Mustanger and Filibuster Killed

[Craig Tx]

From the Texas State Historical Association

Famed mustanger and filibuster killed

On this day in 1801, Philip Nolan, mustanger and filibuster, died at the hands of Mexican troops.

It was not his first visit to Texas to acquire horses. He was also known to be carrying on illegal trade with the Indians. He left Natchez at the head of a body of well-armed men in October 1800 and made his way to the area north of Nacogdoches.

He then proceeded to a now-unknown Central Texas site, where he erected a small fortification, including some corrals, and began capturing mustangs.

He was killed at his fort on March 21, 1801, by troops from Nacogdoches sent out to intercept him. His men, captured and tried, spent years in prison for their part in Nolan's final expedition, the precise nature of which has not been satisfactorily explained.


Craig

[Uncle Russ]

Craig, ol' bud, I definitely need to know more on this.... I've tried Google with no luck, and for whatever the reason, I can no longer  pull up the Texas Historical Society.....  

Ya gotta link, or sumpin?

Uncle Russ...

[Craig Tx]

Unca Russ,

Here's the link to the story.

http://www.tshaonline.org/daybyday/03-21-001.html

Craig

[Uncle Russ]

Thanks Craig!

The story certainly makes one wonder if the trips to the land of the Cherokee were strictly for profit, or was there a underlying political cause that goes untold?

It also appears that "Nolan, therefore, has attained a sort of symbolic status to Texans that is not supported by the historical record....." There is a lot that is not said, and since there is no record anything said now would be strictly speculation.          

Kinda like, would the real Philip Nolan please stand up?

Have you got any thoughts on this?
I have never heard the story before, but I find it to be good reading.
Many many such stories go untold and are quickly forgotten by time. Seems this one has hung in long enough to catch the eye of the modern day historian.

Thanks for sharing.

Uncle Russ...

[Craig Tx]

Unfortunately, I've found very little on Nolan to this point.

Mostly just footnote type mentions without much substance.

I'll need to do a little more looking into it.  

There is precious little about activities in Spanish (As opposed to Mexican) Texas.  Usually there are only brief mention of any of the very early Anglos.  I suspect that's because a vast majority of them were filibusters.

Craig

[Craig Tx]

I've found some other tidbits.

http://www.texasescapes.com/AllThingsHi ... nAM703.htm

http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/filibusters.htm

And Wikipedia for what it's worth...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Nolan

There's also an out of print book:

Philip Nolan and Texas Expeditions to the Unknown Land, 1791-1801 , the least expensive of which I've seen is $90.00.  

Craig