Junction High School - Golden Eagle Yearbook (Junction, TX)

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the Russell's daughter. John promised to marry Lucy upon his return in one year. Before John's return, Indians raided the Russell ranch and killed the family. Outraged, John sought Lucy’s murderer. One day, he sighted a savage Indian holding a shield resembling a stretched deer skin. On the shield was a scalp of beautiful hair —blonde hair like Lucy Russell's. Reports from the county near Lucy Russell's home show the combined population of two counties declined from 3,752 in 1860 to 1,585 in 1870. Texans raised the hue-and-cry: We need protection from the Indians by the U.S. Army. When President Grant assumed office in 1869, peace advocates persuaded him to adopt a policy of diplomacy, rather than force, with regard to the Indian problem in Texas. It wasn't until the raid at Salt Creek in May of 1871 that General of the Army William Tecumseh Sherman and Randolph B. Marcy, inspector general of the Army, recognized and acknowledged the indiscriminate slaughter of settlers in Texas. TBe Salt Creek Massacre led to the arrest of Kiowa leader Satana and two other Indian leaders, Satank and Big Tree. Satana refused to stand trial and was shot trying to escape. Satank and Big Tree were tried and convicted for the murders at Salt Creek and sentenced to hang. Their sentences were later commuted to imprisonment. The chiefs were paroled in August, 1873. The War Department now unleashed its troops against the Indians, forcing a westward movement that would annihilate the Indian way of life. The movement allowed for the expansion of the Texas range-cattle industry, the existence of farmers and agriculture and the growth of industry. An endless Indian crusade to prevent extinction of the buffalo resulted in bitter, cruel deaths for both Indians and settlers. The buffalo and the land were both sources of survival, existence and worship for many Indians. Death in defending such rituals was considered honorable. Lithograph taken from the Rare Collection of the Texas Dallas History and Archives Division, Dallas Public Library. NEW--- ' FRONTIER I ilm and pictorial essays depict the nd pn befoi years before and after the Civil War as the most colorful in Texas history. Four years before the war, in 1860, only the bravest souls settled west of a line extending from Henrietta southward through Belknap, Palo Pinto, Brownwood, Kerrville and Uvalde to Bracketville. The lack of protection from the army during the Mexican-American War left settlers in Texas defenseless. Country west of a line drawn from Gainesville to Fredericksburg was abandoned by all but the most courageous. Many lived in stockades and watched each evening in terror as smoke surrounded the summer moon. Charred cabin skeletons stood like enormous gravestones for slaughtered families. One wanderer. Cowboy John Allen, camped near the Russell family stockade. For his protection the family agreed it would be best for him to move inside. John fell in love with Lucy,

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Oup DEATH and INDEPENDENCE In celebration of 150 years of independent Texas, Taylor Publishing Company salutes the educators and students of our great state. This compilation of events, historical sequences and characteristics of those who tamed the frontier is designed to enhance the meaning of the name TEXAN” — for those whose spirit swells with pride at the sound of the rushing Rio Grande River or whose eyes sparkle at the sight of a field of bluebonnets in May. Texas, we’re big, proud and grateful to those who sacrificed for our independence. On this occasion, our Sesquicentenmal Celebration, we truly Remember the Alamo. evenge cast an angry shadow over Mexican troops gathered on Jan. 25, 1836. Anglo- American colonists in Texas no longer wished to remain part of Mexico. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Mexico’s president, was to lead an expedition against the rebel colonists. The Mexican army had already suffered defeat in San Antonio at the hands of Colonel J.H. Moore and about 160 Texans. This loss outraged Mexico’s General Cos who was determined to chastise Texans for opening his personal mail. General Cos ordered Colonel Domingo de Ugartechea, commander of troops in San Antonio, to recover a cannon given to Texans for defense against the Indians. On Sept. 29, the Mexican force encamped on the west bank of the Guadalupe River, a short distance from the town. Armed with scrap metal, chains and the disputed cannon —loaded and flagged with a banner inscribed, COME AND TAKE IT, — the courageous and fiery Texans sent the Mexican army scurrying back to San Antonio. One Mexican was killed. The revolution had begun. Santa Anna wanted revenge. But this time, Mexico was prepared. Six thousand Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande River on Feb. 16 with 21 cannons, 1,800 pack mules, 33 large wagons and 200 carts. Santa Anna wanted to avenge the defeat of General Cos. His first target was a previously indomitable fortress — the Alamo. When the gates of the Alamo closed, 150 fighting men were quartered against the east and west walls. About 24 civilians hovered in the fort's old church. Among the civilians were David Crockett, ex-congressman from Tenn.; James (Jim) Bowie and William B. Travis. Travis sent out desperate appeals for assistance to nearby forts. No sign of relief appeared. On Feb. 23, the Mexicans were sighted. Travis sent out two scouts with a final plea for men and provisions; the men are determined to defend the Alamo at last, he warned. The next day he wrote, The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, but I shall never surrender or rpr rpo f ■ VICTORY OR DEATH. Just before dawn on March 6, Santa Anna stormed the Alamo. The Texans fought to their deaths. Santa Anna ordered all of the rebel corpses piled on wood and burned. The rebels did not die in vain. Revolutionary forces were prepared to meet Santa Anna and finally forced a Mexican surrender. But the defenders of the Alamo never knew Texas was already independent.

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 'Ifich'i HERITAGE xcept for Alaska, Texas is the largest state in the union with 267,399 square miles of territory extending from the High Plains of the Panhandle to the Gulf of Mexico. An aerial view of Texas would divide our state into three regions: the Atlantic-Gulf Coastal Plain, the Great Plains of Central North America and the Rocky Mountain system. The Coastal Region has heavy soil and a variety of vegetation. East Texas is a region spanned with lush farms and pine forests. The area produces pork, beef, poultry and dairy products. The Central Texas Prairies Region extends from Austin northward to the Red River. Rich, black soils produce grain, cotton and livestock- support crops. Texas comes from the Spanish word, tejas, meaning friends” or allies.” Early Spanish explorers and mission- aries applied the name to the territory between the Trinity and Red Rivers called the Land of the Indians. THE INDIANS The first Europeans found many Indian tribes in Texas and a variety of native cultures — the Caddoans of East Texas; the Karankawas along the Gulf Coast; the Wichita and Tonkowa tribes in Central Texas; the Coahuiltecans, a number of small tribes who lived south of San Antonio; and the Apaches, who lived in the western part of the state and later were forced to share their land with the Comanches. Among the nomadic Comanches was the famous Quanah Parker, one of the last Comanche war chiefs. He was the son of Chief Nocona and Cynthia Ann Parker, a captive white woman. The Comanches were superb horsemen and warriors and made life unsafe for settlers until about 1875. SPANISH AND FRENCH EXPLORERS In 1519, Alsonso Alvarez de Pineda mapped the Gulf of Mexico’s coast. Pineda spent 40 days at the mouth of the Rio Grande River — which he called River of Palms” — and recommended a settlement be constructed at the site. Two hundred years later the first settlers arrived. The first Spaniards to enter Texas were Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and three companions. In 1682, a trader from Canada was the first settler in Texas. The 1763 Treaty of Paris gave Florida to England from Spain in exchange for Spain retaining possession of western Louisiana. Between 1763 and 1821, Texas was ruled by the Spanish, then by Mexico before winning independence.