Mexico achieved her independence from Spain in 1821 and San Antonio and Texas came under the domination of the newly formed Mexican government which put forth inconsistent confused policies. The earlier liberal grants to the Anglo-Americans were questioned. Following a series of revolutions begun in 1829, unscrupulous rulers successfully seized power in Mexico. Their unjust acts and despotic decrees led to revolution in Texas. The Texans formed an army, and in November 1835 established a provisional government.
In 1836, at the former mission San Antonio de Valero, the famous battle of the Alamo was fought. W. B. Travis, James Bonham, James Bowie, David Crockett and some 180 Texans held off, from February 23 to March 6, the Mexican army of more than 5000 troops under General Lopez de Santa Anna. The Mexicans finally broke over the mission walls on the morning of March 6 and bayoneted or knifed the entire garrison. Santa Anna was decisively beaten by Texans under General Sam Houston at the battle of San Jacinto forty-six days later. Following this San Antonio came under the rule of the newly formed Republic of Texas.
The year 1845 saw the annexation of Texas to the United States. In 1861, during the war between the States, Texas seceded from the Union. New times began in 1865 at the close of the Civil War. San Antonio became the center of a cattle empire. Longhorns were driven northward up the trails to market; mile-long wagon trains from Mexico began to come through the city. The Southern Pacific Railroad was constructed through this section in 1877. In 1898 the Spanish-American War again stimulated military activity in San Antonio and Colonel Theodore Roosevelt trained his Rough Riders at the site now marked by Roosevelt Park.
And so until 1900 San Antonio had a colorful life. Then it settled down to consistent growth and progress. Oil was discovered near the city. Hundreds of new families came to make this their home because of the natural beauty, the mild climate, the healthfulness and business opportunities. But progress proceeds without dimming the past and it is the past that draws thousands of visitors to this unique city of picturesque contrasts.
Today, more than 2,000 acres are included in the city’s 60 parks and plazas. One of the most complete city park systems in the nation, Brackenridge Park embraces 320 acres. Among its interesting features is a Zoo which ranks among the nation’s largest and best.
The San Antonio River which finds its source in numerous flowing springs just north of Brackenridge Park and winds its way through the business section of the city, has been transformed into a beautiful Venetian canal with walkways below the street level along banks lined with semi-tropical flowers and shrubs.
An important military center since its beginning, San Antonio now possesses the largest permanent army post of the nation in Fort Sam Houston, headquarters for the Eighth Corps Area. An arsenal is located here, Normoyle Quartermaster Depot and Camps Stanley and Bullis. San Antonio saw the birth of the air corps in 1910 and today are located here the military flying fields of Randolph, the “West Point of the Air”; Kelly, Duncan and Brooks.
Thus the past two hundred years have seen much colorful drama enacted under the flags of France, Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederacy, and the United States. Each flag has left mirrored a part of its own significance. The curious mixture of old and new which is San Antonio has been recorded in the pages of this book.
Claude B. Aniol
