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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Serving as an important prelude to the Texas |
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Revolution, the Battle of Velasco was fought from June 25 through |
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27, 1832, and the site of the engagement is being commemorated with |
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the dedication of a memorial monument on June 27, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, The conflict was perhaps the first incidence of |
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bloodshed as resistance to Mexican rule intensified in Texas in the |
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1830s; the battle took place when a group of Texans under the |
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command of Henry Smith and John Austin traveled to Brazoria to |
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secure a cannon to use against Mexican forces who had imprisoned |
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William Travis and others at Anahuac; when they tried to transport |
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the cannon down the Brazos River, they were opposed by a garrison of |
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Mexican soldiers led by Colonel Domingo de Ugartechea, commander of |
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Fort Velasco; and |
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WHEREAS, An estimated seven Texans and five Mexicans lost |
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their lives in the fighting, with dozens more wounded on both sides; |
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ultimately, the Texans forced Colonel Ugartechea to surrender on |
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June 29, after his troops exhausted their ammunition; and |
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WHEREAS, While records indicate that veterans of the Battle |
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of Velasco developed plans to erect a memorial for their fallen |
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comrades, no evidence for the existence of such a monument has ever |
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been found; recent imaging of the area has helped identify the exact |
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location of Fort Velasco, and renewed interest in the battle led to |
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a collaboration between the Old Fort Velasco Historical |
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Association, the Old Velasco/Surfside Beach Historical Committee, |
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the Village of Surfside Beach, Bryson Memorials, and area citizens; |
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working together, they have succeeded in their mission to establish |
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a long-overdue tribute to those who served and died in the battle; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Today, 191 years after the Battle of Velasco, the |
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unveiling of the monument provides an opportunity to reflect on a |
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pivotal moment in Texas history and on the courageous actions of |
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those who took up arms to further the cause of Texas independence; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of the Battle of |
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Velasco Memorial Monument and extend sincere appreciation to all |
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those who helped bring this project to fruition. |