Texas history has long forgotten Tejanos (Texas-born citizens of Mexican and Spanish ancestory) who fought for Texas independence until 1991 when Dr. Frank DeLa Teja translated the memoirs of Capt. Juan Seguin in which he listed 20 Tejanos who fought under his command at the Battle of San Jacinto that won independence for Texas.
Now that figure has to be corrected because of a recently discovered petition, dated Jan. 12, 1875, to the Texas State Comptroller by Lt. Col. Juan Seguin, Capt. Antonio Menchaca, and 18 other Tejanos who felt discriminated by the Texas government for denying Tejano war veterans of the Texas revolution of 1836 their military pensions.
According to the petition, Gen. Sam Houston sent Seguin’s second in command, Lt. Salvador Flores with about 25 Tejanos to patrol the ranches south of San Antonio against Mexican retreating soldiers and indian raids, 15-20 Tejanos, including Blas Herrera, Seguin’s best scout, to Deaf Smith to serve as scouts for the Texas army; over 30 Tejanos were sent eastward to escort and protect Texas families in the Runaway Scrape from the approaching Mexican army; 3 sick Tejanos in San Felipe, 10 Tejanos guarding the baggage at Harrisburg; and 5 Tejanos watching the horses at San Jacinto.
In addition to those 20 brave Tejanos on the battlefield of San Jacinto, the more correct number of Tejanos who served in the Texas army at the time is closer to about 120, not just 20, that was previously thought.
Texas history can now add a new chapter in the Texas history books to document the participation and the contributions of the Tejano soldiers who fought and died for Texas Independence against Mexico in 1836.
On cinco de mayo, the valley will be honoring and celebrating the brave Mexican soldiers who fought for Mexico in 1862 at the Battle of Puebla, but who is going to remember the brave Tejano and Texas soldiers who fought for Texas at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.
VIVA TEJAS Y VIVAN LOS TEJANOS.
Jack Ayoub, Harlingen
