The Texas Hillstory Podcast

In 1826, an Anglo American colonist in the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas (Texas) declared his colony to be a free and independent nation called the Republic of Fredonia. He failed miserably, but his efforts caused the Mexcian government to grow suspicious of the new settlers from America. In an effort to halt any future problems, Mexico passed a law that greatly angered Anglo Americans and would eventually lead them on a path to revolution. 

On October 2, 1835, Anglo-American settlers in the small town of Gonzales, located in the northern region of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas fought Mexican forces to retain possession of a small bronze cannon. The cannon, on-loan from the Mexican government, was ordered to be turned over to authorities so that it couldn't be used against Mexican forces. The battle, referred to as the "Lexington of Texas," ignited the Texas Revolution.

Welcome back for Season Two of the Texas Hillstory Podcast! Episode 1 is the conclusion of a two-part series that began with the final episode of Season 1 in which we discussed the First Texans and the Native American tribes that inhabited the state. In this episode, we begin with the hunter-gatherer Western Gulf Culture, made up of the Karankawa and the Coahuiltecan people who inhabited the Gulf Coast and Rio Grande area. Then we move out to the sedentary farming Puebloan Culture of the west Texas Mountains and Basins region - the Tiguas, Jumanos and Conchos. We finish up talking about the Plains Culture of the Great Plains - the Kiowa, Apache, Comanche and Tonkawa.

The first in at least a two-part series on the First Texans and the Native American tribes that inhabited the state. In this episode, I talk about how early man crossed the land bridge that connected Asia and North America and slowly made their way to Texas nearly 12,000 years ago. I also, begin talking about the tribes of Texas by examining the Southeastern peoples.

This is the first of my mini-episodes that will appear between regular, longer episodes. This episode is a short history of Cedar Hill. A small rural community that over time was consumed by the sprawling suburbia of Dallas, Texas. From killer tornados to nudists and devil worshipers - Cedar Hill has ... okay, maybe that's a bit sensationalistic, but it's all there in the history of this little farming community turned bedroom community.

A brief history of the town of Marfa, Texas. From its early days as a frontier town to its current status as a destination for art lovers. We even talk a bit about the Marfa Lights. The second part of our episode is a review of the 1985 road movie - Fandango and how I feel it's the quintessential Texas college movie.

In this episode, we examine the use of Colt Paterson revolver by Texas Rangers in their war against the Comanche and the subsequent design and use of the 1847 Colt Walker revolver during the Mexican War. We also, switch gears a little and look into paranormal Texas history with the story of the Wild Woman of the Navidad - considered by many to be the first interaction with a Texas Bigfoot by Anglo settlers.

Nearly 200,000 Texans fought in The Great War (known today as World War I). In this episode, we discuss the M.A.I.N. causes of the war - Militarism, Alliance System, Imperialism, Nationalism and we discuss the Zimmerman Telegram. The main topic however, is the incredible true story of Daniel R. Edwards, who up to that point, was the only American to ever receive the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross on the same day.

In this episode, we deep dive into the classic 1956 John Ford epic, The Searchers, and discuss similarities to the abduction of Cynthia Ann Parker and the nine year search by her Uncle, James W. Parker.

Texas was spared much of the fighting and destruction the rest of the South was forced to endure during the American Civil War, but Texas did see several major battles. In this episode, we learn about The Battle of Galveston which wrested control of the largest city in Texas from the hands of the Union - The Battle of Sabine Pass which turned back a Union invasion of Texas, and the final battle of the Civil War - The Battle of Palmito Ranch.

308 angry Texans invade Mexico, get captured and forced to draw beans from a pot to decide if they will live or die. In the process, they may have inadvertently helped get Texas annexed by the United States. A true Texas story of revenge and the will to survive.

Our second episode is about Samuel McCullough, Jr. - the first casualty of the Texas Revolution. McCullough was a free black man in Texas at a time when people of African descent were enslaved, yet through sheer coincidence he became one of the first heroes of the Revolution.

In my first episode, I talk about the causes of the Mexican-American War as it relates to Texas. I discuss three different points-of-view as to who is at fault for starting the war.