Felix Huston

Felix Huston (1800–1857) was a lawyer, soldier, and the first commanding general of the Army of the Republic of Texas.

Related Topics:
1800 - 1857 - Lawyer - Soldier - Republic of Texas

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Huston was born in Kentucky. He was a slave trader, planter and Whig politican and attorney in Natchez, Mississippi. Receiving news of the Texas Revolution, he raised and equipped troops (often at his own expense) and money throughout Mississippi and Kentucky. He left Natchez on May 5, 1836, with approximately 500 to 700 volunteers to join the Texian army, but arrived well after the Battle of San Jacinto, in which Mexican General and President Santa Anna ceded defeat and in effect, granted Texas her independence.

Related Topics:
Kentucky - Slave trader - Whig - Natchez, Mississippi - Texas Revolution - Mississippi - May 5 - 1836 - Texian - Battle of San Jacinto - Mexican - General - President - Santa Anna

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On December 20, Sam Houston commissioned Huston as a brigadier general in the 2,000-man army and temporary commander-in-chief. His men referred to him as "Old Long Shanks" or "Old Leather Breeches," and Huston attracted adventurers and men of little discipline to his "Camp Independence" in Jackson County. He feared San Antonio could not be defended in the event of another Mexican invasion, and ordered the town and the nearby Alamo burned. However, Juan Seguín intervened, and the town and historic mission were spared from destruction. Later in the year, Sam Houston appointed Albert Sidney Johnston as the senior brigadier general and permanent commander of the Texan army. Huston felt slighted, and challenged Johnston to a duel on February 5, 1837, wounding him in the right hip.

Related Topics:
December 20 - Sam Houston - Brigadier general - Jackson County - San Antonio - Alamo - Juan Seguín - Albert Sidney Johnston - Duel - February 5 - 1837

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In November of 1839, Huston was elected as major general of the militia, defeating James C. Neill and other candidates. He developed an aggressive scheme to capture Matamoros, Mexico, in 1840, believing that Texas should expand its borders southward beyond the Rio Grande River. However, his desires were thwarted by moderates.

Related Topics:
1839 - Major general - Militia - James C. Neill - Matamoros - 1840 - Rio Grande River

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In August, warchief Little Buffalo Hump and 500 Comanche Indians attacked Victoria, Texas and other nearby towns, stealing horses and livestock and murdering dozens of white settlers. Huston led 200 Texans and Tonkawa Indians against the raiders at Plum Creek near Gonzales on the evening of August 11, killing 80 Comanches while only losing 1 man. In May of 1837, President Sam Houston furloughed much of the Texas army, leaving Huston a general without troops to command. Shortly thereafter, Huston left Texas and co-founded a law firm in New Orleans. In 1844, he supported a movement to annex the republic to the United States. However, by the late 1850s Huston had become an ardent secessionist. In 1851, he spoke at a rally in New Orleans supporting Cuban independence from Spain.

Related Topics:
Comanche Indians - Victoria, Texas - Tonkawa - Gonzales - August 11 - 1837 - New Orleans - 1844 - United States - 1850s - Secessionist - 1851 - Cuban - Spain

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Huston died in 1857.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~