Texas Revolution

Photo courtesy of Find a Grave

The Forgotten Fighter Who Drew First Blood for Texas

Murray Montgomery

Friday, July 31, 2026

By Murray Montgomery - Staff Writer Students and researchers of Texas history are inundated with information about the heroes of the Texas Revolution. But more often than not, the history books don’t tell us much about ordinary soldiers who also served Texas in the cause of freedom.

Painting, Erastus [Deaf] Smith by T. Jefferson Wright. Courtesy of the San Jacinto Museum of History.

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Deaf Smith - Eyes of the Texas Army

Murray Montgomery

Saturday, January 21, 2023

During those dark days of the Texas Revolution, many men came forward and represented themselves well in the war with Mexico. When we think of those times, the names Travis, Houston, Austin, Bowie, and Crockett quickly come to mind.

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