Salvador Flores
Encyclopedia
Salvador Flores (ca. 1806–1855) served as a volunteer in the Texan Army in 1835–1836. He was instrumental in organizing and commanding Texian volunteers in support of the Texas Revolution
. He participated in many battles and would rise through the ranks to reach Captain status during the fight for Texas independence from Mexico
. Salvador continued to provide protection for the ranches and settlers of Texas throughout the Republic years.
He was the son of Jose Flores De Abrego and Maria Rodriquez. They were a prominent family of Béxar, rich in the ranching history of Texas. Four Jose Flores De Abrego sons, Captain Salvador FloresSRT77 (2001) Pg.77 Captain Manuel N. Flores
, Lieutenant Nepomuceno Flores, and Private Jose Maria Flores participated
in the Texas Revolution, serving at Béxar"Three men named Flores who received donation certificates for service at the siege of Béxar; Manuel Flores, Manuel Maria Flores, and Salvador Flores. (Men issued Donation Certificates for 640 acres of land for participation in Storming and Capture of Béxar Dec 5, 1835 - Dec 10, 1835 [T5; T1 p254-257]" and San Jacinto. Salvador was also a brother-in-law to Col. Juan Nepomuceno Seguín
.
. The Texians would be challenged by the Mexican army, when they tried to retake possession of an artillery piece at Gonzales, Texas
. It was a small cannon, formerly given them by Mexico, which had been used for security against the Native Indians. Texians considered this action as an infringement of their right to bear arms and were determined to keep it. On October 2, they would show that determination. During this time, a meeting would be held at Salvador Flores Ranch that would organize a volunteer force of Tejano ranchers that would favor the impending revolution. Soldiers continued gathering, immigrants, colonists, Tejanos. The Texian Army would become a mixture of all peoples, interested in freedom from the oppressive policies of Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna
.
After the victory at Gonzales, the Texan forces gained confidence. Trying to sustain the momentum, Commander Austin deemed it necessary to take possession of Presidio La Bahia
(Goliad) and Béxar (San Antonio). The Tejano troops marched towards Goliad, to reinforce Major Collinsworth at the Battle of Goliad
, but were overtaken by an express from Austin, asking them to join the attack on Béxar. On October 23, 1835, Stephen F. Austin granted a captain's commission to Juan Seguín, authorizing him to form a company, which would be supplied with guns and ammunition by the provisional government. Salvador Flores would be his first lieutenant. Salvador Flores and Manuel Leal
organizing 41 Tejano volunteers from ranches southwest of San Antonio reinforced the Texan forces on the Salado Creek
, in mid October, a few days after Juan Seguin
and Plácido Benavides
of Victoria had gathered almost 70 men to aid Commander Stephen F. Austin
. After some discussion, Juan Seguin would be chosen as the commanding officer of the unit, due to his enlisting more men.Béxar Tejano enlistment totals: Seguin 37, Placido 28, Leal 26, Salvador 15. Salvador would be 1st Lt. of the central Texas volunteers and Placido 1st Lt. of the southern volunteers . While Seguin would be immediately tasked with the burden of supplying the Texian troops with food and provisions, Salvador was left to reconnoiter the Missions and handle the militia. Several more parties of Tejanos eventually joined in, with isolated enlistments occurring every day.
At Mission San Jose, they accompanied James Bowie, with the orders to approach the city, by following the river's path into town. Four groups, led by Valentine Bennet, Andrew Briscoe, Robert M. Coleman, and Michael Goheen and there scouts, were also sent to explore the other missions. While investigating, they were discovered by Mexican guards and gunfire was exchanged before joining with Bowie.
His recruits joined with Bowie in the Battle of Concepción
on Oct 28, 1835. The Texans won again and gained confidence and some new ground. Flores was commended for his services by Steven F. Austin as 1st Lt. in the volunteer army at the Salado in November 1835. After the fight and learning of the plan to siege Béxar, he would recruit more men from the ranches on the San Antonio River
.This is actually the instance of the extra recruiting by Flores, the totals being mentioned earlier, just placed in chronological context. Drifting into the Tejano ranks would be fourteen soldados from the fort, now disillusioned with the centralists. On November 10, the Tejanos had teamed up with Deaf Smith
and Travis to capture a herd of over 300 horses.
