In celebration of Texas History Month - The Yellow Rose of Texas

James Morgan, a businessman from Philadelphia, decided to go to Texas and take advantage of the cheap land opportunities that existed in 1830. The Mexican laws that ruled Texas at the time prohibited slavery, so he took 16 former slaves with him as indentured servants.

In 1835, Morgan went to New York to recruit more workers for his Texas settlement, called New Washington. Twenty-one-year-old Emily West, who was reported to be a mulatto (of mixed race), was a very beautiful woman. She volunteered to be indentured, and, in the custom of the time, changed her name to Morgan.
 

The settlement of New Washington was located near the mouth of the San Jacinto River. The part of Morgan’s land that extended into San Jacinto Bay was, and still is, called Morgan’s Point.
 

The people of Texas became unhappy with Mexican rule. During the winter of 1835/1836, they decided to sever their relations with Mexico. James Morgan freely gave cattle, oranges and assorted grains to Sam Houston for his army. Flatboats were loaded with supplies and shipped up Buffalo Bayou to Harrisburg (now Houston) where General Houston’s supply station was located.
 

On the 4th of March, 1836, 187 Texans were besieged by over 5,000 Mexican soldiers at the Alamo. The Texans refused surrender demands and held out until March 6th when they perished in a courageous but futile battle. The Mexican commander was General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. He lost 1,500 men at the Alamo.
 

This was followed on March 27th by the cold-blooded massacre of Texans at Goliad.
 

On April 21st, the Battle of San Jacinto was fought. After days of retreat, Houston defeated a larger force using a surprise attack during the Mexican siesta hours. The Texas battle cry was “Remember the Alamo, Remember Goliad!”
 

During the 20 minute battle, 600 Mexicans died and 200 were wounded. General Santa Anna and 700 others were captured over a 24 hour period. Fewer than 12 Mexicans escaped.
 

Because of his generosity, Morgan was appointed a colonel in the Texas Army.
 

In March of 1836, his assignment took him to the Port of Galveston. In order to continue his shipping of supplies to Houston’s army, Morgan left Emily in charge of the loading of the flatboats destined for the Texas Army.
 

On the afternoon of April 18th, Santa Anna passed through New Washington, which by then was almost deserted. Upon seeing Emily, he was smitten by her beauty. He could not get Emily out of his mind so he settled his troops nearby on the San Jacinto plains despite protests from his officers who felt the location was not a good one.
 

The next morning, after his men had helped themselves to the crops and cattle, Santa Anna, being something of a ladies man, ordered that Emily be brought to him. She was captured, along with a boy named Turner, who was loading a flatboat with supplies.
 

Santa Anna persuaded Turner to lead his scouts to Sam Houston’s camp. However, before they left, Emily convinced Turner that he should escape from the Mexican scouts and get word to Sam Houston as to where the Mexican camp was located.
 

Upon learning of Santa Anna’s location, Houston moved his troops into the woods near the Mexican Army headquarters. Houston climbed a tree where he had a good view of the camp. From the tree, he saw Emily preparing a champagne breakfast for Santa Anna. Houston is reported to have said, “I hope that girl makes him neglect his business and keeps him in bed all day!” Houston’s men made their surprise attack that day, the 21st, and apparently did indeed catch the Mexican general with his pants down.
 

The Texans lost just nine men and had 20 wounded, while Sam Houston sustained a shot in the ankle. After his capture, Santa Anna was made to sign a treaty giving Texas independence.
 

Emily survived the battle and went back to her duties at New Washington. James Morgan returned from Galveston. He heard of Emily’s bravery and her help in winning the battle. He was so impressed by her courage that he repealed her indenture and gave her passage back to New York.
 

It is said that Emily West Morgan inspired the song “The Yellow Rose of Texas.”