“I regret to have to be laid away in a foreign country.” -Oliver Loving, “The Dean of Texas Trail Drivers,” 1812-1867
Today Murray and I went with some friends on a day trip to Oak Glen to do a little apple-picking up in the mountains, and on the long drive, I got to talking about my Texas roots. I’m a sixth generation Texan, and I’ve some big time Texans in my family line. In fact, the character of Gus in Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove is based on Oliver Loving, the “Dean of Texas Trail Drivers” — my great-great-great-great grandfather (is that the right amount of greats, Dad?).
I did a little quick research and found this excellent history of the cowboy. What it doesn’t say is what stands out the most in my memory of family lore. Loving was a red-headed man, and the red-haired gene has skipped every other generation since him. My dad and uncle were red-headed (now they’re not so red anymore), and I’m blonde.
Anyway, here’s some interesting links: a handwritten letter, dated 1862, that Loving wrote to Francis Lubbock about Indian relations in Texas. And an article on “The Killing of Oliver Loving” from Texian Cowboy.
Of course, the famous story is that when Oliver Loving was dying, he told his partner, Charles Goodnight, that he wanted to be buried in Texas — not “in a foreign country.” So Goodnight put his coffin in a tin box and dragged it 600 miles on a wagon back to Weatherford, where his grave still is to this very day.
You are a 9th generation Texan! Your gggggg-grandfather Peter Sides, who was also a patriot who fought in the Revolutionary War, was killed in the War of 1812 in San Antonio, Mexico in the Battle of Medina on August 18, 1813. His family stayed in the territory which later became Texas.
Re: Peter Sides – I’m also a descendant but Peter never officially lived in Texas, nor was he involved in the War of 1812. He was a colorful and fascinating person and two of his sons, John and Jacob were in the War of 1812. Peter was killed in the Battle of Medina south of San Antonio in Aug. 1813.
I have a lot of information and research done on this family that I would be happy to share. There will also be another ceremony on Aug. 20 this year, and although the news release says this is the 191st anniversary of his death and the battle, it is actually the 192nd.
Here are a few things: http://www.txssar.org/graves.htm
A little greed, a little debt keys to uncovering story of Sides family founder; [Gnl Edition]
DAMON VEACH. Advocate. Baton Rouge, La.: Aug 8, 2004. pg. 24.MAG
Full Text (1326 words)
(Copyright 2004 by Capital City Press)If it were not for the vices of greed and debt, the descendants of Peter Sides may have never even known he existed. The Sides family has been established in the Baton Rouge and south Louisiana area since 1799. However, until a few years ago, descendants knew nothing of the first-generation American progenitor of the clan.On Aug. 18, he will finally be honored on the 191st anniversary of his death at the site of the Battle of Medina, south of San Antonio. Last year, the battlefield was marked for the first time, and markers were placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. This year, the Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Republic of Texas will honor his memory with a marker. It seems amazing that none of his descendants probably ever were able to visit the site of his death before 2003.Sides, whose original surname was Seitz, was German or Swiss. He was born probably in North Carolina about 1750. In about 1774, he married Barbara Carpenter, whose family name had been Zimmerman in Switzerland and Germany. Carpenter is a literal translation from the German Zimmerman.In 1775, Sides’ name along with that of his father-in-law Christian Carpenter were among the signatures of a document of the patriots of Tryon County, N.C., vowing to resist British forces. He fought as an Ensign in the 2nd North Carolina Battalion in November 1776 and later received a land grant in Davidson County, Tenn.In Davidson County, Sides served as a lieutenant in the local militia and is documented there as early as 1784. He and his family moved to Logan County, Kentucky a few years later and then to East Baton Rouge Parish in 1799.In Baton Rouge, it’s believed that Sides was involved with the 1810 revolt against Spanish rule that resulted in the West Florida Republic. He left his family to join the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition and was housed at the Alamo during the short-lived First Republic of Texas in 1813, as a member of the Republic Army of the North.On Aug. 18, 1813, the Republican Army of the North went to an area south of San Antonio to fight the Battle of Medina, a battle known as the largest and bloodiest land battle on Texas soil. That army was made up of Anglos, such as Sides, Tejanos and Native Americans.Sides, who was about 63, was killed as he led a troop against the Spanish with the rallying cry of “Come on, boys!” but his men turned around and fled.The reason his descendants know this fact is because of legal action taken by his son-in-law, Jonathan Kuykendall, to prove that Peter was dead so his wife Elizabeth would receive her inheritance. And although Peter’s son John is listed on census records as having been born in Kentucky, proof was recently found when Peter’s name was found in Logan County debt records. Therefore, greed and debt have been quite beneficial to Sides’ researchers.What is unknown is why Peter’s name and legacy was forgotten through the years by his descendants.Until a few years ago, local descendants knew the family history back only to that of his children, including John, James, Mary Tully, Elizabeth Kuykendall and Catherine. Some descendants speculate that his death, occurring in a miserable defeat, was something the family chose not to remember. And his given name, Peter, was not repeated in the next few generations.But Peter’s story was not lost, and bits and pieces keep coming up as his descendants pursue his history. Most recently, records of the 1815 disposition of his slaves following his death have been noted. Sides emerges as a patriot and a warrior who was willing to march off to battle when he was in his sixties.The public is invited to attend the 191st anniversary of the Battle of Medina, at a spot overlooking the site where between 800 and 1,300 men died on Aug. 18, 1813. The largest loss of life in any battle in Texas history occurred about 20 miles south of San Antonio. The ceremony will start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 14, and everyone interested in Texas history is invited.This battle was between the 1,400 Republican Army of the North, called the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition by historians, and the 1,800 man Royal Spanish Army commanded by General Joaquin de Arredondo. This was at a time when only about 2,000 people lived in San Antonio, then called San Fernando de Bexar.At least one man who fought in the American Revolution also fought and died in the Battle of Medina. This was Peter Sides, and he is one of over 50 Patriots of the American Revolution who are buried in Texas. Direct descendants of Peter Sides are eligible for membership in the Sons and Daughter of the American Revolution, and some of the descendants of Peter Sides will be in attendance to dedicate a Sons of the American Revolutionary Patriot Grave Marker.A grave marker will also be placed by the Sons of the Republic of Texas, as descendants of all the approximately 3,200 men who fought on both sides of this battle are eligible for membership in the SRT and the DRT. The descendants of Benjamin Allen, who also died in the battle, will dedicate the SRT marker, and the award-winning author, Robert Thornhoff, will be the keynote speaker at the event. Members of the Mayflower Society will also be on hand to dedicate a marker, and it is hoped that many other societies will participate in this ceremony. These actions by so many groups will honor many other patriots of this, the largest land battle in Texas history.To reach the site of the ceremony, proceed south from San Antonio on Highway 281 some 15 miles from the intersection of Loop 410 South and Highway 281 to the community of Espey, Texas, where signs will direct you to the ceremony. For more details, contact Tom Green, Texas Society SAR Staff Secretary at (281) 922-1118.
