Texas history has long forgotten the four Flores Brothers who fought for Texas Independence in 1836. According to the memoirs of Capt. Juan Seguin, his four brothers in law, Salvador, Manuel, Nepomuceno, and Jose, served in his company of Tejanos against the Mexican General Santa Ana as well as their father, Jose Flores de Abrego, who supplied corn, sheep, hogs, and cattle for the Texas Army.
After Capt. Seguin was given the responsibility of foraging for food and supplies for Texas soldiers in San Antonio, 1st Lt. Salvador Flores, the second in command, had to maintain the scouting patrols and continue to recruit Tejanos for the military campaign. Salvador and Manuel fought together with Seguin at the Battle of Bexar under Col. Ben Milam and at the Battle of Concepcion under Col. Jim Bowie. These two brothers also were involved at the Grass Fight outside of San Antonio along with Deaf Smith, chief of Texas scouts.
After the fall of the Alamo, Gen. Sam Houston ordered Salvador Flores and about 25 Tejanos, that included his baby brother Jose, to scout the southern ranches south of San Antonio to protect them from Indian raids and Mexican deserters. Gen. Houston also gave Capt. Juan Seguin and his Tejanos, that included Manuel and Nepomuceno, the responsibility of being the Rear Action Guard to protect his army from being attacked from behind from the Mexican cavalry. At San Felipe, Seguin and his Tejano vaqueros prevented the Mexican cavalry from crossing the Brazos River to attack Houston*s soldiers.
At the Battle of San Jacinto, Manuel and Nepomuceno fought with Seguin’s company of Tejanos that marched to victory that helped Gen. Sam Houston win Texas Independence. After the war, Salvador and Manuel were promoted to captains, and Nepomuceno was promoted to lieutenant to serve in Lt. Col. Juan Seguin*s Army of the West in San Antonio. Jose would go back to run his father’s ranch in Floresville.
Texas Independence was fought for and won because of the contributions of Tejanos like the four Flores brothers, but when is Texas history going to give these Tejano heroes their rightful place with the rest of our Texas heroes? Viva Tejas y vivan los Tejanos.
Jack Ayoub
Harlingen
