The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 62, July 1958 - April, 1959 Page: 29
617 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Sat oftausto and the rexas War
keer, 3arch-AqKst, 1842
HARRY A. GALLEY, JR.
THE resumption of hostilities between Texas and Mexico
in 1842 produced a situation in Texas reminiscent of the
early stages of the Revolution. Men were called from
their homes and were rushed with immoderate and unmilitary
haste to meet the Mexican forces. The invasion of Texan terri-
tory on March 5 by the Mexican General, Rafael Vasquez, called
forth two immediate responses. The most popular reaction was
the jingoistic, aggressive attitude which favored immediate re-
taliation upon Mexico in the form of an offensive war. A smaller
number of observers, while not unaware of the threat posed by
this occurrence, wanted to alert the citizenry to the danger and
prepare for a defensive war. The latter course of action, although
unpopular, was the more realistic of the two. Those holding
this conviction assessed the financial and military situation of
'Texas and found it ludicrous to imagine that Texas with her
limited population should attempt to invade a country of some
six million. The leader of the group which opposed a rash war
was President Sam Houston. It was not expedient for him to
make known such an unpopular view. Unless this is thoroughly
understood, his actions following the Vasquez invasion seem in-
consistent and wavering. In attempting to lead the Texans away
from a disastrous war, however, Houston often found it necessary
to pursue a course diametrically opposite the spirit of his more
bombastic public utterances.
To understand the events of the first half of 1842 it is necessary
to show briefly the background of the seemingly sudden rever-
sion to the days of 1836. Mexico, stung to the quick by her unex-
pected defeat, utilized every opportunity to harass what she con-
sidered her rebellious northern colony. Internal disorder pre-
vented her from any immediate attempts to reconquer the lost
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 62, July 1958 - April, 1959, periodical, 1959; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101173/m1/47/?rotate=90: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.