 March is Indepence month in Texas and the time for a host of events and programs designed to keep the heritage of the Republic alive in a modern world. Perhaps one of the best events of the year related to Texas heritage is the Republic of Texas Festival staged at the historic George Ranch near Richmond.
Sure, most of us know about the fall of the Alamo and the tragic deaths of so many Republic heroes. And all of us are aware of the heroic Battle of San Jacinto where Santa Anna's army was routed and the would-be dictator was captured and surrendered to the Texians.
But what about those 42 fateful days between the fall of the Alamo and the victory at San Jacinto? How many know or realize the events that took place between San Antonio and Houston? Did you know, for example, that Santa Anna's Mexican Army performed a ruthless cleansing of the land, burning homes, farms, barns and bridges? Did you know that Texians fled before the path of the mighty Mexican Army, fleeing for their lives and taking with them what property they could to avoid losing it all at the hands of the advancing army?
They were dark days in the history of Texas when Sam Houston and an unorganized and young citizen army prepared for the inevitable battle with the superior Mexican forces, when history hung by a thread and threatened to play out one of several ways, not many of which favored victory for the Texians.
 On March 31 Texas history comes alive again at the George Ranch when the Engagement at Thompson's Ferry is re-enacted for all those who wish to attend.
HISTORY OF THE THOMPSON
FERRY CROSSING
According to the Handbook of Texas, Thompson's Ferry, on the Brazos River between San Felipe and Fort Bend, was operated from 1830 to 1847 by Jesse Thompson. It was important during the Texas Revolution. As Sam Houston's Texan army retreated toward Jared E. Groce's plantation, rear-guard contingents under Moseley Baker at San Felipe and Wyly Martin at Fort Bend sought to prevent the Mexicans from crossing the Brazos River.
On April 9, 1836, Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna, not wishing to be delayed by Baker's men at San Felipe, led a column downriver toward Thompson's Ferry. The Mexicans arrived at the crossing on the morning of April 12 and spied a black ferryman on the east bank of the Brazos. Col. Juan N. Almonte, who spoke good English, hailed the ferryman. Probably thinking that this was a countryman who had been left behind during the retreat, the ferryman poled the ferry across to the west bank. Santa Anna and his staff, who had been hiding in nearby bushes, sprang out and captured the ferry. By this means the Mexican Centralists accomplished a bloodless crossing of the Brazos.
Twelve miles downriver, Martin and the Texans guarding the Fort Bend crossing learned that the Mexicans had crossed in force at Thompson's Ferry; outflanked and outnumbered, they had no choice but to abandon Fort Bend. Baker, also outflanked, was now obliged to end his dogged defense of the San Felipe crossing and join the rest of the Texans in their retreat. José Enrique de la Peña reported that after the battle of San Jacinto, 1,500 Mexican troops and four cannons were stationed at or near Thompson's Ferry under the command of Gen. Vicente Filisola. Peña asserted that if Filisola had force-marched his troops from Thompson's Ferry to San Jacinto, a mere two day's march, he might have undone the effects of the Texan victory. In 1936 the Texas Centennial Commission erected a monument at the ferry site.
Republic of Texas Festival - Saturday, March 31st
Runaway Scrape Reenactment and Engagement at Thompson’s Ferry
Join us at the 1830’s Jones Stock Farm for an exciting re-creation of these events on the trail of Texas independence. Travel back in time to 1836 for The Runaway Scrape, the terrifying days after the fall of the Alamo when the Mexican Army, led by General Santa Ana, push eastward, burning and pillaging settlements in their mission to crush the Texian revolt.
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Rio Grande Valley