Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-02-21
BRIEF HISTORY OF IA GRANGE.


trict Texas Federation OF Women
Clubs. April 10 and Il.
The town has an interesting his
tory, which is closely associated will
that OF Texas. La Grange Is in Fay
cite county. upon the Colorado river
The main line OF the Missouri. Kan
sas and Texas railway runs through
the town and a branch OF the South
ern Pacific to Glidden. thirty miles dis
tant. connects Il with that system.
The congress OF the Republic OF
Texas In 1888 by almost unanimous
vote selected La Grange as the loca.
ton for the state capital. but Press
dent Houston vetoed the measure for
the reason that the site was not cen
trally located.
In 1S42 when the Mexican forces in
vaded Texas and captured the city OF
San Antonio. a ban- Of men, fifty In
number. under Captain Nicholas naw'
son. left Fayette county TO join Colo
mel Caldwell. who was about TO en-
gage the Mexican army under Gen
eral Well Before reaching Colonel
Caldwell they were attacked by a de-
tachment Of Mexican cavalry and for
ty-one OF these brave Texans were
left dead upon the battlefield When
discovered the following day by the
main body OF Texan troops the re-
mains were buried where they fell at
Salado. Texas. and In 1sis we're dis.
inferred and brought to La Grange.
This slaughter so enraged the Tex.
ans that a body OF 200 men was or.
ganized for the purpose OF pursuing
the Mexican army. which had retreat
ed toward the Rio Grande. On De
cember % and 26. 1s42. was fought
the battle OF Mier. The first day the
Texans captured the garrison and
own. The next day the Mexicans, be-
ne largely reinforced. the town was
-etaken and the Texans. after making |
/ brave fight agains, overwhelming |
surrendered as prisoners OF
var. They were placed under
trong guard and started for the City
4 Mexico. During this long march
hey suffered untold horrors. Resolv.
ng upon an attempt to escape. they
ecame lost In the mountains. were
captured and subjected 20 the dread
II lottery OF the bean drawing.
trough which the men who drew
ack beans. seventeen In number.
ere shot. The remains OF these sew. I
iteen men were likewise brought to {
4 Grange in ls4s. Here together with (
ose of the Dawson men they repose {
a vault built by our fathers upon n '
te selected for its great natural beau. B
. and known as the Blur or Monu. v
ent Hin.
The founder OF La Grange. Colonel I
I'm II. Moore. is a picturesque char 2
ter in history. AS a soldier he as.
tied In establishing the independ.
ce OF Texas. His brilliant and de-
i've victory over the Comanches on
, Red Fork OF the Colorado In 1870
cited the thanks OF the congress OF :
; Republic OF Texas expressed In a
Iolution signed by President Burnett.
'opy Of same being spread upon the
irt records of Fayette county.
"a Grange is located in a deep val pl
+. the blum overlooking the town to to
south. The court house and square b,
m the center OF the business por. CO
n OF the town. A monument erect. Oh
by the State of Texas to common. fr
te the sacrifice made by Dawson's vi
nmand and the men who drew ,ae DC
ok bean stands in front OF the court th
Use. and nearby, upon the square. is
historic tree under which Il is so
Colonel Moore organized az least Al
OF his expeditions against the In. bu
MS and under whose spreading en-
inches tradition says Captain Daw. bu
lined up his men before starting no
n their Inflated expedition. sol
might be said that La Grange is TO