Play deguello!" he roared
"I will show them no quarter, every one will be put to the sword!"

One hundred and eighty five, holding back five thousand
Five days, six days, eight days, ten, Travis held and held again
Then he sent for replacements, for his wounded and lame
But the troops that were coming, never came, never came, never came...

Twice he charged and blew recall, on the fatal third time
Santa Anna breached the wall, and he killed them, one and all
Now the bugles are silent, and there's rust on each sword
And the small band of soldiers... lie asleep in the arms of the Lord...

In the southern part of Texas, near the town of San Antone
Like a statue on his pinto rides a cowboy all alone
And he sees the cattle grazing where a century before
Santa Anna's guns were blazing and the cannons used to roar
And his eyes turn sort of misty, and his heart begins to glow
And he takes his hat off slowly... To the men of Alamo.

To the thirteen days of glory... At the seige of Alamo.

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