A Romantic Texas Tale :
The YELLOW ROSE of Texas
While most think of Texas and Texans as big, boisterous, proud and independent, one might not necessarily associate our somewhat rough and tumble image with romance. Nothing could be further from the truth, as our many visitors have learned, the land itself lends itself to romantic visions and Texas history is full of romantic notions.One such tale comes from the well known Texas song, "The Yellow Rose of Texas", the lyrics are based upon an historical account of a young girl whose love of Texas helped the Texas army beat Mexican General Santa Anna in the territory's war for independence. According to Travel Writer, Eleanor S. Morris, the story of Texas' independence is full of romance.
The seed of the story begins in the Heart of Texas in a small community called Gonzales in 1835. The Mexicans had left a cannon in the town following a battle which they had lost and wished to reclaim it.The Texicans taunted them with a challenge to "Come and Take it", and even made a flag to fly with this creedo on it. The Mexicans were unable to, "come and take it" and the creedo stuck with the Texicans, an idea that gave birth to the spirit of the Alamo. While they won the battle at Gonzales, General Santa Anna defeated and slaughtered the Texicans at the battle of Goliad, and then the Texans suffered the terrible loss of the Alamo. However these defeats only served to fuel the determination and spirit of the Texans whose creedo quickly became, "Remember the Alamo".
Legend has it that Texas had a friend in an unlikely place that could bring this terrifying General to his knees in defeat. Her name was Emily Morgan and she was a slave, apparently a young woman of great beauty and high spirit. General Santa Anna captured her and kept her for his companion, taking her with him to his new camp at San Jacinto.
Years of slavery had probably taught her to use her captors to her advantage, and Emily was a Texan at heart. It is thought she was privy to his military discussions within his quarters and she then passed on vital information to spies for Texas. Her ablility to occupy the General's attentions was his ultimate downfall. General Santa Anna was captured in his tent with her as the Texans surprised the Mexican army and defeated them at San Jacinto, giving birth to the republic of TEXAS. Emily's romantic story of her love of Texas lives on in the lyrics of one of Texas most famous songs.
The Yellow Rose of Texas
The Yellow rose of Texas
That I am going to see
No other cowboy loves her
Half as much as me.
She cried so when I left her
It almost broke my heart
And if I ever find her
We never more shall part.
You can talk about your Clementine
And speak of Rosalie
But the yellow rose of Texas
Is the only girl for me!
For more information on this story contact: www.sanjuanshrine.com
story resource: Eleanor S. Morris
