Texas Cannon Rolling Thunder Rolls On With New Wheels

On November 12, Rolling Thunder, the cannon of the Lone Star Volunteers, came home with a new set of wheels.  The Lone Star Volunteers attend Texas historic events all over the State of Texas demonstrating Rolling Thunder.  Rolling Thunder is a three-quarter scale replica of an 1841 Mississippi field cannon and is similar in size to the 6 pound Twin Sisters cannons used by the Texians to win their independence from Mexico in the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.  As you can see in the photograph above, Rolling Thunder is a real firing cannon.  The picture above is a picture of Rolling Thunder taken at the Texian Navy Day Celebration held at the Battleship Texas in the San Jacinto State Park near LaPorte on September 17, 2011.

It looks scary since that is about 2500 degrees of fire coming out of the end of the barrel and also the primer hole at the rear. That is the reason all the gun crew members are wearing heavy gloves and ear protection. On this occasion, the Lone Star Volunteers were firing directly into the wind and the burnt powder was blown back on them. That is one of the reasons the gun crew wears the red shirts made of 100% wool, which is a requirement for outerwear for this type of gun handling. Their ever-ready water bucket is in front, and they were joined by four other cannons from the Texas Army.

Recently the Lone Star Volunteers discovered that Rolling Thunder's 160 year-old wagon wheels were coming apart at the seams from the dryness of our recent Texas drought and the summer heat. It was customary during the Revolutionary and Civil War eras to pull the cannons down into a creek to let the water soak into the hubs and spokes of the wheels, so the cracks in the wood would swell and close up.

Rolling Thunder was machined from a solid billet of steel about 25 years ago by a local oil field worker as a hobby project, and the wood carriage that supports it was handmade to fit. Rolling Thunder's wheels came from a 160 year old wagon.  Rolling Thunder It has been hauled around, fired and shown off all around Texas making appearances in many places. When they discovered there might be a problem with the 160 year old antique wheels, they asked a wagon manufacturer to take a look to see what could be done to repair them. It was decided that the wheels had deteriorated too far for repairs, and the decision was made to have new wheels made. It took three months to have the new wheels made from scratch. Yes, The wheels were made in Texas.

However, 2011 is the 175th anniversary of Texas independence from Mexico, and the whole time the wheels were being fabricated, the Lone Star Volunteers were still taking Rolling Thunder to historical events all over Texas, firing it and showing it…but being very careful whenever they had to move it. But they never held back. The only time they had to draw the line was when it was suggested that they put Rolling Thunder on the bow of the Battleship Texas using a helicopter since there is no passageway wide enough to allow for it to roll onto the Battleship Texas. Consequently they fired salutes to the Texian Navy beside the bow as shown in the picture above.

New Wheels on Rolling Thunder Cannon (Click to Enlarge)

 On Saturday, November 19, Rolling Thunder showed off its new wheels at the Tomball Holiday Parade in Tomball, Texas.  The cannon has been attending this parade for 11 years…it hasn’t missed one yet and doesn’t plan to miss one in the future. May Rolling Thunder roll on for another 160 years on her new wheels and continue to preserve Texas history.

New Wheels on Rolling Thunder Cannon (Click to Enlarge)

Article and photographs courtesy of Fred Mead.

Who is Mother Neff and Why is She a State Park?

Review of Who is Mother Neff and Why is She a State Park? by Allan C. Kimball
Review by K. K. Searle

In this book, Allan C. Kimball will tell you who Mother Neff was and how a Texas state park came to be named after her. I will tell you what this book with the unusual title is all about. It is an excellent guide to all the Texas State Parks. Kimball has researched the history for the source of the name of each of the Texas State Parks and consolidated all of them into this handy 266 page paperback book.

Kimball gives an interesting history of how each of the state parks in Texas got its name as well as many entertaining historical anecdotes. But, the book is so much more than a history. The book is also a very good source of information if you are thinking about visiting a particular state park. All the information is here: 1) locations of the parks - with good instructions on how to get there; 2) hours of operation; 3) amenities available in each of the parks such as: camping, fishing boating, hiking, tours, etc.; and 4) contact information so you can get in touch with each of the parks prior to your visit.

Kimball has divided the state parks of Texas into seven regions: Big Bend and West Texas; Gulf Coast; Hill Country, Panhandle Plains; Pineywoods; Prairies and Lakes; and South Texas Plains. If you travel around Texas like we do, you will want to keep the guide handy. As you are traveling through one of these regions, you can read about the different state parks to help you to decide if you would like to visit. Before you arrive, you will know everything there is to know. It is also an excellent tool for planning your Texas vacation next summer.

As soon as I got through reading this book, it went straight into the glove compartment of our family van. This would make a great gift for the Texas outdoors men and women in your family.

This book is published by Eakin Press and is available from Amazon.com.
Author's book signings and other books: http://www.allankimball.com/

"Time of the Rangers" by Mike Cox

Review of Time of the Rangers by Mike Cox

Review by K. K. Searle

Like the Alamo, the Texas Rangers are a cherished symbol of the Lone Star State recognized the world over. If you are a fan of the Texas Rangers, like we are, and want to read an excellent history of that world famous law enforcement organization, you can't go wrong with Mike Cox's new book, Time of the Rangers: From 1900 to Present.

In 2008, Mike Cox brought us the first of two books he's written about the Texas Rangers. His first book appropriately titled The Texas Rangers: Wearing the Cinco Peso, 1821 - 1900 presented the well researched and detailed history of the Texas Rangers from the time of its creation in Stephen F. Austin's colony prior to the Republic of Texas until 1900.