Fellow History Buffs,
We plan to hold the Battle of Medina annual ceremony this year starting at 11:00am, Saturday, August 20, 2005 under the same large Oak tree where we have held the ceremony the past two years. I have attached a news release to this message, and also pasted it at the bottom in case you can not open my attachment. Please feel free to change anything you wish and see if you can get ANY news media to print the information.
We have two new developments this year. Mr. Norman Porter, the Atascosa County Historical Committee Charmian has applied for an “Official” Historical marker, and I understand the wording that Robert Thonhoff wrote for the marker has been approved and the marker may be ready by August. I have written Mr. Porter and suggested that we dedicate his marker at the same time we hold our annual ceremony. I have not heard back from Mr. Porter, so I can not give you any additional details on that subject at this time.
The other development is that a professional tourist agency has contacted us about bringing a bus of tourist to the ceremony. I have encouraged them to attend, but warned them about the road conditions. Vernon Cooper has asked the Toyota Company to build a visitor center somewhere in the area of the battle site, and they have not said no, so we will see how that project progresses.
Please pass this message on to anyone you might know who would be interested in attending. Especially attempt to send this message to the descendants of Peter Sides and Benjamin Allen, who are the only two men to have been “proven” to have died in the battle. We will hold short memorial ceremonies for these two Patriots, as well as all who fought and died in this all but forgotten battle.
Thanks,
Tom Green
(281) 922-1118
TBGreen3@prodigy.net
191st Anniversary of the Bloodiest Battle in Texas History
The public is invited to attend the 192nd anniversary of the Battle of Medina, at a site overlooking the Galvin Creek where between 800 and 1,300 men died August 18, 1813. This was the bloodiest, and largest loss of life in any battle in Texas history, and it occurred about 20 miles south of San Antonio, Texas. The ceremony will start at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2005, and everyone interested in Texas history is invited.
This battle was between the 1,400 man Republican Army of the North, called the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition by historians, and the 1,800 man Royal Spanish Army commanded by General Joaquin de Arredondo. This was at a time when only about 2,000 people lived in San Antonio, then called San Fernando de Bexar. At lease one man who fought in the American Revolution also fought and died in the Battle of Medina. This man was Peter Sides, and he is one of over 50 Patriots of the American Revolution who died and were buried in Texas. Direct descendants of Peter Sides are eligible for membership in the Sons and Da! ughter of the American Revolution and some of the descendants of Peter Sides will be in attendance to dedicate a Sons of the American Revolutionary Patriot Grave Marker. A Grave Marker will also be placed by the Sons of the Republic of Texas, as descendants of all the approximately 3,200 men who fought on both sides of this battle are eligible for membership in the SRT and the DRT. The descendants of Benjamin Allen, who also died in the battle, will dedicate the SRT marker, and the award winning author, Robert Thonhoff will be the key note speaker at the event. Members of the Mayflower Society will also be on hand to dedicate a marker, and we hope to include many other Societies in this ceremony, to honor many other Patriots of this, the largest land battle in Texas history.
Other interesting fact about this expedition is that the Republican Army of the North won all the battles up to the August 18, 1813 battle and had declared Texas free from Spain and had written and signed the First Declaration of Independence in Texas, before their defeat at the Battle of Medina. Before coming to San Antonio, the Spanish Army surrounded the Republican Army for four months at the La Bahia fort in what is today Goliad. This is the longest siege in American history, and is the reason they fly the Emerald Green flag at La Bahia.
To reach the site of the ceremony, proceed south from San Antonio on Highway 281 some 15 miles south from the intersection of Loop 410 South and Highway 281, to the community of Espey, Texas, and turn west where signs will direct you to the ceremony. For more details, contact Tom Green, at (281) 922-1118, or (210) 269-3711.
I was looking for information on a family member I was told died at The Battle of Medina, one of the Allen’s Benjamin, never did I expect to find the story of Peter Sides, which made be wonder, If my husband family is part of his… wanted to join one of the society i.e.. Daughters of The Republic of Texas, trying to find relationship etc..The lady I spoke with said more information on my grandfather side the Fenleys.But, I was born and Allen..and married a Sides!! Sincerely, Luann Allen Sides
I’m not sure what the hold-up is… maybe they have re-thought their stance on how this is going to actually make the company any money. Or perhaps their lawyers pointed out the liability of providing agents a platform to stick their feet in their mouth. Whatever it is, it’s hardly something I’d claim as being “Well done”.
http://www.jebshouse.com