The War For Texas Independence

When the War for Texas Independence came not only did a sizable number of Kentuckians of their own accord volunteer for the Texas Militia but in response to President Jackson's call to protect the Texas-Mexican border, four times the number of Kentucky Militia volunteered than were needed. Captain Burr H. Duvall's Company of Kentucky Mustangs (First Regiment Volunteers) from Bardstown, Kentucky, and Captain Peyton Sterling Wyatt's Louisville Volunteers were assigned to south central Texas as part of Colonel James W. Fannin's regiment. Most of these men perished in the massacre following Fannin's surrender to the Mexicans at the Battle and Massacre at La Bahia (Goliad). On April 21, 1836, Sam Houston's 730 Texas troops, many of which were Kentuckians, defeated 1,640 Mexicans at San Jacinto. One of Houston's regimental commanders, Colonel Sidney Sherman, was a Kentuckian. The epaulets of General Santa Anna taken that day are sill held by the Kentucky Military History Museum. Over 600 Kentuckians who were on their way that summer to fight for Texas Independence arrived too late to take part in the conflict. In excess of 600 Kentuckians saw active service in Texas, and over 75 were killed.​

The War For Texas Independence