On November 13, the Consultation made public, the establishment of a regular army of Texas with a framework for a military force and a civil government as well. The Texian Army would now consist of two distinct military bodies. Houston was elected as "major general" of the regular army, but would have to recruit his own forces. Stephen F. Austin would resign from the volunteer Texian Army on November 24, 1835, being replaced by Edward Burleson, who would also resign after the Siege of Béxar. He would be replaced by Johnson and Grant. Austin, still commanding the volunteers, expects reinforcements to approach from Mexico. On November 14, 1835 being noted for his superior cavalry skills, Commander Stephen F. Austin
ordered Salvador Flores and a detachment on a scouting mission to check for Mexican troop movements between the Medina and Nueces River
s. He further instructs him to burn anything along the way that could be used to support the Mexican troops. Commander Austin, now headquartered at Concepcion, sends a message to Fannin, ordering him to give Don Salvador Flores 8 to 10 men to assist him in the endeavor.
The Texans received intelligence that a payroll in silver might be due for the Mexican troops at San Antonio. Scouts located a pack train on November 26, 1835. Teamed with Bowie, Lieutenant Salvador Flores would help initiate the Grass Fight
, providing Tejano reinforcements for the Texan troops, that would secure horses and mules for the Texans, but no silver. The pack train had been carrying grass, providing feed for the animals.
During the December 5–10, 1835, the Texians would attempt to take Béxar. Now, heavily involved in house to house fighting, Salvador participated as Second Lieutenant in the siege and capture of Béxar. The company of Seguin now amounted to over 160. He would advance with troops to capture the Alamo at the Siege of Bexar
and see to the removal of Mexican forces of General Cos from Texas.de la Teja (1991), p. 182.After the revolution, Manuel Montalvo, who served with Salvador Flores in Béxar, also joined the Texas Rangers, from Sept. 10-Nov. 21, 1839. He was used many times as a witness on the pension petitions. see at http://www.texasranger.org/ReCenter/hispanic_indian_rangers.htm After the surrender of Cos, his company was sent out to protect the families of the lower ranches, against the devastation made by the retiring Mexican troops and from the reprisal of hostile Indians. The people of Texas would now control Béxar (San Antonio) and the Alamo fort. Colonel James C. Neill receives orders on December 21 to command at Béxar.
Rumors in January of Mexican troops congregating to march on Texas were flourishing. Now having received a captains commission, on Jan.14, 1836, in the Alamo with Col. James C. Neill
commanding, Captain Salvador Flores would volunteer to go to Laredo to check for troop movements and to try to discover the plans of the Mexicans.
Col. James Bowie moves into the Alamo
under Neill on January 19, bringing 30 men. On behalf of Henry Smith and General Sam Houston, he assesses the military situation at Béxar. On January 22, verbal intelligence was directed at Col. Neill, from a Tejano courier through the Jose Antonio Navarro
family. Jose Cassiano brings news that Gen. Santa Anna had arrived at Saltillo
on January 27, with approximately 3000 troops and Sesma at Rio Grande City with 1600 more. Neill passes this information to Houston, now in Goliad.Bowie, after learning that Santa Anna was advancing towards Bexar, wrote several letters to the provisional government asking for supplies and assistance to defend the Alamo
An election for delegates, to attend the Convention of 1836, is held at the Alamo on February 1. Salvador Flores, as well as other names, are recorded and preserved on the voting tally list. Neill and Bowie now agree that defending the Alamo is key to achieving Texas independence. On February 3, Colonel Travis arrives in Béxar, with 25 men.
Col. Neill forced to leave on urgent family matters, makes a quick muster roll of his men at the Alamo. Captain Salvador Flores is among the many other names present on the list. Colonel Neill would pass command of the Alamo to William Barret Travis on February 12. Former Congressman David Crockett of Tennessee, boosted the ranks on February 8, with 16 additional men.
On February 10, a party was given to honor the arrival of David Crockett. With Neill leaving early on February 11, he was not present. Blas Herrea, a courier, from Plácido Benavides
, was searching for Juan Seguin
at the party and could not locate him. Possessing a letter dated February 6, it was then given to Antonio Menchaca. Handwritten in Spanish, it announced soldados at Presido Rio Grande, ready to march on Béxar. Travis now forewarned, remarked that it would take about 13 days for the Mexican army to arrive, and still was not immediately concerned with the information received and the party continued into the night.
Bowie and Travis agree to share command on the 14th. On Feb.16, Ambrosio Rodriquez was warned by his wife's cousin from Laredo
, and another warning came again on Feb. 18. Travis was still skeptical. On the 20th, Blas María Herrera from Seguin's own company reported that Santa Anna had crossed into Texas. Travis held a council that night at 9 p.m.. The story was told and the same verdict was reached, it couldn't be true. Local families began packing possessions, with intent to leave Béxar. About a dozen of Seguin's men were so convinced, that they requested to leave, in order to remove their families from Santa Anna's path.
