Many former slaves fight with the Cherokee…

Many former slaves fight with the Cherokee against the Texan army, led by Sam Houston, that drives the tribe from East Texas in 1838.

Beginning as early as late 1835, Nacogdoches alcalde Vicente Córdova had covertly started to plan and organize local resistance, anticipating Texas would declare independence from Mexico.

In the late spring of 1838, word arrived from several sources that Mexico was seeking an arrangement with the Cherokee that would give them title to their land in exchange for assistance in joining a war of extermination against the Texians.

Nacogdochians looking for a stolen horse find a camp of around one hundred armed Tejanos.

Rather than allow the local militia to act, President Sam Houston (who is in Nacogdoches at this time) prohibits both sides from assembly or carrying weapons.

Córdova and eighteen other leaders of the revolt issue a proclamation with a number of demands to be met, before the surrender of their arms.

After being joined by about three hundred native warriors, they move toward the Cherokee settlements.

Despite Houston's orders that he should not cross the Angelina River to interfere, Thomas J. Rusk, who is at this time Nacogdoches County's Representative in the Texas Congress, sends a party of one hundred and fifty men under Major Henry Augustine on to confront them.