Smith's men were successful at capturing twenty horses
and returned to San Antonio, aware of the strong military presence awaiting
them in Laredo. He credited "cool action under fire" to nineteen
year old Private Jack Hays as well as Sergeant N. M. Dawson, to whom
he turned over command of the company. Smith, stung by criticism by
President Houston for losing a horse herd a few weeks before the battle
as well as engaging the Mexican cavalry, thus jeopardizing the Republic
of Texas' tentative agreements of it's former enemy to the south, chose
to resign his commission at Fort Bend in Richmond where he died in November
of the next year. Telegraph and Texas Register had a different
opinion of Smith's Laredo fight stating that the Mexican military didn't
stand a chance "against even half their number of the sturdy backwoodsmen
of the west." His reputaiton remained intact and in 1876, Deaf
Smith County was created from Bexar Territory.
Marker Title: Benavides Brothers
Address: St. Augustin Plaza
City: Laredo
County: Webb
Year Marker Erected: 1976
Marker Location: On St. Augustin Plaza, east side of lawn.
Marker Text: Members of a prominent Laredo family, the three Benavides
brothers were the descendants of Tomas Sanchez, who founded the city
in 1755. Santos (1823-1891) and Refugio Benavides (b. 1824) and their
half-brother Cristobal (1839-1904) were best known for their service
in the Confederate army during the Civil War (1861-1865). Santos commanded
a regiment in the 33rd Texas Cavalry and rose to the rank of colonel,
the highest rank achieved by a Mexican-American in the Confederate
army. Both Refugio and Cristobal earned the rank of captain. Stationed
along the Texas-Mexican border, the brothers encountered both bandits
and Union forces. In May 1862, they defeated a large raiding party
led by Juan Cortina at Carrizo (now Zapata). In March 1864, although
their troops were badly outnumbered, they defended Laredo against
an army of Texas unionists. Their victory helped insure continuation
of the vital Confederate cotton trade between Texas and Mexico. The
Benavides brothers also distinguished themselves as political, commercial,
and social leaders in Laredo. Santos and Cristobal operated one of
the city's most prosperous mercantile companies. Santos also served
in the state legislature, 1879-1884. (1976)
Marker Title: Refugio Benavides
Address: Saunders St. in Catholic Cemetery
City: Laredo
County: Webb
Year Marker Erected: 1990
Marker Location: Catholic Cemetery, Saunders Street cemetery block
21 northeast section.
Marker Text: A native of Laredo, Jose Del Refugio Benavides was a
descendant of Tomas Sanchez, who founded the city in 1755. As a member
of one of Laredo's most celebrated families, he was instrumental in
the city's development during the 19th century. He was elected to
the office of alderman in 1850 and mayor in 1859. During the Civil
War Benavides and his brothers were active in defenses along the Texas-Mexico
border. Rising to the rank of Captain, Refugio Benavides commanded
a company in the 3rd Texas cavalry. His actions in defending the border
against invasions by union troops and Mexican raiders led by Juan
Cortina helped retain the valley's important role as a vital cotton-exporting
site for the Confederacy. In 1873, following Reconstruction, Refugio
Benavides was again elected mayor of Laredo and served three successive
terms. Among the accomplishments of his political career were improved
public schools, city sewage systems, and the revision of the city
charter. Married twice, Benavides was the father of six children.
He died in 1899 and was buried in the old Catholic cemetery. He was
reinterred here during World War II. (1990)
Col. Santos Benavides
Laredo Public Library
Marker Title: Santos Benavides
Address: Saunders Street, Catholic cemetery
City: Laredo
County: Webb
Year Marker Erected: 1995
Marker Location: Catholic Cemetery Block 8 (south central)
Marker Text: Santos Benavides, son of Jose Jesus and Marguerita Benavides
and great-great grandson of Laredo founder Tomas Sanchez, was born
in Laredo on November 1, 1823. He married Augustina Villareal in 1842.
Benavides, appointed procurador (administrative agent) of Laredo in
1843, openly cooperated with the forces of Mirabeau B. Lamar which
occupied Laredo during the Mexican War (1846-48) in an effort to pacify
the region. He was elected mayor of Laredo in 1856 and 1857 and chief
justice of Webb County in 1859. During the Civil War Benavides raised
a company of cavalry at Laredo which defeated Juan Cortina in the
Battle of Carrizo in 1861. He became a colonel in command of his own
regiment known as Benavides' Regiment. On March 19, 1864, his regiment
successfully defended Laredo with only 42 men against a Union force
of more than 200 men. During the late 1860s and 1870' Benavides engaged
in mercantile and ranching activities with his brother Cristobal.
