Cordova Rebellion
Encyclopedia
The Córdova Rebellion, in 1839, was an uprising
instigated in and around Nacogdoches, Texas
. Alcalde
Vicente Córdova and other leaders supported the Texas Revolution as long as it espoused a return to the Constitution of 1824, but after declaring independence they sought to forcefully oppose the new Texas Republic with help from the Cherokee
.
which would give them title to their land in exchange for assistance in joining a war of extermination against the Texians.
(who was in Nacogdoches at the time) prohibited both sides from assembly or carrying weapons. Local alcalde Vicente Córdova and eighteen other leaders of the revolt issued a proclamation with a number of demands to be met, before the surrender of their arms. After being joined by around three hundred Indian warriors, they moved towards the Cherokee settlements. Despite Houston's orders that he should not cross the Angelina River
to interfere, General Thomas J. Rusk sent on a party of 150 men under Major Henry Augustine to confront them. On March 29, 1839, a company of 80 men commanded by General Edward Burleson
defeated Vicente Cordova and the rebels during a fight near Seguin, Texas
, at "Battleground Prairie". While wounded and pursued by Mathew Caldwell
and his rangers, Córdova was able to make his way to Mexico, but 33 members of the rebellion were tried for treason and later pardoned or released.
defeated a group of Mexicans and Cherokee. These documents included letters from Mexican officials addressed to Córdova and The Bowl, a Cherokee chief.
Despite the involvement of the Cherokee and the discovery of documents directly implicating Chief Bowl, Houston professed to believe the chief's denials and refused to order them arrested. In his several letters of reassurance to The Bowl during the unrest, Houston again promised them title to their land on the Neches River
. Warriors believing their lands to be violated by the legal settlers then perpetrated the Killough Massacre
, killing eighteen. In the wake of this and the publication of Rachel Plummer's narrative of her captivity among the Comanche, Texas's second president, Mirabeau B. Lamar
, was less sympathetic toward the tribe and was convinced that the Cherokees could not be allowed to stay in Texas. Lamar's demands that the Cherokee leave Texas, resulted in the Cherokee War in 1839 and the removal of the Cherokee to Indian Territory
.
Cordova returned to Texas with General Adrián Woll
's 1842 invasion and occupation of San Antonio. He was killed in the subsequent battle of Salado Creek, September 18, 1842.
Uprising
-In music:* Uprising * Uprising , album by Concord Dawn* Uprising , album by Entombed* Uprising , album by Universal Poplab...
instigated in and around Nacogdoches, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
Vicente Córdova and other leaders supported the Texas Revolution as long as it espoused a return to the Constitution of 1824, but after declaring independence they sought to forcefully oppose the new Texas Republic with help from the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
.
Background
Beginning as early as late 1835, Córdova had covertly started to plan and organize local resistance, anticipating Texas would declare independence from Mexico. In the late summer of 1838, word arrived from several sources that Mexico was seeking an arrangement with the CherokeeCherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
which would give them title to their land in exchange for assistance in joining a war of extermination against the Texians.
Battleground Prairie
Nacogdochians looking for a stolen horse found a camp of around one hundred armed Tejanos. Rather than allow the local militia to act, President Sam HoustonSam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
(who was in Nacogdoches at the time) prohibited both sides from assembly or carrying weapons. Local alcalde Vicente Córdova and eighteen other leaders of the revolt issued a proclamation with a number of demands to be met, before the surrender of their arms. After being joined by around three hundred Indian warriors, they moved towards the Cherokee settlements. Despite Houston's orders that he should not cross the Angelina River
Angelina River
The Angelina River is formed by the junction of Barnhardt and Shawnee creeks three miles northwest of Laneville in southwest central Rusk County, Texas ....
to interfere, General Thomas J. Rusk sent on a party of 150 men under Major Henry Augustine to confront them. On March 29, 1839, a company of 80 men commanded by General Edward Burleson
Edward Burleson
Edward Burleson was a soldier, general, and statesman in the state of Missouri, the Republic of Texas, and later the U.S. state of Texas....
defeated Vicente Cordova and the rebels during a fight near Seguin, Texas
Seguin, Texas
Seguin is a city in Guadalupe County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,011; the July 1, 2009 Census estimate, however, showed the population had increased to 26,842...
, at "Battleground Prairie". While wounded and pursued by Mathew Caldwell
Mathew Caldwell
Mathew Caldwell, , also spelled Matthew Caldwell was a 19th century Texas settler, military figure, Captain of the Gonzales - Seguin Rangers and a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence...
and his rangers, Córdova was able to make his way to Mexico, but 33 members of the rebellion were tried for treason and later pardoned or released.
Later Events
A few weeks later, a Mexican agent was killed near the Red River. A diary and papers were found on his body which indicated that the Government of Mexico was working to incite the Cherokee and other tribes to rebel against Texas in exchange for recognition of tribal lands. Additional documents were found after a battle on the North San Gabriel River on May 17 and on May 18, 1839, after a party of Texas RangersTexas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
defeated a group of Mexicans and Cherokee. These documents included letters from Mexican officials addressed to Córdova and The Bowl, a Cherokee chief.
Despite the involvement of the Cherokee and the discovery of documents directly implicating Chief Bowl, Houston professed to believe the chief's denials and refused to order them arrested. In his several letters of reassurance to The Bowl during the unrest, Houston again promised them title to their land on the Neches River
Neches River
The Neches River flows for through east Texas to its mouth on Sabine Lake near the Rainbow Bridge. Two major reservoirs, Lake Palestine and B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir are located on the Neches. Several cities are located along the Neches River Basin, including Evadale, Tyler, Lufkin, Silsbee,...
. Warriors believing their lands to be violated by the legal settlers then perpetrated the Killough Massacre
Killough massacre
The Killough Massacre is believed to have been both the largest and last Native American attack on white immigrants in East Texas.The massacre took place on October 5, 1838, near Larissa in the northwestern part of Cherokee County. There were eighteen victims, which included Isaac Killough, Sr....
, killing eighteen. In the wake of this and the publication of Rachel Plummer's narrative of her captivity among the Comanche, Texas's second president, Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was a Texas politician, diplomat and soldier who was a leading Texas political figure during the Texas Republic era. He was the second President of the Republic of Texas, after David G. Burnet and Sam Houston.-Early years:Lamar grew up at Fairfield, his father's...
, was less sympathetic toward the tribe and was convinced that the Cherokees could not be allowed to stay in Texas. Lamar's demands that the Cherokee leave Texas, resulted in the Cherokee War in 1839 and the removal of the Cherokee to Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
.
Cordova returned to Texas with General Adrián Woll
Adrián Woll
Adrián Woll was a French soldier of fortune and mercenary who served as a general in the army of Mexico during the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War.-Biography:...
's 1842 invasion and occupation of San Antonio. He was killed in the subsequent battle of Salado Creek, September 18, 1842.
See also
- Texas-Indian WarsTexas-Indian WarsThe Texas–Indian wars were a series of conflicts between settlers in Texas and Plains Indians. These conflicts began when the first European and mostly Spanish settlers moved into Spanish Texas, and continued through Texas's time as part of Mexico, when more Europeans, especially Americans...
- Timeline of the Republic of TexasTimeline of the Republic of TexasThis is a timeline of the Republic of Texas, spanning the time from the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836 up to the transfer of power to the State of Texas on February 19, 1846.-1836:Texas Declares Independence...
- Cherokee historyCherokee historyCherokee history draws upon the oral traditions and written history of the Cherokee people, who are currently enrolled in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, living predominantly in North Carolina and Oklahoma.-Origins:There are two...