Santa Anna's forces would enter Béxar on February 23, surprising the Texian forces and initiating a Siege of the Alamo
. The Texians and Tejanos would immediately gather in the Alamo for safety and defense, with some bringing their families into the compound. The battle lasted for thirteen days, with the final battle lasting ninety minutes and terminating in violent hand-to-hand combat. All Texian forces effectively lost. Several Tejanos remaining in the Alamo perished: San Antonians Juan Abamillo, José Gregorio Esparza
, Antonio Fuentes, Toribio Losoya
, Andrés Nava, Juan A. Badillo, Damacio Jiménez and José María Guerrero. Antonio Cruz y Arocha and Alexandro de la Garza left as couriers before the fall.
Juan Seguín stated that with him, 15 men also entered to defend the Alamo. Lindley believes that the Flores brothers were defending the Alamo during the siege. After serving at the Battle of Béxar, Salvador was one of the few, 100 or so, that remained at the Alamo with Neill. His brother Manuel, and other Tejanos (15) entered on February 23. Neill's roster places Captain Flores in the Alamo as an artillery officer. Captain Flores also appears on Colonel Neill's voting tally, as well.Many instances of old have been found in which Spanish names have been lost or confused because of misspelling, due to efforts by English-speaking recorders to spell names in accordance with their pronunciation or English transliteration. (Flores translates to Flowers)
Floris, Florez, Flowers, Flodders, Flouders are alternate spellings found for Flores. Muster rolls and documents that contain phonetic, partially mis-transcribed, or translated spelling is common for the period. Somehow, they seem to have exited soon after Seguin's departure, thus putting them on the Alamo survivor list. In 1907, Enrique Esparza claimed that Santa Anna called an armistice and he remembers some Flores leaving then. They took this opportunity to gather Alamo reinforcements, bringing along a couple more of the Flores brothers (according to Seguin, they had a Tejano force of 100 when they regrouped in Gonzales), and secure their families (having not been seen, since abruptly entering the Alamo). They then rendezvoused with Seguin, now in Gonzales. The company headed for the Alamo. The Tejano defenders were joined by up to fourteen more men from Gonzales (led by former Alamo couriers Alsbury and Sutherland). They proceeded toward the Alamo. There they waited on the Cibolo Creek
to team up with Fannin. The Alamo fell before they could reach it. Lindley's research concludes that a relief force was waiting on the Cibolo ford and were located by a team that sallied out with Crockett. They entered the Alamo near the end of the battle. Travis' March 3 letter states that only three Tejanos were left in the Alamo after the armistice, but seven died there. One must logically conclude that four more of the Seguin-Flores recruits also entered as part of the relief force, although they knew there was no chance of survival. See Lindley, p. 142.
The news of the fall of Béxar and Battle of the Alamo
was overwhelming for the Texans. A frantic flee eastward began immediately after receiving the fateful news at Gonzales in March 1836. The Tejano volunteers now being reassembled at Gonzales would ride with Captain Flores. Salvador Flores had accepted Sam Houston
's orders during this Runaway Scrape
. As troops would march away from Gonzales, Salvador Flores along with a group of volunteers formed the rear guard that protected the fleeing families and proceeded westward to secure the lower ranches of San Antonio.Verbal dispatch with orders Sam Houston to Flores March, 1836, as no documents have been found verifying this order, but Houston never denied it. Pension petitions verify that the troops were there helping the evacuees escape. See Lindley (2003) pg. 170 The forces then split. Salvador maintained this position offering protection from Mexican and Indian attack, while his brothers Capt. Manuel Flores
,
Lt. Nepomuceno Flores, and Seguin left and gathered men to follow Houston. Salvador's dedicated ranging services would cause him to be absent from the victory at San Jacinto
. Manuel Flores and Nepomuceno Flores, with Juan Seguin, and their Tejano company participated in the rout of Santa Anna's army.
Indians. As a member of the Karnes Company, he would team up with Mathew Caldwell
's Rangers in the pursuit of Vincente Cordova
. Again he would be involved in 1842 in organizing San Antonio citizens concerned with the imminent re-invasion by Mexico. Assigned as Captain by Mayor John William Smith
, he would command 100 local Tejanos against the Mexican invaders led by General Adrián Woll
.
. A Texas State Historical Marker was placed at the Floresville courthouse during the 1986 Texas sesquicentennial. It now stands in honor to Salvador Flores and his family for their service to Texas.
Texas 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...
. He participated in many battles and would rise through the ranks to reach Captain status during the fight for Texas independence from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Salvador continued to provide protection for the ranches and settlers of Texas throughout the Republic years.