He served in the Texas Legislature during the 1880s and in 1884 was
appointed Texas Commissioner to the world's Cotton Exposition. Benavides
helped found the Guarache party, a faction of Laredo's Democratic
Party. He died in Laredo on November 9, 1891. Sesquicentennial of
Texas Statehood 1845-1995
Marker Title: Fort McIntosh
Address: Washington Street
City: Laredo
County: Webb
Year Marker Erected: 1974
Marker Location: Entrance to Laredo College, Washington Street entrance.
Marker Text: Established March 3, 1849, by troops of the 1st U.S.
infantry from ringgold barracks under command of Lt. E. L. Viele.
The star-shaped earthen fortress built on a bluff overlooking the
Rio Grande (1/2 mile northwest), was first called Camp Crawford, in
honor of Secretary of War George W. Crawford. On January 7, 1850,
the name was changed to Fort McIntosh for Lt. Col. James S. McIntosh,
who died Sept. 26, 1847, of wounds received two weeks earlier in the
Mexican War Battle of Molino Del Rey. During the 1850s, Fort McIntosh
served as a vital link in the defense system along the Rio Grande
frontier. The post was abandoned in March 1859, reoccupied in January
1860, and abandoned again in April 1861, when the U.S. Army left Texas
after secession. Soon after the Civil War, Fort McIntosh was reoccupied
and moved to this location in 1869. Until the mid-1880s, soldiers
were involved in escort duty and scouting for raiding Indians and
bandits on both sides of the Rio Grande. After the turn of the century,
the Fort McIntosh garrison was deployed along the border to prevent
incursions by Mexican revolutionaries, and the post served as a training
camp for soldiers who fought in both world wars. Fort McIntosh was
discontinued as an army post on June 9, 1947, after 98 years of service.
(1974)
Marker Title: Fort McIntosh Barracks
Address: Washington Street
City: Laredo
County: Webb
Year Marker Erected: 1974
Marker Location: On administration building
Marker Text: The last remaining of three brick barracks constructed
in 1880 by the U.S. Army to quarter troops engaged in scouting and
escort duty along the Rio Grande. The structure originally had four
large rooms, divided by a central stairway. The exterior has not been
altered. Soldiers who occupied the building served in the Spanish-American
War and both world wars. Ownership of Fort McIntosh was transferred
to Laredo Junior College in 1947. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
- 1962
Marker Title: Republic of the Rio Grande
Address: St. Augustin Square
City: Laredo
County: Webb
Year Marker Erected: 1976
Marker Location: East side St. Augustine Sq. on lawn
Marker Text: In January 1840 Senor Antonio Canales and other Federalists
met near Guerrero to found the Republic of the Rio Grande. Canales
and friends were loyal to the Mexican constitution of 1824, which
had been set aside by Centralists in Mexico City. The Republic was
to govern northern Mexico and the part of Texas south of the Nueces.
Jesus Cardenas was president; Francisco Vidaurri y Villasenor, vice
president; and Juan Francisco Farias, secretary. The capitol was established
at 1000 Zaragoza Street, on this plaza in Laredo. Centralist General
Manuel Arista brought an army here to crush the Republic. In March
he took Laredo without a fight; then after a battle at Morelos, he
captured and killed Federalist leader Antonio Zapata. Mexican and
Anglo-Texan Federalists counterattacked, and recaptured Laredo and
several other towns; but confronted by a large Centralist force at
Saltillo, the Anglo-Texans found themselves and some Carrizo Indians
making a lone stand. Many comrades had fled. After a bloody battle,
the Indians and Texans escaped to the north of the Rio Grande. Canales,
deserted by his army, surrendered to Arista near Camargo, and in a
few days Cardenas gave up Laredo. The Republic of the Rio Grande had
lasted 283 days. (1976, 1994)
Museum Name: Republic of the Rio Grande Museum
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 446
Street Address: 1005 Zaragoza Street
City: Laredo
Zip Code: 78042
Area Code: 210
Phone: 727-3480
County: Webb
Marker Title: Webb County
City: Laredo
County: Webb
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: East side old Santa Maria Road at Del Mar and I35
interchange
Marker Text: Formed from Nueces county; created January 28, 1848,
organized March 16, 1848. Named in honor of James Webb, 1792 - 1856,
attorney general and secretary of state of the Republic of Texas 1838-1841.
Laredo, the county seat founded in 1755 by Tomas Sanchez.
