SECESSION - TEXAS DIVIDED and GIVEAWAY!

By Golden Keyes Parsons

In doing research for my Civil War novel set in Texas, I was reminded that Texas was a state divided as far as the issue of secession was concerned. But a large part of Texas was a cotton-growing and slavery state, so like her sister states of the same ilk, Texas seceded. However, because of divided opinions on the subject, Texas didn't make the move until early 1861. She was the last state to secede before the firing upon Fort Sumter. The election of Abraham Lincoln and the fear that his Republican party would abolish slavery, thus threatening traditional rights and the economy of Texas ran through the whole secession issue.

ThestoryofTexas.com

Many Texans in the 1850s believed that slavery was essential to the Texas economy and its future growth. Slavery had expanded rapidly since the annexation of Texas to the United States in 1845, especially in East Texas and along the Gulf Coast, where cotton plantations had sprung up. That was due largely to the fact that many plantation owners from the deep South had moved to Texas and settled in those areas. Cotton grown could easily reach market along the rivers and waterways pouring into the Gulf of Mexico. Slaves constituted approximately 30 per cent of the population of Texas by 1860.

TshaOnline.org

However in other settled regions of Texas, the economy did not depend upon cotton and slavery, therefore, slavery was virtually absent. The economy in these regions depended on livestock, corn, and/or wheat. Thus Texas became divided on secession between those regions whose economy depended on cotton and slavery and those whose economy did not. (See map.) Historians today still debate the secession issue in Texas looking at the timing, the population, the local needs, political parties, Unionists such as Sam Houston, and running through entire debate was the slavery issue. Sam Houston was adamantly opposed to Texas seceding and aligning with the Confederate

States. In fact, he was run out of town, here in Waco, after making a speech on the courthouse steps to that effect. It eventually cost him his governorship. Secession could not be stopped, however, no matter how hard Sam Houston tried. The public pressure simply became too great to halt the secessionist movement in Texas and became an exceptionally volatile issue. Pressure to call a convention to vote to secede began in October of 1960 when it appeared Lincoln was going to be elected President. But Governor Houston refused to convene hoping the highly charged emotions would cool down with time. But the flames simply grew, and in December of 1860 the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court took the law in his own hands and called for a convention in January to vote to secede.

With a touch of irony, the state voted to secede on March 2, Texas Independence Day. All state officials were required to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy, which Sam Houston refused to do. Thus ended the long and illustrious political career of Sam Houston. And Texas entered into a losing bloody conflict which would devastate the country.

Texas was "fortunate" in that very little actual fighting took place on Texas soil. Although Texas soldiers gained a reputation for their fierce fighting abilities, particularly a group which became known as Terry's Texas Rangers (not affiliated with the law enforcement group). And one of the only towns occupied by Union troops was a small town on the Gulf Coast, Indianola, which was destroyed in a hurricane in the 1880s. It is the setting for my Civil War book, His Steadfast Love.

 Thomas Nast wood carving of Union troops occupying
Indianola. Calhoun County Museum

Have you ever visited any of the Civil War sites in Texas--Camp Ford in Tyler, Palmito Ranch, where the last battle of the war was fought, or perhaps Jefferson, Texas? Tell us about them or a visit to any Civil War site, for a chance to win a copy of my Civil War novel set in Texas, His Steadfast Love.

A multi-published fiction author, Golden Keyes Parsons and her husband, Blaine, live in Waco, TX. Her series, Darkness to Light, (Thomas Nelson) was a finalist for ACFW’s Debut Author of the Year in 2008. Her fourth novel, His Steadfast Love, a Civil War novel, was a National Readers Choice finalist. Parsons has also written a biblical fiction series entitled Hidden Faces, Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels (WhiteFire Publishing). www.goldenkeyesparsons.com.

TERRY'S TEXAS RANGERS

Shock Troops! That's what a famous brigade known as Terry's Texas Rangers were known as during the War Between The States. Recruited by a wealthy sugar plantation owner, Benjamin Franklin Terry, in August, 1861, in Houston, TX, their first battle took place in Woodsonville, KY. It was only a minor skirmish, but Colonel Terry was killed.

Don't confuse this fierce fighting unit with what we now know as the Texas Rangers. This was the 8th Texas Cavalry, a group of Texas volunteers who became known for their fighting ability riding on horseback. They were one of the few units who did so.

After Colonel Terry's death they were subsequently joined to the Army of Tennessee and took part in several major battles including Shiloh and the battle for Atlanta. They were also used to go behind enemy lines to harass the Union troops by destroying railroad line and communication lines.

A statue was placed at the state capitol in Austin honoring this unique fighting unit. The inscription on the monument carries a quote by Jefferson Davis, "The Terry Rangers have done all that could be expected or required of soldiers." 

One of the characters from my Civil war novel set in Texas, His Steadfast Love, is a member of the famed Terry's Texas Rangers. If you are the first one to tell me which character that is, you win a copy of that exciting novel!

Golden Keyes Parsons writes historical fiction, and is also a popular retreat/conference speaker. Her highly acclaimed Darkness to Light Series (Thomas Nelson Publishing) chronicled the journey of her French Huguenot ancestors in 17^th century France. Her fourth novel, His Steadfast Love, is a Civil War novel set in Texas. Her latest release is a compilation of four novellas (WhiteFire Publishing) – a biblical fiction series entitled Hidden Faces, Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels. Golden lives in Waco, TX, with her husband, Blaine, where they enjoy their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and are avid sports fan of their alma mater, Baylor University. You can contact her at www.goldenkeyesparsons.com.