The first real in-depth history of the Texas Rangers was written by Dr. Walter Prescott Webb and published in 1935. Webb's classic was titled The Texas Rangers: A Century of Frontier Defense. As Mike Cox points out in his excellent new book, Webb had intended to update his 1935 classic in the 1960's, but died in an automobile accident before he got the chance. Cox's new book, Time of the Rangers: Texas Rangers: From 1900 to Present, does what Walter Prescott Webb never got the chance to do; complete the history of the Texas Rangers into the modern era.

This book is incredibly well researched. Cox is something of an insider having served for fifteen years as a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety. The Texas Rangers are part of the Texas Department of Public Safety. A ton of research went into this book. For the historical purist, Time of the Rangers has almost 100 pages of Notes and Bibliography. This book is destined to become the starting point for all future historians studying this period in Texas Ranger history.

But, if your not that into historical research, don't let this assessment put you off. As famed American historian David C. McCullough once put it, "No harm's done to history by making it something someone would want to read." Mike Cox has made Time of the Rangers something a whole lot of people will enjoy reading. He is a very interesting and entertaining writer. There is also a lot here for those who are looking for the heroic bigger than life Texas Rangers.

You might think that once the Rangers entered the 20th century that that might have been the end of the romance and adventure we have come to perceive about the Texas Rangers, but you would be wrong. The book begins with the Rangers still on horse back in 1900 and takes you to how they became one of the most modern and best trained law enforcement agencies in the world. From the rowdy oil field boom days to the killing of Bonnie and Clyde to the Carrasco prison escape attempt to the apprehension of rail-road killer, Rafael Resendez-Ramirez; the Texas Rangers have protected and are still protecting Texas and Texans from the bad guys. There is a whole lot of wonderful information in this book.

Another interesting aspect of Mike Cox's new book is that while he is relating the actual history of the Texas Rangers, he also reports how the public's perception of the Texas Rangers has been enhanced and romanticized even further by decades of different types of media including newspapers, books, magazines, radio shows, movies and television shows. A few familiar examples include The Lone Ranger; Walker, Texas Ranger and Lonesome Dove.

With his two books, Cox has become, without question, "the authority" with regard to the history of the Texas Rangers from its beginning to the present. Webb's book will always be popular for its heroic account of the early history of the Texas Rangers, but Cox's two books will be studied for their accuracy and balanced portrayal.

Christmas is coming. Get this one for yourself or the Texas history enthusiast in your family. You might also consider getting the first book, The Texas Rangers: Wearing the Cinco Peso, 1821-1900, so you will have the the most complete history of the Texas Rangers currently available.

Time of the Rangers: Texas Rangers: From 1900 to the Present is published by Forge, copyright 2009, and is available from Amazon.com.

Publisher's book page: http://us.macmillan.com/timeoftherangers
Author's blog with virtual tour itinerary: http://www.lonestarbooks.blogspot.com/
Author's website: http://www.mikecoxonline.com/

2009 Battle of San Jacinto Symposium

The 2009 Battle of San Jacinto Symposium will be held Saturday, April 18, 2009, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center at the University of Houston. This year's theme is New Light on Old Stories - What Can the Battleground Tell Us Through the Eyes of Archaeologists? Social Historians? Financiers? Anthropologists? Tickets are $50.00 and include lunch and parking.

Since 2003, more than 1000 newly discovered battle artifacts have extended the area of the San Jacinto conflict beyond the current park boundary. A panel of speakers will discuss these findings - as well as items recently found in the Texan camp.

This year's speakers are H. W. Brands, Sam W. Haynes, James P. Bevill and James Crisp. This year's panelists are Roger Moore, Gregg Dimmick, Douglas D. Scott, Douglas Mangum and Manuel Hinojosa.

The Battle of Sam Jacinto Symposium is sponsored by the Friends of the San Jacinto Battleground as a forum for promoting public awareness of the events of the Texas Revolution. For additional information, call 9281) 496-1488 or email sjba@usa.net .

You can also visit http://www.friendsofsanjacinto.org/ .

Photograph: San Jacinto Monument; Courtesy of David Melasky.

Texas History - A Specialty Worth Looking Into

If you walk through the streets of any town in Texas, you will no doubt feel the pride of the citizens electrifying the air. Texans are some of the proudest people you will ever meet, especially when it comes to their home state.

There are so many things that make Texas an interesting place, especially from an historical standpoint; more and more history students looking into graduate school and beyond are eyeing Texas history as an area of specialization. Here are a few reasons why the next generation of historians is looking to Texas for more information.

Settlement

The story of the settlement of Texas reads almost like the Pilgrims coming to the US to colonize. Learn more about Stephen F. Austin and his “Old 300,” among other things when you dig deeper into the primary source material.

Wars

Texas has seen its fair share of warfare on a variety of different fronts. The Spanish fought with the Indians to take over Texas and claim it as part of their territory. Later, the Texans fought against the Mexican Army for independence at the Alamo, Goliad, and finally San Jacinto. There is a slew of information out there on these different wars and fronts where the Texans fought—and died—for their independence.

Cultures

Texas is one of the most culturally diverse states in the US. Just take a visit to the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures Museum in San Antonio, and you’ll see just how different and unique the settled areas of Texas were throughout its brief, but rich history. Once a slave state, African Americans were some of the first people brought in from the southern United States.

Of course, indigenous peoples lived in Texas; several Native American tribes still migrated through Texas due to weather throughout the year. Along the southeast coast of Texas, Cajuns, Germans, and Dutch people created settlements. Especially in central Texas, German was still spoken in some public schools into the twentieth century, when US federal funding required that classes be conducted in English.

Of course, there are many people throughout Texas of Hispanic origin, mainly from Spanish and Mexican mestizo descent. These different cultures have all helped make Texas the great state that it is today and are all great avenues of study for prospective Texas historians.

This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of a History PhD. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24@gmail.com