The Battle of Nacogdoches remembered

Nacogdoches — The Stone Fort Chapter, Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), in partnership with the Adolphus Sterne Chapter, Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT), and the city of Nacogdoches, commemorated the 194th Anniversary of the Battle of Nacogdoches on Aug. 2.

The event, held at the Sterne-Hoya House, featured a first-person interpretation by Brad Maule, host of the Made in Nacogdoches podcast. The event was free and open to the public. 

"Marking the Battle of Nacogdoches provides an opportunity to remember the ordinary men and women whose extraordinary courage laid the foundation for Texas independence," said Ora Jane Johnson, president general of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. "The Battle of Nacogdoches reminds us that the road to the Texas Revolution began years before the battles of Gonzales and San Jacinto. By preserving these stories, we ensure that future generations understand the sacrifices made to secure the liberties Texans enjoy today."

The Battle of Nacogdoches, fought on Aug. 2–3, 1832, has long been recognized by historians as the "Opening Battle of the Texas Revolution." Following the unrest at Anahuac in 1832, Mexican Colonel José de las Piedras ordered the citizens of Nacogdoches to surrender their firearms. Rather than submit, 253 determined settlers and members of local militias answered the call to defend their rights.

Armed primarily with hunting rifles and shotguns, these volunteers confronted Colonel Piedras and his 300-man force. Fierce house-to-house fighting erupted throughout Nacogdoches, centered around the Stone House (today's Old Stone Fort) and the Red House, where Piedras maintained his headquarters. As casualties mounted, the Mexican Army retreated from the town on the evening of Aug. 2 and was pursued to Linwood, where Piedras surrendered at the Durst House on Aug. 3.

The victory came at a significant cost. Colonel Piedras lost 47 men, with an additional 40 to 60 wounded. More importantly, the triumph removed Mexican military control from East Texas, allowing the citizens of Texas to organize openly in the years leading to the Texas Revolution.

While history records the participation of 253 patriots, only 80 of their names are known today. The annual observance honors not only those whose names have survived but also the many unidentified men whose courage helped shape the future of Texas.

SOURCE Daughters of the Republic of Texas