Bruce Marshall Libros

Only Texas, of all the states, can boast of a heritage that includes the army and navy of an independent nation. Throughout the ten turbulent years of Texas independence its military was engaged in constant warfare against enemies within and without. Its regulars were backed up by a militia described as "the most formidable, for their numbers, in the world." Contrary to the image projected by Hollywood and most historians, even in Texas, they were smartly uniformed and equipped with the latest in weaponry. What did these long-forgotten uniforms look like? Texas insignia and flags? Writer-artist-historian Bruce Marshall has discovered the answers in archives in Texas and Mexico, in old diaries and letters and sketches by those who wore or saw them. With his internationally-honored art he has recreated the uniforms in twenty-six full color illustrations, supplemented by fourteen photographs – including the only two known of uniformed officers of the Texas army and navy.

The notion has persisted far too long that the army of patriots that won Texas independence from Mexico in 1835-1836 was totally without uniforms, clad indifferently for the most part in rustic frontier garb. This was true for many, but by no means all. Surprisingly, there were uniformed Texas units in all of the major battles of the Texas Revolution from the first to the the siege of Bexar, the Alamo, Goliad (Coleto), and the final victory at San Jacinto. This new book by Bruce Marshall is a long overdue history of the uniforms of the Texas Revolution and the men who wore them. It will also reveal certain hitherto suppressed material from some who served, including the vast majority of the Texas officers, challenging the generally accepted historical version portraying the Texas commander, General Sam Houston, as a master strategist who, alone, deserved full credit for saving Texas.