Texas Day by Day
Find out what happened today in Texas history.
One-time port of Saluria was prominent in the Civil War
162 years ago today on April 25th, 1861
On this day in 1861, 500 Federal troops stranded at the port of Saluria in Calhoun County were forced to surrender to Confederate colonel Earl Van Dorn. Saluria, at the eastern end of Matagorda Island, was founded in the 1840s and was a thriving port and ranching center in the 1850s. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Federal troops flocked to the coast, hoping to find transport to the North. Van Dorn intercepted 500 of them at Saluria. After being paroled, they were allowed to sail for New York. During the federal blockade of 1862, when invasion seemed imminent, Saluria inhabitants fled to the mainland. Confederate troops stationed at nearby Fort Esperanza later burned the town, dismantled the lighthouse, and drove most of the cattle off the island. Confederate artillerymen defended the fort until November 29, 1863, when they retreated to the mainland. In June 1864 Federal troops left Fort Esperanza. Afterward, citizens began moving back to the island. What finally destroyed Saluria was hurricanes, in 1875 and 1886. By 1904 a rural school with one teacher and seven students was the only vestige of the community. The more famous nearby port of Indianola was similarly destroyed.
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U.S. recognizes Republic of Texas claims to disputed territory
185 years ago today on April 25th, 1838
On this day in 1838, the United States and the Republic of Texas signed the Convention of Limits, which recognized Texas claims to disputed territory in Red River County (the present Bowie, Red River, Franklin, Titus, Morris, and Cass counties). The agreement also set the west bank of the Sabine River as the eastern boundary of Texas. However, tension continued between the two countries regarding Indian depredations along the republic's northern border. U.S. chargé d'affaires Alcée La Branche protested Texas army crossings of the border in pursuit of Indians. In the twentieth century the exact location of the Texas-Louisiana border became the subject of a dispute between the two states.
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Black Seminole scouts rescue commander from Comanches
148 years ago today on April 25th, 1875
On this day in 1875, three Black Seminole scouts earned the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action. Pompey Factor, Isaac Payne, and John Ward, along with their commander, Lt. John Lapham Bullis of the Twenty-fourth United States Infantry, were pursuing a band of twenty-five or thirty Comanche Indians near Langtry. The scouts dismounted, crept up on the Indians, and opened fire. They killed three and wounded another before withdrawing to their horses because they were in danger of being surrounded. Bullis was unable to mount because his horse had broken away. The three scouts turned back into the face of hostile Indian fire, mounted Bullis behind them, and alternately carried him to safety.
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From Cabeza de Vaca's ship-wreck in 1528 through the Texas Revolution to present day—almost 500 years of recorded history—a myriad of significant events in Texas history have occurred. These events are arranged by day of the year to allow the reader to see into the past on any specific day.
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Recent & Upcoming Anniversaries
The following entries have anniversaries that occurred this month or will occur in the next 2 month(s)
470th Anniversary
- Spanish treasure ships wrecked on Padre Island 4 days from now
335th Anniversary
- Spanish explorer names the Nueces 3 weeks ago
- Coahuila governor discovers and names Guadalupe River 1 week ago
- Spanish explorer finds defunct French fort 3 days ago
325th Anniversary
- San Juan Bautista Mission founded 1 month 4 weeks from now
315th Anniversary
245th Anniversary
- American Revolution reaches Texas 1 month 3 weeks from now
205th Anniversary
- Provisional government declares Texas independence 1 month 4 weeks from now
- Early Texas journalist heralds Long expedition 1 month 1 week from now
200th Anniversary
- Austin Colony settlers clash with Karankawas 1 month 3 weeks from now
195th Anniversary
- Future Alamo defender and survivor elope 4 weeks from now
- Irish trader takes citizenship oath 3 weeks from now
185th Anniversary
- Republic of Texas defeats revolutionary plotters in key action 3 weeks from now
- "Village Blacksmith of Cumby" born in Tennessee 1 month 5 days from now
180th Anniversary
- Pioneer Texas doctor born in Alabama 3 weeks from now
- Historic steamer arrives in Texas 1 week from now
175th Anniversary
- Major Neighbors returns to San Antonio after leading historic western surveying expedition 1 month 1 week from now
- German furniture artist arrives in Texas 3 weeks from now
170th Anniversary
- War Department orders surveys for Indian reservations 1 day from now
- Texas Germans declare slavery to be evil 2 weeks from now
- Prairie chicken namesake born in England 3 days from now
160th Anniversary
- General Taylor foils Union campaign in Louisiana 2 weeks ago
- Partisan leader promoted 1 month 6 days from now
- Former Texan rallies Union troops, awarded Medal of Honor 1 week from now
- Hood's Texas Brigade rallies around General Lee 1 week from now
- Civil War skirmish at Las Rusias 2 months 23 hours from now
155th Anniversary
- Alleged participants in mob killing go on trial 4 weeks from now
- High court rules that Texas can sue in federal courts despite secession 1 week ago
150th Anniversary
- Governor Coke appoints commander of Frontier Battalion 1 week from now
- First letter from "Pidge" appears in Austin paper 1 day from now
- Indian raiders strike again at Adobe Walls 2 months 2 days from now
- Feudists intensify conflict by lynching 1 month 3 weeks from now
145th Anniversary
- Northeast Texas community gets a post office 1 month 3 weeks from now
- First county in Panhandle organized 1 week ago
135th Anniversary
- Texas booster fair opens in Fort Worth 1 month 4 days from now
130th Anniversary
- Water-well contractor accidentally discovers first major Texas oilfield 1 month 2 weeks from now
125th Anniversary
- Water rises disastrously as rain gluts the Brazos rivershed 1 month 3 weeks from now
120th Anniversary
- West Texas Landscape painter born in Milford 1 week ago
105th Anniversary
- Texas Senate ratifies women's right to vote 2 months 3 days from now
- Texas congressman calls Mexican president a "spineless cactus" 1 month 3 weeks from now
100th Anniversary
- Congress establishes United States Border Patrol 1 month 3 days from now
- West Texas Historical Association organized in Abilene 6 days ago
- Texas baritone makes professional debut in New York 5 days ago
90th Anniversary
- Murderers and bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde gunned down in Louisiana 4 weeks from now
85th Anniversary
- UT observatory dedicated in Davis Mountains 1 week from now
- Soil Conservation Board established 1 month 4 days from now
- Refugee conductor gives "demonstration concert" in San Antonio 1 month 2 weeks from now
80th Anniversary
- U.S. Supreme Court dooms white primary 3 weeks ago
- Rudder's Rangers fight with distinction on Normandy beaches 1 month 1 week from now
75th Anniversary
- Residents of homestead community petition for incorporation 2 months 4 days from now
60th Anniversary
- Construction begins at Toledo Bend Reservoir 2 weeks from now
55th Anniversary
- Houston surgeon implants first artificial heart 3 weeks ago
- New park opens to public 1 month 6 days from now
- Famous horse wins at Aqueduct on the eve of his trainer's death 3 weeks ago
- Last passenger train leaves Dallas terminal 1 month 5 days from now
- New airport opens in Houston 1 month 1 week from now
- El Paso County gives rock art site to state 1 month 2 weeks from now
45th Anniversary
- Dallas designates Federal Reserve Bank a historic landmark 2 weeks from now
- Novelist dies after fistfight 1 month 1 week from now
- Orange Show opens to the public 2 weeks from now
40th Anniversary
- Landmark public education suit filed 4 weeks from now
- Legendary jazz pianist dies 2 days ago
25th Anniversary
- Spurs are champions! 2 months 23 hours from now