Early life
Salvador Flores was born into Spanish Texas around 1806 in La Villa de San Fernando de Béxar. He was a skilled vaquero and ranchero that lived on the San Antonio river about 28 miles (45.1 km) below San Antonio, near Floresville. He married Maria Flores on May 24, 1841. They had 5 children.He was the son of Jose Flores De Abrego and Maria Rodriquez. They were a prominent family of Béxar, rich in the ranching history of Texas. Four Jose Flores De Abrego sons, Captain Salvador FloresSRT77 (2001) Pg.77 Captain Manuel N. Flores
Manuel N. Flores
Manuel Flores served as a volunteer in the Texas army in 1835-1838. Fighting and commanding, he would rise through the ranks to reach Sergeant status during the fight for Texas independence and would be commissioned a Captain during the Republic Years.-Family History- Early Years:Manuel Flores...
, Lieutenant Nepomuceno Flores, and Private Jose Maria Flores participated
in the Texas Revolution, serving at Béxar"Three men named Flores who received donation certificates for service at the siege of Béxar; Manuel Flores, Manuel Maria Flores, and Salvador Flores. (Men issued Donation Certificates for 640 acres of land for participation in Storming and Capture of Béxar Dec 5, 1835 - Dec 10, 1835 [T5; T1 p254-257]" and San Jacinto. Salvador was also a brother-in-law to Col. Juan Nepomuceno Seguín
Juan Seguín
Juan Nepomuceno Seguín was a 19th-century Texas Senator, Mayor, Judge, and Justice of the Peace and a prominent participant in the Texas Revolution.-Early life and family:...
.
Texas Revolution
The first skirmish establishing the Texas Revolution began in early October 1835, at the Battle of GonzalesBattle of Gonzales
The Battle of Gonzales was the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. It was fought near Gonzales, Texas, on October 2, 1835, between rebellious Texian settlers and a detachment of Mexican army troops....
. The Texians would be challenged by the Mexican army, when they tried to retake possession of an artillery piece at Gonzales, Texas
Gonzales, Texas
Gonzales is a city in Gonzales County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gonzales County.-Geography:Gonzales is located at...
. It was a small cannon, formerly given them by Mexico, which had been used for security against the Native Indians. Texians considered this action as an infringement of their right to bear arms and were determined to keep it. On October 2, they would show that determination. During this time, a meeting would be held at Salvador Flores Ranch that would organize a volunteer force of Tejano ranchers that would favor the impending revolution. Soldiers continued gathering, immigrants, colonists, Tejanos. The Texian Army would become a mixture of all peoples, interested in freedom from the oppressive policies of Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
.
After the victory at Gonzales, the Texan forces gained confidence. Trying to sustain the momentum, Commander Austin deemed it necessary to take possession of Presidio La Bahia
Presidio La Bahía
The Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahía, known more commonly as Presidio La Bahia, or simply La Bahia is a fort constructed by the Spanish Army that became the nucleus of the city of Goliad, Texas, United States. Originally founded in 1721 on the ruins of the failed French Fort Saint...
(Goliad) and Béxar (San Antonio). The Tejano troops marched towards Goliad, to reinforce Major Collinsworth at the Battle of Goliad
Battle of Goliad
The Battle of Goliad was the second skirmish of the Texas Revolution. In the early-morning hours of October 10, 1835, rebellious Texas settlers attacked the Mexican Army soldiers garrisoned at Presidio La Bahía, a fort near the Mexican Texas settlement of Goliad...
, but were overtaken by an express from Austin, asking them to join the attack on Béxar. On October 23, 1835, Stephen F. Austin granted a captain's commission to Juan Seguín, authorizing him to form a company, which would be supplied with guns and ammunition by the provisional government. Salvador Flores would be his first lieutenant. Salvador Flores and Manuel Leal
Manuel Antonio Santiago Tarin
Manuel Antonio Santiago Tarín was a Mexican soldier and a recruiter and participant in the Texas Revolution on the Texian side.-Early life:He was born in San Antonio de Béxar...
organizing 41 Tejano volunteers from ranches southwest of San Antonio reinforced the Texan forces on the Salado Creek
Salado Creek
Salado Creek is a waterway in San Antonio that runs from Northern Bexar County for about to the San Antonio River near Buena Vista.-Watershed:...
