Description:

Sam Houston
Austin, Texas, June 25, 1860
Governor Sam Houston Endorses Texas Treasury Warrant for Texas Ranger Who Later Massacred German Unionist Texans
Partially printed DS

[SAM HOUSTON.] Cyrus H. Randolph and Clement R. Johns, Partially Printed Document Signed, Treasury Warrant for $34.75 to Colin D. McRae, June 25, 1860, Austin, Texas; Printed Endorsement on verso signed by Houston as governor. 2 pp., 8.375" x 3.5". Randolph and Johns's names stricken on recto and entire warrant stricken; minor staining; very good.

Comptroller Clement R. Johns and Treasurer Cyrus H. Randolph signed this treasury warrant for $34.75 to Colin D. McRae on June 25, 1860. The payment was for "Services rendered in Littletons Company" and would be paid from money appropriated by an act of February 3, 1860, for the "protection of the frontier" against both "Mexican Marauders" and "Indian Depredations."

The commander of McRae's company was Captain John Littleton (ca. 1825-1868), who was born in Tennessee and moved in 1856 to Texas, where he became a rancher. In late 1859, Littleton fought in Captain William G. Tobin's company of Mounted Volunteers in the First Cortina War. When Tobin was promoted to major, Littleton became captain of his old company. In January 1860, he left Tobin's battalion to join a new battalion under John S. Ford. Littleton represented Karnes County in the Secession Convention. During the Civil War, he continued as a captain of cavalry to defend the Texas frontier against Indian raids until December 1863, when he joined Ford to defend against a Union invasion of the lower Rio Grande valley that led ultimately to the Battle of Palmito Ranch, the last land battle of the Civil War, on May 13, 1865.

Excerpt
"Agreeable to an Act of the Legislature, approved February 14th, 1860, this Warrant will draw ten per cent, per annum interest until paid,
Sam Houston / Governor Clement R. Johns / Comptroller."

Samuel Houston (1793-1863) was born in Virginia and left home at age 16 and lived with the Cherokee. He enlisted to fight the British in the War of 1812 and came under the tutelage of Andrew Jackson. After the war, he settled in Tennessee and began to practice law. In 1822, he was elected to Congress and served from 1823 to 1827. He was a strong supporter of Andrew Jackson during his term in Congress. In 1827, he became governor of Tennessee but resigned in 1829 before his term ended after his wife left him amid rumors of alcoholism and infidelity. In the early 1830s, Houston was in Washington to expose the frauds committed by government agents against the Cherokee. When a Congressman accused him of impropriety, he beat the Congressman with a cane on Pennsylvania Avenue. He was arrested and found guilty but given a light fine, and he left for Mexico. By 1835, he was a major general in the Texas Army, and he signed the Texas Declaration of Independence in March 1836. In the Battle of San Jacinto in April 1836, Houston surprised Mexican general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and won a decisive victory that secured Texas independence. Houston served as President of the Republic of Texas from October 1836 to December 1838, and again from 1841 to 1844. After the annexation of Texas to the United States, Houston served as a U.S. senator from 1846 to 1859. In 1859, Houston became governor of Texas but resigned less than two years later because he refused to take the Confederate loyalty oath. He retired from public life and died at his home.

Clement R. Johns (ca. 1816-1886) was born in Tennessee. He served as Texas comptroller from 1859 to 1864.

Colin Dickson McRae (1835-1864) was born in Clarksville, Texas. By 1860, he was a stock raiser in San Antonio. In February 1861, he enlisted as a first lieutenant at San Antonio into Colonel John S. Ford's regiment of mounted rangers. In August 1862, Lt. McRae led Confederate soldiers in an attack on German Texas Unionists who were leaving the state. McRae's forces attacked their camp along the Nueces River, and in the ensuing battle, 2 Confederates and 19 Unionists were killed, and McRae and 18 of his men were wounded. After the battle, McRae's forces executed between 9 and 11 of the wounded Unionists and pursued and executed another 9 in the following weeks. He died in a yellow fever epidemic in Galveston in September 1864.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.375" x 3.5"
  • Medium: Partially printed DS

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