Hondo Creek
Encyclopedia
Hondo Creek is a tributary
of the Frio River
in Texas
that rises in Bandera County
northwest of Tarpley
and runs approximately 67 miles to its mouth near Pearsall, Texas
. The creek crosses through three counties including Bandera, Medina, and Frio.
for deep) Creek begins in the Texas Hill Country
. The initially broken waters of the stream travels through limestone
benches and steep slopes until the land flattens near Tarpley. This section of the creek is generally shallow with a bottom of clay
loam
, which serves as a habitat for Ashe juniper and live oak
woods. As it runs south, the creek grows in depth in the surrounding rolling plain, and a mixture of clay with a large concentration of sand
is found in its bed. As the tributary approaches its mouth, the environment changes to fertile crop lands with Mesquite trees growing along its bank.
. After the 1200 man Mexican army was defeated in San Antonio by Mathew Caldwell
and 200 gathered Texans, the forces of Mexican General Adrian Woll
headed west. On September 21, they met up with a few Texas soldiers on the banks of the creek, and a battle ensued. Although accounts of the battle varied between the combatants, it is believed that the Texas forces outnumbered, under provisioned, and facing fierce cannonade, lacked a consensus of agreement and leadership was unable to rally unanimity in an offense. Following the battle, the Texans disbanded and the Mexican forces continued their trek westward, back to Mexico. A Historical marker can now be found in Medina County where the battle is believed to have taken place.
Also marked along the stream in Medina County, is the Cow Camp Massacre. This is the site of a January 27, 1866 Native American
attack that occurred as three minors (aged 12-19) set up camp along Hondo Creek to recover lost livestock. Eight Indians followed one of the boys to the camp. He and another were captured, but one escaped. Of the two captured, one was never seen again and the other's mutilated body was found several days later.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Frio River
Frio River
The Frio River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas. The word frio is Spanish for cold, a clear reference to the spring-fed coolness of the river.-Geography:The Frio River has three primary feeds; the East, West, and Dry Frio rivers...
in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
that rises in Bandera County
Bandera County, Texas
Bandera County, formed in 1856 from Bexar and Uvalde counties, is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population is 17,645. Its county seat is Bandera. Bandera is named for the Spanish word for flag...
northwest of Tarpley
Tarpley, Texas
Tarpley is an unincorporated community in Bandera County, Texas, United States. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.The Bandera Independent School District serves area students.-External links:...
and runs approximately 67 miles to its mouth near Pearsall, Texas
Pearsall, Texas
Pearsall is a city in and the county seat of Frio County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,001 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pearsall is located at ....
. The creek crosses through three counties including Bandera, Medina, and Frio.
Course
Hondo (SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
for deep) Creek begins in the Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
. The initially broken waters of the stream travels through limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
benches and steep slopes until the land flattens near Tarpley. This section of the creek is generally shallow with a bottom of clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
, which serves as a habitat for Ashe juniper and live oak
Live oak
Live oak , also known as the southern live oak, is a normally evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States...
woods. As it runs south, the creek grows in depth in the surrounding rolling plain, and a mixture of clay with a large concentration of sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
is found in its bed. As the tributary approaches its mouth, the environment changes to fertile crop lands with Mesquite trees growing along its bank.
History
The creek was the site of the Battle of the Arroyo Hondo in 1842. The battle occurred following the third in a series of three invasions by pro-Mexican forces in 1842 to reclaim territory lost during the 1836 Texas RevolutionTexas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
. After the 1200 man Mexican army was defeated in San Antonio by Mathew Caldwell
Mathew Caldwell
Mathew Caldwell, , also spelled Matthew Caldwell was a 19th century Texas settler, military figure, Captain of the Gonzales - Seguin Rangers and a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence...
and 200 gathered Texans, the forces of Mexican General Adrian Woll
Adrián Woll
Adrián Woll was a French soldier of fortune and mercenary who served as a general in the army of Mexico during the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War.-Biography:...
headed west. On September 21, they met up with a few Texas soldiers on the banks of the creek, and a battle ensued. Although accounts of the battle varied between the combatants, it is believed that the Texas forces outnumbered, under provisioned, and facing fierce cannonade, lacked a consensus of agreement and leadership was unable to rally unanimity in an offense. Following the battle, the Texans disbanded and the Mexican forces continued their trek westward, back to Mexico. A Historical marker can now be found in Medina County where the battle is believed to have taken place.
Also marked along the stream in Medina County, is the Cow Camp Massacre. This is the site of a January 27, 1866 Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
attack that occurred as three minors (aged 12-19) set up camp along Hondo Creek to recover lost livestock. Eight Indians followed one of the boys to the camp. He and another were captured, but one escaped. Of the two captured, one was never seen again and the other's mutilated body was found several days later.
Fishing
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, the following fish have been caught in the tributary (records in parenthesis):- Largemouth bassLargemouth bassThe largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
(22 inch length, 4.31 lbs.) - Rio Grande cichlid (10 inch length, 1.38 lbs.)
- Gray redhorseGray RedhorseThe Gray Redhorse is a species of ray-finned fish in the Catostomidae family.It is found in Mexico and the United States.- Source :* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
(17.25 inch length, 1.50 lbs.) - Redear sunfishRedear sunfishThe redear sunfish , also known as the shellcracker, Georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch, is native to the southeastern United States, but since it is a popular sport fish it has been introduced to bodies of water all over North America...
(10.75 inch length, 1.13 lbs.)