, in mid October, a few days after Juan Seguin
Juan Seguín
Juan Nepomuceno Seguín was a 19th-century Texas Senator, Mayor, Judge, and Justice of the Peace and a prominent participant in the Texas Revolution.-Early life and family:...
and Plácido Benavides
Plácido Benavides
Plácido Benavides was an early Mexican-born settler in De Leon's Colony, Victoria County, Texas. Benavides earned himself the sobriquet of the Paul Revere of Texas for his 1836 journey from San Patricio to Goliad to Victoria, warning residents of the approaching Mexican army. He was twice elected...
of Victoria had gathered almost 70 men to aid Commander Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
. After some discussion, Juan Seguin would be chosen as the commanding officer of the unit, due to his enlisting more men.Béxar Tejano enlistment totals: Seguin 37, Placido 28, Leal 26, Salvador 15. Salvador would be 1st Lt. of the central Texas volunteers and Placido 1st Lt. of the southern volunteers . While Seguin would be immediately tasked with the burden of supplying the Texian troops with food and provisions, Salvador was left to reconnoiter the Missions and handle the militia. Several more parties of Tejanos eventually joined in, with isolated enlistments occurring every day.
At Mission San Jose, they accompanied James Bowie, with the orders to approach the city, by following the river's path into town. Four groups, led by Valentine Bennet, Andrew Briscoe, Robert M. Coleman, and Michael Goheen and there scouts, were also sent to explore the other missions. While investigating, they were discovered by Mexican guards and gunfire was exchanged before joining with Bowie.
His recruits joined with Bowie in the Battle of Concepción
Battle of Concepcion
The Battle of Concepción was fought on October 28, 1835 between Mexican troops under Colonel Domingo Ugartechea and Texian insurgents led by James Bowie and James Fannin. The 30-minute engagement, which historian J.R...
on Oct 28, 1835. The Texans won again and gained confidence and some new ground. Flores was commended for his services by Steven F. Austin as 1st Lt. in the volunteer army at the Salado in November 1835. After the fight and learning of the plan to siege Béxar, he would recruit more men from the ranches on the San Antonio River
San Antonio River
The San Antonio River is a major waterway that originates in central Texas in a cluster of springs in north central San Antonio, approximately four miles north of downtown, and follows a roughly southeastern path through the state. It eventually feeds into the Guadalupe River about ten miles from...
.This is actually the instance of the extra recruiting by Flores, the totals being mentioned earlier, just placed in chronological context. Drifting into the Tejano ranks would be fourteen soldados from the fort, now disillusioned with the centralists. On November 10, the Tejanos had teamed up with Deaf Smith
Deaf Smith
Erastus "Deaf" Smith was an American frontiersman noted for his part in the Texas Revolution and the army of the Republic of Texas. He fought at the Grass Fight and the Battle of San Jacinto. After the war, Deaf Smith led a company of Texas Rangers.-Biography:Smith was born in Dutchess County, New...
and Travis to capture a herd of over 300 horses.
On November 13, the Consultation made public, the establishment of a regular army of Texas with a framework for a military force and a civil government as well. The Texian Army would now consist of two distinct military bodies. Houston was elected as "major general" of the regular army, but would have to recruit his own forces. Stephen F. Austin would resign from the volunteer Texian Army on November 24, 1835, being replaced by Edward Burleson, who would also resign after the Siege of Béxar. He would be replaced by Johnson and Grant. Austin, still commanding the volunteers, expects reinforcements to approach from Mexico. On November 14, 1835 being noted for his superior cavalry skills, Commander Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
ordered Salvador Flores and a detachment on a scouting mission to check for Mexican troop movements between the Medina and Nueces River
Nueces River
The Nueces River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas, approximately long. It drains a region in central and southern Texas southeastward into the Gulf of Mexico. It is the southernmost major river in Texas northeast of the Rio Grande...
s. He further instructs him to burn anything along the way that could be used to support the Mexican troops. Commander Austin, now headquartered at Concepcion, sends a message to Fannin, ordering him to give Don Salvador Flores 8 to 10 men to assist him in the endeavor.
The Texans received intelligence that a payroll in silver might be due for the Mexican troops at San Antonio. Scouts located a pack train on November 26, 1835. Teamed with Bowie, Lieutenant Salvador Flores would help initiate the Grass Fight
Grass Fight
The Grass Fight was a small battle during the Texas Revolution, fought between the Mexican Army and the Texian Army. The battle took place on November 26, 1835, just south of San Antonio de Béxar in Mexican Texas...
, providing Tejano reinforcements for the Texan troops, that would secure horses and mules for the Texans, but no silver. The pack train had been carrying grass, providing feed for the animals.
During the December 5–10, 1835, the Texians would attempt to take Béxar. Now, heavily involved in house to house fighting, Salvador participated as Second Lieutenant in the siege and capture of Béxar. The company of Seguin now amounted to over 160. He would advance with troops to capture the Alamo at the Siege of Bexar
Siege of Bexar
The Siege of Béxar was an early campaign of the Texas Revolution in which a volunteer Texan army successfully defeated Mexican forces at San Antonio de Béxar . Texians had become disillusioned with the Mexican government as President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's tenure became increasingly...
and see to the removal of Mexican forces of General Cos from Texas.de la Teja (1991), p. 182.After the revolution, Manuel Montalvo, who served with Salvador Flores in Béxar, also joined the Texas Rangers, from Sept. 10-Nov. 21, 1839. He was used many times as a witness on the pension petitions. see at http://www.texasranger.org/ReCenter/hispanic_indian_rangers.htm After the surrender of Cos, his company was sent out to protect the families of the lower ranches, against the devastation made by the retiring Mexican troops and from the reprisal of hostile Indians. The people of Texas would now control Béxar (San Antonio) and the Alamo fort. Colonel James C. Neill receives orders on December 21 to command at Béxar.
Rumors in January of Mexican troops congregating to march on Texas were flourishing. Now having received a captains commission, on Jan.14, 1836, in the Alamo with Col. James C. Neill
James C. Neill
↔James Clinton Neill was a 19th-century American soldier and politician, most noted for his role in the Texas Revolution and the early defense of the Alamo. He was born in North Carolina.-Early life and career:...
commanding, Captain Salvador Flores would volunteer to go to Laredo to check for troop movements and to try to discover the plans of the Mexicans.
Col. James Bowie moves into the Alamo
Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a battle fought during the Texas Revolution.Alamo may also refer to:-Places:*Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas*Alamo, California*Alamo, Georgia*Alamo Township, Michigan*Alamo, Nevada*Alamo, New Mexico...
under Neill on January 19, bringing 30 men. On behalf of Henry Smith and General Sam Houston, he assesses the military situation at Béxar. On January 22, verbal intelligence was directed at Col. Neill, from a Tejano courier through the Jose Antonio Navarro
José Antonio Navarro
José Antonio Navarro was a Texas statesman, revolutionary, politician, and merchant. The son of Ángel Navarro and Josefa María Ruiz y Pena, he was born into a distinguished noble family at San Antonio de Béxar in New Spain....
family. Jose Cassiano brings news that Gen. Santa Anna had arrived at Saltillo
Saltillo
Saltillo is the capital city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. The city is located about 400 km south of the U.S. state of Texas, and 90 km west of Monterrey, Nuevo León....
on January 27, with approximately 3000 troops and Sesma at Rio Grande City with 1600 more. Neill passes this information to Houston, now in Goliad.Bowie, after learning that Santa Anna was advancing towards Bexar, wrote several letters to the provisional government asking for supplies and assistance to defend the Alamo
An election for delegates, to attend the Convention of 1836, is held at the Alamo on February 1. Salvador Flores, as well as other names, are recorded and preserved on the voting tally list. Neill and Bowie now agree that defending the Alamo is key to achieving Texas independence. On February 3, Colonel Travis arrives in Béxar, with 25 men.
Col. Neill forced to leave on urgent family matters, makes a quick muster roll of his men at the Alamo. Captain Salvador Flores is among the many other names present on the list. Colonel Neill would pass command of the Alamo to William Barret Travis on February 12. Former Congressman David Crockett of Tennessee, boosted the ranks on February 8, with 16 additional men.
On February 10, a party was given to honor the arrival of David Crockett. With Neill leaving early on February 11, he was not present. Blas Herrea, a courier, from Plácido Benavides
Plácido Benavides
Plácido Benavides was an early Mexican-born settler in De Leon's Colony, Victoria County, Texas. Benavides earned himself the sobriquet of the Paul Revere of Texas for his 1836 journey from San Patricio to Goliad to Victoria, warning residents of the approaching Mexican army. He was twice elected...
, was searching for Juan Seguin
Juan Seguín
Juan Nepomuceno Seguín was a 19th-century Texas Senator, Mayor, Judge, and Justice of the Peace and a prominent participant in the Texas Revolution.-Early life and family:...
at the party and could not locate him. Possessing a letter dated February 6, it was then given to Antonio Menchaca. Handwritten in Spanish, it announced soldados at Presido Rio Grande, ready to march on Béxar. Travis now forewarned, remarked that it would take about 13 days for the Mexican army to arrive, and still was not immediately concerned with the information received and the party continued into the night.
Bowie and Travis agree to share command on the 14th. On Feb.16, Ambrosio Rodriquez was warned by his wife's cousin from Laredo
Laredo
- Cities :*Laredo, Texas, United States*Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico - Towns :*Laredo, Cantabria, the original Spanish town with this name.*Laredo, La Libertad, Peru*Laredo, Missouri, United States...
, and another warning came again on Feb. 18. Travis was still skeptical. On the 20th, Blas María Herrera from Seguin's own company reported that Santa Anna had crossed into Texas. Travis held a council that night at 9 p.m.. The story was told and the same verdict was reached, it couldn't be true. Local families began packing possessions, with intent to leave Béxar. About a dozen of Seguin's men were so convinced, that they requested to leave, in order to remove their families from Santa Anna's path.
