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Sword of San Jacinto
"Sam Houston was one of the most remarkable figures in American history. He was a native of Virginia who as a soldier, stateman, and adventurer made his mark on the frontier in Tennessee and the Arkansas Territory and then went on to dominate the early history of Texas. Now, drawing on newly accessible archival material, in particular the more than five thousand letters and documents in the Andrew Jackson Houston Collection of the Texas State Archives, historian Marshall De Bruhl vividly re-creates the career of this larger-than-life hero. In a narrative brimming with fascinating details, De Bruhl captures Houston in all his complexity. A frontiersman who lived among the Cherokee Indians for many years - he was the adopted son of Chief Ooleteka and a full citizen of the Cherokee Nation - Houston became a passionate defender of Indian rights. As a soldier, Sam Houston served under Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812 - and ensured Texas independence in 1836 with his atonishing victory over Santa Anna and the Mexican army at San Jacinto. As a politician, Houston was a Tennessee congressman at age thirty and then governor at age thirty-six. He then went on to be the first elected president of the Republic of Texas and one of the first senators from the new state. Because of his ardent defense of the Union and his refusal to swear allegiance to the Confederacy, he was deposed as governor of Texas in 1861. Houston's personal life was as tumultous as his political and military careers. He married three times, always to much younger women. The first marriage, to an eighteen-year-old, ended mysteriously when she left him only eleven weeks later, whereupon he resigned the governership of Tennessee and fled to the west and exile among his old Cherokee friends. It was there he married Tiana, the beautiful niece of Chief Ooleteka. Years later, at age forty-six, he married a woman of twenty, who bore eight children during their devoted and happy marriage. Although Houston died ignored and vilified by those whose independence who had ensured, the eclipse of his reputation was brief. His fellow Texans soon acknowledged his central place in their history, and he is revered today as the father of Texas and [as] its greatest hero."
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 4, 2013
Excellent. Felt it covered Houston's life pretty thoroughly especially through Texas' independence and through the start of the Civil War. Pockmarks and all.
Also, if you found "American Lion," Andrew Jackson's presidential bio lackluster, I suggest this. Goes into better detail of some of Jackson's moves and his relationship with Houston (which was passed over in "American Lion").
My only issue: About 6-10 typos.
Also, if you found "American Lion," Andrew Jackson's presidential bio lackluster, I suggest this. Goes into better detail of some of Jackson's moves and his relationship with Houston (which was passed over in "American Lion").
My only issue: About 6-10 typos.
December 15, 2011
Fantastic book on the life of Sam Houston. Learned many previously unknown fact about the Texas Fight for freedom from the Mexicans. Very good read.
October 27, 2017
This got into the weeds a little bit, but it is to be expected on a massive bio like this. Extensive and encompassing
February 23, 2018
Excellent well-researched biography. The Raven - Kalanu as the Indians called him was a fascinating person in the history of our country. Senator, president of Texas, fighter for Texas independence, he was a colorful character. His career in ruins after the debacle of his first marriage, he survived it and returned to political power. Great biography.
January 3, 2020
Here we have a very good biography of Sam Houston. I learned a lot about the man and I'm a native Texan. (I even made an "A" in the, then required, seventh grade Texas History class)
May 18, 2020
Overall, this was a very good biography that covers Houston's life from beginning to end with impressive research and detail. Anyone with a passing interesting in Houston or Texas/Tennessee history will find this book fascinating.
Houston was a colorful character; brave, charismatic, and ambitious, he was often the quintessential romantic pioneer of 19th century America, but he could also be his worst enemy. Not every man can rise to the top of the government chain in two different states, but he managed to pull it off by being governor in both Tennessee and Texas. His relationship with Andrew Jackson is covered in detail here, who saw Houston as an ideal protégé. The latter was an ideal politician due to his intimating size, strong public speaking skills, and bravery in battle. Unfortunately his habit of drinking hard and entertaining married ladies eventually made him a liability. Showing the ruthlessness that would define his military career and presidency, Jackson cut him off and fed him to the wolves.
His semi-exile to Texas for opportunity proved the smartest decision of his career. For such a Texas icon, he didn't always make an ideal Texas patriot. He thought the Alamo was foolish although he was sure not say this in public. He made a lot of enemies but always seemed to find a way to one-up his rivals. He was more interested in personal glory than pursuing party agendas and he switched parties several times as a result. Despite advocating in public for Texas independence, he was always in favor of annexation and became a loyal U.S. patriot afterwards. This included sticking his neck out by opposing the rise of the confederacy in the later stages of his governorship.
His political career is covered here in detail, but his personal life could be just as interesting. In a lot of ways, Houston was an odd duck. He was a slaveowner but thought it was a dying institution, and he was a lifelong friend and ally to the Native Americans. In fact, he was so close to the latter that they adopted him as one of their own, and he even married into a tribe! He was pretty much completely non-religious, a stark contrast to his wife. Divisive and largely unappreciated at the time of his death, later historians revived his popularity and made him the iconic figure he is today.
f I have any complaints about this book, it isn't always an easy read. De Bruhl doesn't try and get into the mind of Houston, so don't expect a McCullough-style novel. The sheer amount of historical evidence and details can be tedious to read over 400+ pages. Regardless, this certainly has to be one of the best biographies of Sam Houston out there, so it is well worth your time.
Houston was a colorful character; brave, charismatic, and ambitious, he was often the quintessential romantic pioneer of 19th century America, but he could also be his worst enemy. Not every man can rise to the top of the government chain in two different states, but he managed to pull it off by being governor in both Tennessee and Texas. His relationship with Andrew Jackson is covered in detail here, who saw Houston as an ideal protégé. The latter was an ideal politician due to his intimating size, strong public speaking skills, and bravery in battle. Unfortunately his habit of drinking hard and entertaining married ladies eventually made him a liability. Showing the ruthlessness that would define his military career and presidency, Jackson cut him off and fed him to the wolves.
His semi-exile to Texas for opportunity proved the smartest decision of his career. For such a Texas icon, he didn't always make an ideal Texas patriot. He thought the Alamo was foolish although he was sure not say this in public. He made a lot of enemies but always seemed to find a way to one-up his rivals. He was more interested in personal glory than pursuing party agendas and he switched parties several times as a result. Despite advocating in public for Texas independence, he was always in favor of annexation and became a loyal U.S. patriot afterwards. This included sticking his neck out by opposing the rise of the confederacy in the later stages of his governorship.
His political career is covered here in detail, but his personal life could be just as interesting. In a lot of ways, Houston was an odd duck. He was a slaveowner but thought it was a dying institution, and he was a lifelong friend and ally to the Native Americans. In fact, he was so close to the latter that they adopted him as one of their own, and he even married into a tribe! He was pretty much completely non-religious, a stark contrast to his wife. Divisive and largely unappreciated at the time of his death, later historians revived his popularity and made him the iconic figure he is today.
f I have any complaints about this book, it isn't always an easy read. De Bruhl doesn't try and get into the mind of Houston, so don't expect a McCullough-style novel. The sheer amount of historical evidence and details can be tedious to read over 400+ pages. Regardless, this certainly has to be one of the best biographies of Sam Houston out there, so it is well worth your time.
June 28, 2012
My sons middle name is from Sam Houston's namesake. Not know much outside of Texas. But the is a great American that we should all learn about. And I am not a Texan!
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April 20, 2017Recommended by Manuel Mesa (Campbell Culture Coalition).
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews