Cass County Connect
Cass County Judge Travis Ransom
During the Texas Revolution, a convention of American Texans meets at Washington-on-the-Brazos to declare independence of Texas from Mexico. The delegates chose David Burnet as provisional president and confirmed Sam Houston as the commander in chief of all Texan forces. On February 23, 1836 Santa Anna and some 3,000 Mexican troops besieged the Alamo, and the former mission was bombarded with cannon and rifle fire for 12 days.
On February 24, in the chaos of the siege, Colonel Travis smuggled out a letter that read: “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World…. I shall never surrender or retreat…. Victory or Death!”
On March 1, the last Texan reinforcements from nearby Gonzales broke through the enemy’s lines and into the Alamo, bringing the total defenders to approximately 185. On March 2, Texas’ revolutionary government formally declared its independence from Mexico.
In the early morning of March 6, Santa Anna ordered his troops to storm the Alamo. Travis’ artillery decimated the first and then the second Mexican charge, but in just over an hour the Texans were overwhelmed, and the Alamo was taken. Santa Anna had ordered that no prisoners be taken, and all the Texan and American defenders were killed in brutal hand-to-hand fighting.
The only survivors of the Alamo were a handful of civilians, mostly women and children. Several hundred of Santa Anna’s men died during the siege and storming of the Alamo. Remember The Alamo!
Legislation Filed to Honor Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle
Earlier this month Cass County Commissioners Court and Morris County Commissioners Court unanimously passed a resolution supporting the designation of the US Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle Memorial Highway from the city limits of Hughes Springs along Highway 11/ Highway 49 to the city limits of Daingerfield, Texas in Morris County. Morris County passed a similar resolution of support.
Texas State Senator Bryan Hughes and Texas State Representative Gary VanDeaver have filed companion legislation in the Senate and House respectively to make this memorial designation. The project is sponsored by Hughes Springs American Legion Post 351. In December the City of Hughes Springs also dedicated a park in honor of SSG Castle.
SSG Castle was a 1996 graduate of Hughes Springs High School and was a standout athlete excelling in both basketball and football. After high school graduation SSG Castle attended Tyler Junior College in furtherance of his education.
He enlisted in the United States Army; and was assigned to the 327th Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. On May 11, 2005 while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, SSG Castle was killed Al Asad, Iraq, from injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device detonation. SSG Castle’s ultimate sacrifice is worthy of the highest recognition and brings great credit to the citizens of Hughes Springs, Cass County, and the State of Texas.
He served with honor, integrity and devotion to his country and his brothers and sisters in arms. The naming of a portion of Texas State Highway 11 and 49 in Morris County, Texas as “Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle Memorial Highway” will help serve to perpetuate the memory of a local hero who all in defense of his nation. Senate Bill 1369 and its companion House Bill 3354 will be considered during the ongoing 89th Legislative Session.
Independence
The Texas Declaration of Independence was based primarily on the writings of John Locke and Thomas Jefferson, the declaration proclaimed that the Mexican government “ceased to protect the lives, liberty, and property of the people, from whom its legitimate powers are derived” and complained about “arbitrary acts of oppression and tyranny.”
The declaration officially established the Republic of Texas and contains several key tenants of American political principles including “the right of trial by jury, that palladium of civil liberty, and only safe guarantee for the life, liberty and property of the citizen.” It also spoke about the right to bear arms “our arms...are essential to our defense, the rightful property of freemen, and formidable only to tyrannical governments.”
Sixty men signed the Texas Declaration of independence including Sam Houston who would serve as the first President of Texas and Robert Potter whose story can be traced to Potter’s Point on Caddo Lake. Cass County has a rich heritage and a bright future.
Reach out to my office — P.O. Box 825 Linden, TX 75563 Phone: 903-756-5181, Ext. 0 Fax: 903-756-5732