Santa Anna's forces would enter Béxar on February 23, surprising the Texian forces and initiating a Siege of the Alamo
Siege of the Alamo
The siege of the Alamo describes the first twelve days of the Battle of the Alamo. On February 23, Mexican troops under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna entered San Antonio de Bexar, Texas and surrounded the Alamo Mission...
. The Texians and Tejanos would immediately gather in the Alamo for safety and defense, with some bringing their families into the compound. The battle lasted for thirteen days, with the final battle lasting ninety minutes and terminating in violent hand-to-hand combat. All Texian forces effectively lost. Several Tejanos remaining in the Alamo perished: San Antonians Juan Abamillo, José Gregorio Esparza
José Gregorio Esparza
José María Esparza also known as Gregorio Esparza was the last Texian defender to enter the Alamo during the early days of March 1836 in the Siege of the Alamo and was the only Texian body that was not burned in the pyres.-Early life and family:...
, Antonio Fuentes, Toribio Losoya
Toribio Losoya
José Toribio Losoya, was a former Mexican solder, a Texian military participant in the Siege of Bexar and Battle of the Alamo defender.-Early life and family:...
, Andrés Nava, Juan A. Badillo, Damacio Jiménez and José María Guerrero. Antonio Cruz y Arocha and Alexandro de la Garza left as couriers before the fall.
Juan Seguín stated that with him, 15 men also entered to defend the Alamo. Lindley believes that the Flores brothers were defending the Alamo during the siege. After serving at the Battle of Béxar, Salvador was one of the few, 100 or so, that remained at the Alamo with Neill. His brother Manuel, and other Tejanos (15) entered on February 23. Neill's roster places Captain Flores in the Alamo as an artillery officer. Captain Flores also appears on Colonel Neill's voting tally, as well.Many instances of old have been found in which Spanish names have been lost or confused because of misspelling, due to efforts by English-speaking recorders to spell names in accordance with their pronunciation or English transliteration. (Flores translates to Flowers)
Floris, Florez, Flowers, Flodders, Flouders are alternate spellings found for Flores. Muster rolls and documents that contain phonetic, partially mis-transcribed, or translated spelling is common for the period. Somehow, they seem to have exited soon after Seguin's departure, thus putting them on the Alamo survivor list. In 1907, Enrique Esparza claimed that Santa Anna called an armistice and he remembers some Flores leaving then. They took this opportunity to gather Alamo reinforcements, bringing along a couple more of the Flores brothers (according to Seguin, they had a Tejano force of 100 when they regrouped in Gonzales), and secure their families (having not been seen, since abruptly entering the Alamo). They then rendezvoused with Seguin, now in Gonzales. The company headed for the Alamo. The Tejano defenders were joined by up to fourteen more men from Gonzales (led by former Alamo couriers Alsbury and Sutherland). They proceeded toward the Alamo. There they waited on the Cibolo Creek
Cibolo Creek
Cibolo Creek is a stream in South Central Texas, United States that runs approximately from its source at Turkey Knob near Boerne, Texas, to its confluence with the San Antonio River in Karnes County...
to team up with Fannin. The Alamo fell before they could reach it. Lindley's research concludes that a relief force was waiting on the Cibolo ford and were located by a team that sallied out with Crockett. They entered the Alamo near the end of the battle. Travis' March 3 letter states that only three Tejanos were left in the Alamo after the armistice, but seven died there. One must logically conclude that four more of the Seguin-Flores recruits also entered as part of the relief force, although they knew there was no chance of survival. See Lindley, p. 142.
The news of the fall of Béxar and Battle of the Alamo
Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...
was overwhelming for the Texans. A frantic flee eastward began immediately after receiving the fateful news at Gonzales in March 1836. The Tejano volunteers now being reassembled at Gonzales would ride with Captain Flores. Salvador Flores had accepted Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
's orders during this Runaway Scrape
Runaway Scrape
The Runaway Scrape was the name given to the flight and subsequent hostilities that occurred, as Texan, Tejano, and American settlers and militia encountered the pursuing Mexican army in early 1836....
. As troops would march away from Gonzales, Salvador Flores along with a group of volunteers formed the rear guard that protected the fleeing families and proceeded westward to secure the lower ranches of San Antonio.Verbal dispatch with orders Sam Houston to Flores March, 1836, as no documents have been found verifying this order, but Houston never denied it. Pension petitions verify that the troops were there helping the evacuees escape. See Lindley (2003) pg. 170 The forces then split. Salvador maintained this position offering protection from Mexican and Indian attack, while his brothers Capt. Manuel Flores
Manuel Flores
Manuel "Manny" Flores is the Director of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Division of Banking . A member of the Democratic Party, Flores was elected to the Chicago City Council in 2003...
