Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Sons of the Republic of Texas
LEGENDS OF TEXAS
EDITOR’S NOTE: The story of James Wilkinson, Jr. is told by his fourth great-grandson Randall Leach. Randall and his wife, Gina, have lived in Granbury since 1983. Randall is retired from Granbury ISD after 38 years of service. Randall is a grateful and proud member of the David Crockett Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas.
My name is James Gore Wilkinson, Jr. and I am the son of James and Sarah Gore Wilkinson. I was born on March 5, 1805, in Harding County, Kentucky. I married Lucinda Harris on July 17, 1827, and we had one son, but just a year later, Lucinda passed away.
My father received a league of land in Austin’s Fifth Colony, so in 1831, I moved from Kentucky to San Felipe de Texas. My parents and brothers also moved to Austin’s Colony. In 1832, I married Amanda Hope whose family was in Stephen F. Austin’s Original 300 Colony. Amanda and I lived in San Felipe de Texas where we raised our family.
In the spring of 1836, the Texian Revolution was escalating and Texian Army Volunteers were needed after the battle at Gonzales, the massacre at Goliad and the fall of the Alamo. Just five days after the fall of the Alamo, I was recruited to serve in the Texian Volunteer Army and served in Colonel Edward Burleson’s 1st Regiment.
General Houston was moving his Texian army eastward and was under criticism for not attacking Santa Anna. Houston understood that he needed time to train his inexperienced volunteer army and get them ready for battle.
On April 18, 1836, General Houston received excellent news. Scouts Deaf Smith and Henry Karnes had captured a Mexican Army courier carrying documents. The papers indicated the locations and future plans of the Mexican troops. Houston realized the advantage and moved the Texian Army swiftly to Lynchburg near San Jacinto Bay. We were ready to fight!
On April 21, near Buffalo Bayou, General Houston met with his war council and finalized the attack plan. Houston recognized that now was a time to attack. General Cos’s Mexican army had arrived the same morning to join Santa Anna’s army. The Mexican Army swelled to 1,400 men. Houston ordered Deaf Smith to destroy Vince’s bridge to prevent any escape by the Mexican Army.
Our Texian camp was about 500 yards from the Mexican Army. My regiment under Colonel Burleson was stationed on the right wing. Colonel Sherman’s on the left and the artillery was in the middle. Our infantry weapons included a rifles, pistols and knives.
At 4:30 p.m. the Texian Twin Sister cannons fired volleys, beginning the battle. Our regiment moved forward with the battleground topography shielding us from the front line of the Mexican Army. We were 300 yards away when the Mexican Army fired its first volley.
With swiftness and resolve caused by anger and revenge, we charged Santa Anna’s Army and shouted “Remember Goliad,” “Remember the Alamo.” Our Texian forces overwhelmed Santa Anna’s army. The Mexican Army retreated without success. In 18 minutes, the fight was over and the world changed.
I was not a professional solider. I considered myself a citizen solider that fought to have freedom, to raise my family and farm the land. After we were relieved of duty, I returned home to Washington County.
I served Texas for the rest of my life in many positions, including the following: officer in the Congress of the Republic of Texas, Justice of the Peace in Washington County, and Chief Justice in Burleson County.
Footnote: This article is in honor my great grandmother, Texas Elizabeth Harrison Salyer. Texas Elizabeth was born in 1892, and died July 4, 1973 in Georgetown, Texas. She was a past president of the Rebecca Jane Fisher Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas in Wichita Falls. Texas Elizabeth kept many letters and documents of our Texas family ancestry.
