In July of 2007, Christina and I departed our home in Central Texas—Killeen to be more precise—and headed to the San Jacinto battlefield. We traveled along I-35 and then took Hwy 71 out of Austin to Interstate 10. We drove through Houston and exited I-10 East to take the Lynchburg ferry across the San Jacinto River.

The present day ferry is operated free of charge by Harris county crossing the river near the point where Mr. Lynch operated his ferry back in the 1820’s. His ferry was later used by Texians fleeing the wrath of Santa Anna and his Mexican army—bent on crushing the rebellion in Texas.

Once across the San Jacinto River we proceeded but a short drive and reached the point on the road where the San Jacinto monument was to our left and the battleship USS Texas was to our right. We went first to battlefield.

The monument commemorating the battle which took place on the 21^st of April, 1836, stands 570 feet high. Park officials at the San Jacinto Battleground Park proclaim it as the tallest column in the world. The cornerstone for this monument was set in place on the 21^st of April, 1937; this date being exactly 101 years after the Army of Texas commanded by Sam Houston defeated the Mexican host led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The battle was brief, intense, and very bloody.

Most likely the soldiers led by Sam Houston were angry and desperate. They already knew if they were defeated, that Santa Anna was not taking prisoners. He had demonstrated his bloody policy at the Alamo and again at Goliad, not to mention several other skirmishes along the way to San Jacinto.

Almost all of those smaller battles, in addition to the better remembered annihilations at the Alamo and Goliad, unfolded very badly for the men and women of Texas. Up to the Battle of San Jacinto, defeat and destruction was almost everywhere the Texians had once dwelled. Numerous homes were burned to the ground by the advancing Mexican Army. General Sam Houston and his men turned all that around on an April day in 1836, at this location.

 Now more than seventy years after the construction of the monument began, Chris and I got to see it up close for the first time. The flags nearby were flown at half mast in honor of Lady Bird Johnson, who had recently departed from us. By reputation, she was a grand lady who had loved Texas.

Inscribed around the base of the monument is a brief description of events that led to the Battle of San Jacinto. Details of the battle are also recorded with words chiseled in stone.

In the base of the monument is a museum that covers much of Texas history to include the war for independence. An elevator is available to take tourists to the observation floor near the top of the column. Unfortunately for Chris and me, it was closed for maintenance on the day we visited. However, we did manage to find several items of interest in the gift shop on the first floor.

After touring in around the monument, Chris and I left the battlefield park and went across the road to where the battleship named in honor of Texas is berthed.

The USS Texas was modeled after the British Dreadnaught class of battleships that were being built at the end of the 19^th and early part of the 20^th centuries. According to brochures made available on location, the battleship Texas is the only battleship left in the world of those that had fought in both world wars. She is an impressive sight even in her old age.

For the price of a ticket, touring aboard the ship is allowed. Although the entire ship is not open to the public many locations below and above the main deck are accessible to those willing to climb up and down numerous stairways. In addition to the large guns, the ship bristles with smaller caliber guns used for defense against enemy aircraft during the ship’s wartime service. Quite a few of these gun mounts can still be turned around, and the gun tubes elevated or depressed by hand wheels. Chris tried her hand as a gunner as did many other tourists aboard with us. Fortunately, we were not fired back upon as many imaginary enemy aircraft were sent to a watery grave.

 The main guns of the Texas are now silent, but during World War II they were used to shell Normandy beach on D-Day. They also fired in support of operations in southern France. Once victory in Europe was achieved, the USS Texas and her gallant crew sailed to the Pacific and rendered service off the shores of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

After hostilities ended by virtue of victory over Imperial Japan, this great warship continued to serve her country. Many soldiers were returned home as the USS Texas now filled the role of a troop transport ship. She made three voyages between Pacific bases and California bringing a load of soldiers home on each stateside bound trip.

Before leaving the area where the Texas is berthed, I took a few more pictures of the old battleship; she is such an impressive sight and photographs well from numerous angles. We probably would have stayed a little longer, but by this time we were getting quite hungry. Climbing up and down the stairs on the Texas provided some good exercise. It may have even caused an increase in appetite.

We left the USS Texas in our rear view mirror and headed for Victoria, Texas. On the way Chris and I stopped at Fuddruckers in Lake Jackson, and had some great hamburgers. As it turned out, nearby was a Payless Shoe Store. Christina went shopping and although she did not find shoes she wanted on this visit, she did get a great deal on a purse. At least she stated it was a bargain as I paid for it.

We stayed the night in Victoria. This was the end of our first day on the road. When morning arrived, we departed Victoria and headed for Goliad.