,
Lt. Nepomuceno Flores, and Seguin left and gathered men to follow Houston. Salvador's dedicated ranging services would cause him to be absent from the victory at San Jacinto
San Jacinto
San Jacinto is Spanish for Saint Hyacinth; as a place name, it may refer to:* San Jacinto, Bolívar, Colombia* San Jacinto, Chiquimula, Guatemala* San Jacinto, Comondú, Mexico* San Jacinto, Lerdo, Mexico* San Jacinto, Ancash Region, Peru...
. Manuel Flores and Nepomuceno Flores, with Juan Seguin, and their Tejano company participated in the rout of Santa Anna's army.
Texas Republic 1836–1842
In late 1836, Salvador Flores was Captain of Company C, which served the citizens of Texas, much like a ranging company.After becoming a Republic, J.N. Seguin had become be the head of the San Antonio military, commander of a batallion of three companies (A,B,C), in defence of the western frontier of Texas. See de la Teja (1991), p. 29. Salvador Flores was Captain of the 1st Regiment of Cavalry, in 1837. Later in 1839, Flores would serve the Republic of Texas, as 1st Lt. in Col. Juan N. Seguin's Company. Salvador Flores would protect the colonists in the Henry Karnes campaign against the hostile ComancheComanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
Indians. As a member of the Karnes Company, he would team up with 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...
's Rangers in the pursuit of Vincente Cordova
Cordova Rebellion
The Córdova Rebellion, in 1839, was an uprising instigated in and around Nacogdoches, Texas. Alcalde Vicente Córdova and other leaders supported the Texas Revolution as long as it espoused a return to the Constitution of 1824, but after declaring independence they sought to forcefully oppose the...
. Again he would be involved in 1842 in organizing San Antonio citizens concerned with the imminent re-invasion by Mexico. Assigned as Captain by Mayor John William Smith
John William Smith
John William Smith was a Texas political figure and the first mayor of San Antonio, Texas. He supported and served Texas during the struggle for Texas Independence.-Early life:...
, he would command 100 local Tejanos against the Mexican invaders led by General Adrián 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:...
.
Later life and family
Flores married Conception Rojo on Sept. 30, 1848 in San Antonio and they had 2 children. Salvador Flores spent the remainder of his life in and around San Antonio, Texas. He died on January 17, 1855 in that city. Juan Seguin was appointed administrator of his holdings and became the guardian of his family. In 1858, he filed a probate for the Flores family.http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth179458/m1/3/zoom/?q=SALVADOR%20FLORESLegacy
His skills and tactics demonstrated on horseback would be those modeled by the Texas Rangers. In later years, the Flores descendants would be the ones to donate the land for the establishment of the City in Texas that bears their name: Floresville, TexasFloresville, Texas
Floresville is a city in Wilson County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,868 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wilson County. The city is also part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. A Texas State Historical Marker was placed at the Floresville courthouse during the 1986 Texas sesquicentennial. It now stands in honor to Salvador Flores and his family for their service to Texas.
See also
- List of Texas Revolution battles
- Timeline of the Texas RevolutionTimeline of the Texas RevolutionThis is a timeline of the Texas Revolution, spanning the time from the earliest independence movements of the area of Texas, over the declaration of independence from Spain, up to the secession of the Republic of Texas from Mexico....
- Juan SeguinJuan SeguínJuan Nepomuceno Seguín was a 19th-century Texas Senator, Mayor, Judge, and Justice of the Peace and a prominent participant in the Texas Revolution.-Early life and family:...
- Manuel N. FloresManuel N. FloresManuel Flores served as a volunteer in the Texas army in 1835-1838. Fighting and commanding, he would rise through the ranks to reach Sergeant status during the fight for Texas independence and would be commissioned a Captain during the Republic Years.-Family History- Early Years:Manuel Flores...
External links
- Letter to S. Darden , State Comptroller, Listing service records of Tejano Veterans Jan.12, 1875
- Neill's Alamo election for delegates to attend the Convention of 1836, February 1, 1836 (TSL)
- Milvern Harrell: Survivor of the Dawson Massacre by Garland R. Lively
- Pension petition of Juan Manuel Cebera (Cabrera) referencing M. Montalvo Nov. 30, 1874, Service record under Captain S.Flores
- Remember the Alamo, PBS, American Experience (Timeline 1835)
- Index to Military Rolls of the Republic of Texas 1835 - 1845