Background (Early Life and Family Connections
Erastus Smith was born in Dutchess County, New York in 1789. He earned his nickname “Deaf” because of a childhood illness that caused him to have impaired hearing. When he was eleven or twelve his family moved to Mississippi. His first visit to Texas was very brief and took place in 1817.
Immigration to Texas
Later on in 1821 he returned to Texas and lived in San Antonio. While he was in Texas in 1822 he married a Mexican widow name Guadalupe Ruiz Duran, and together they had four daughters. He was quick to learn the Spanish language and cultures, and became a bilingual and bicultural citizen of Mexico. In 1825 he settled land with James Kerr in Green DeWitt’s colony. Do to boundary disputes with De Leon’s colony and Indian attacks, the colony broke up in July 1826.
Motivation to Rebel
Erastus Smith, like many other Texans, was frustrated with the Mexican government because the Texans had no say in the government at all. The Mexican government went back and forth between being a federalist government to being a centralist government. Even when the government was federalist, the Texans had little say in what happened because Texas was combined with Coahuila that made all of the decisions. The colonists liked it even less when there was a centalist leader, because that leader would get rid of the congress and constitution, also the Texans were very angry about the laws of April 6. They believed that these laws were unfair. One of the first outbreaks was at Anahuac, when William B. Travis refused to pay taxes on goods imported from America. Travis was arrested and the rest of his colony began firing on the Mexican soldiers. Many of these outbreaks were shut down by the empresarios, but eventually the empresarios fought too. The Texans were motivated to rebel because of unfair laws and limited power. Santa Anna was the last centralist leader and because he didn’t abide by the Mexican Constitution of 1824, the Texans fought back.
Involvement in the Revolution
Among these rebels was Erastus Deaf Smith. He joined Stephen F. Austin’s army after a sentry from Mexico refused to let him visit his family in San Antonio. His loyalties were divided all throughout the revolution, but this is what pushed him over the edge. When he was in Austin’s army he proved himself valuable as a soldier, scout, and spy. He took part in the battle of Concepcion, and he was the one who found the Mexican supply train that led to the Grass Fight. He also reported that the Mexican calvary was coming which led to Burleson ordering for his troops to cut them off. The Siege of Bexar was one of the first major battles in the Texan revolution. Smith was a part of this and he was the one who led Col. Francis Johnson’s men into town. He was a messenger for William B Travis and was the one to carry his letter from the Alamo. During the battle of San Jacinto he was a scout for Sam Houston, while a lot of the men fled when they saw the Mexican soldiers, Smith was one of the men who stayed. He remained brave throughout this battle, and when Houston saw that the Mexicans would have to cross Vince’s bridge, he ordered Smith to destroy it. Smith carried out these orders just in time, if he hadn’t who knows where we would be now. He then proceeded to carry Santa Anna’s order for his army to retreat. Smith’s achievements are not as well known as any other heros, but that does not make them any less important than theirs. Erastus Smith wasn’t just a soldier, he wasn’t just a scout, spy, and messenger. He was a hero.
Conclusion – What Makes This Person a Hero/Heroine?
Although Smith said very little, he was firm in his beliefs and was willing to fight for them. He stayed strong in what he believed in even in the hardest of times. As Sam Houston wrote to Anna Raguet, “My friend Deaf Smith, and my stay in darkest hour, is no more. A man, more brave, and honest never,lived. His soul is with God, but his fame and his family, must command the care of his country.” Smith was a very brave man. His role in the revolution may not be well know, but who knows where we would be today if it weren’t for him. If Erastus Deaf Smith is not a hero, I don’t know who is.
