NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) – The gunshots that echoed across East Texas 194 years ago rang out again Sunday – this time in celebration.
The Adolphus Sterne Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, in partnership with the Stone Fort Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the City of Nacogdoches Historic Sites Division, hosted the 194th Anniversary Battle of Nacogdoches Celebration at the Sterne-Hoya House Museum & Library in downtown Nacogdoches.
The event marked the anniversary of the Battle of Nacogdoches, which took place on August 2, 1832 – one of the earliest armed conflicts leading to the Texas Revolution.
What Happened on August 2, 1832?
On that morning, Mexican Colonel José de las Piedras ordered all residents of Nacogdoches to surrender their firearms. It was the last straw for a community already simmering with resentment over Mexican government policies, including a law passed in 1830 restricting further colonization of the region.
Led by Colonel James Bullock – a War of 1812 veteran who had fought alongside Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans – roughly 300 colonists formed a national militia and answered the call.
Armed with little more than shotguns and hunting weapons, they fired the opening shots of what would become the Texas Revolution.
Colonel Piedras commanded a force of roughly 300 soldiers. By the end of the battle, 47 were dead and as many as 60 more were wounded.
Piedras and his remaining troops fled toward San Antonio under cover of night – but they didn’t get far. Militia horsemen caught up with them the next day along the Angelina River.
In a dramatic conclusion, Piedras’ own soldiers turned against their commander and surrendered him to the Texas militia.
The victory cleared East Texas of Mexican military presence and enabled colonists to organize what would become the Texas Revolution – more than three years before the fall of the Alamo.
‘Don’t Let Anyone Tell You Nacogdoches Isn’t Important’
Michael D. Wilson, President General of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, has a deep personal connection to the battle. His ancestor, Hyram Brown, was a 19-year-old farm boy from St. Augustine who served as a flag bearer during the conflict.
“Don’t let anyone tell you Nacogdoches isn’t important because it is,” Wilson told the crowd gathered Sunday.
Wilson emphasized the battle’s lasting significance to Texas history.
“It was because of this battle that East Texas was cleared of all the Mexican soldiers ahead of Sam Houston – three and a half years later,” he said.
Bringing History to Life
Actor and City Councilman Brad Maule portrayed Adolphus Sterne in a first-person historical interpretation at Sunday’s event.
Sterne was a German-born merchant and community leader whose home served as a key gathering place during the conflict and whose support helped organize the resistance efforts during the battle.
Ora Jane Johnson, President General of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, praised the growing recognition of East Texas’ role in the state’s founding.
“With this new tradition, you have brought the often overlooked contributions of the early Texas settlers from the eastern portion of the state to the forefront,” Johnson said.
Preserving the Documents of History
The Sons of the Republic of Texas also announced a $3,000 donation to the East Texas Research Center. The funds will be used to conserve an 1843 document from the family of Dave Rusk, who served as sheriff of Nacogdoches during the Republic of Texas.
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