We Of The South Remember: Houston, Texas; Galveston, Texas

Houston declined for many years to erect a statue commemorating founder Sam Houston. Why? Because the old patriarch refused to support the secession of Texas from that compact called the “Union.” Texans were known as the most ferocious fighters of the Army of Northern Virginia. The Texas Brigade was General Lee’s favored shock formation: “Texans always move them,” he said. In this piece I pointed out the defiance expressed on a Texas state historical marker in Corsicana. Additional examples abound; Texans were once considered among the more “unreconstructed” of the occupied South.

Houston has “progressed” since then, and we’re sure Houstonians are happy that the first man their city chose to honor is forgotten. He was a Confederate hero. His name was Richard William Dowling.

Here is a closer view of the dedication: