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Dan Arellano

danarellano47@att.net
The Tejano Connection to the American Revolution
If the State Board of Education refuses to teach the history of our Tejano ancestors
we must do it ourselves the following is one of those history lessons.
We have all heard of the catttle drives out of Texas over the famous Chisolm and
Good Night Trails and how American cowboys created the ranching industry in
Texas; however nothing could be further from the truth. The first cattle drives out
of Texas were over El Camino Real de las tierras de afuera that headed east and
not north. In 1779 the Governor of Spanish Louisiana, Bernardo de Galvez, whom
Galveston is named after, receives a dispatch from General George Washington
requesting aid and assistance. The Tejano Community would respond by donating
1659 pesos to aid the English Colonials in their war for independence.
Galvez, who had been in Texas as a young lieutenant knew where there was an
abundance of cattle and horses; on Tejano ranches in South Texas. In order to feed
the troops Galvez sends an emissary, Francisco Garcia with a letter to the governor
of Texas, Domingo Cabello requesting and formally authorizing the first official
cattle drive out of Texas.
Instrumental in obtaining these large number of cattle was Fray Pedro Ramirez de
Arellano president of all the Texas Missions. Ten to fifteen thousand Longhorns
were rounded up and driven to Louisiana and further north in groups of one
thousand or so. Many of these drovers were Spanish Soldiers, Tejano Rancheros,
Tejano Vaqueros and Mission Indians. Records show that many of these drovers
remained to fight in the army of Galvez.
Galvez, in essence would open a third front defeating the British along the
Missiissippi River and along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida during the
American Revolution. Under the command of Galvez were troops and ships from
Mexico. one of his top officers was Major General Geronimo Giron, a direct
descendant of Monctdezuma.

For too long our Spanish, Indegenous, and Tejano History has been concealed,
excluded and often out right distorted as we have become foreigners in our native
lands. The Battle of Medina Historical Society will continue to write the true history
of Tejas and the contributions of our ancestors to the development of this great
nation.
Dan Arellano Author/Historian

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