Near Leesville in Gonzales County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Gonzales - San Antonio Road
Photographed By James Hulse, February 21, 2021
1. Gonzales - San Antonio Road Marker
Shortly after he established his colony along the Guadalupe River in 1825, Green Dewitt ordered that a road be built between his capital city, Gonzales, and San Antonio. Byrd Lockhart surveyed the road and opened it in 1827. Eighty miles long and running past three watering holes, settlers and Mexicans used it for travel and trade, though the presence of native groups in the area made traveling dangerous. Mile markers were carved into oak trunks along the route. During the Texas War for Independence, Stephen F. Austin, William B. Travis, and Jim Bowie used the road, as did the Immortal 32, who marched from Gonzales to the Alamo. Santa Anna also marched his army along it after the battle of the Alamo.
Erected 2010 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 16599.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • War, Texas Independence. A significant historical year for this entry is 1825.
Location. 29° 22.846′ N, 97° 45.006′ W. Marker is near Leesville, Texas, in Gonzales
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. 1835 Attack at Sandies Water Hole (here, next to this marker); Rev. Alejo Hernández (approx. 2 miles away); Leesville School (approx. 2 miles away); Leesville Baptist Church (approx. 2 miles away); Sandies Chapel Cemetery (approx. 3½ miles away); Sandies-Dewville Community (approx. 3½ miles away); Dewville United Methodist Church (approx. 3.6 miles away); Rancho (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leesville.
Also see . . .
1. DeWitt, Green (1787–1835).
DeWitt apparently did not have the degree of personal influence over his settlement that Austin exercised at San Felipe. Although he represented the District of Gonzales in the Convention of 1833, he never held an elected office in the colony's government. Despite his apparent success in establishing the colony, he was unable to fulfill his contract by the time it expired on April 15, 1831, and he failed to get it renewed. He spent his last years engaging in some limited commercial investments and improving his own land on the right bank of the Guadalupe River across from the Gonzales townsite, premium(Submitted on February 24, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)land given him as empresario. Source: The Handbook of TexasPhotographed By James Hulse, February 21, 20212. The Gonzales-San Antonio Road Marker is the left marker of the two markers.
2. Immortal 32.
The Immortal 32 was a relief force of thirty-two Texian Militia from the Gonzales Ranging Company who reinforced the Texians under siege at the Alamo. They are "immortalized" as the only unit to answer the To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World letter. Along with the other Alamo defenders, they were all killed and burned after the Battle of the Alamo. Source: Wikipedia(Submitted on February 24, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed By James Hulse, February 21, 2021
3. The view of the two markers from the road
Photographed By James Hulse, February 21, 2021
4. The Historical marker sign by the road
Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 657 times since then and 338 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 24, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
