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| '''Herman Ehrenberg''' (1816 or 1818 - October 9, 1866) is the ] of ]. A native of Germany, Ehrenberg joined the military volunteer unit the ] and fought against Mexico in the ]. He was one of few survivors of the ]. His memoirs were published. | '''Herman Ehrenberg''' (1816 or 1818 - October 9, 1866) is the ] of ]. A native of Germany, Ehrenberg joined the military volunteer unit the ] and fought against Mexico in the ]. He was one of few survivors of the ]. His memoirs of the Revolution were published in Germany in the 1840s and translated into English in the 20th century. | ||
| Ehrenberg created the first map of the ]. | |||
| ==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
| Line 11: | Line 13: | ||
| The Greys were divided into two companies. Ehrenberg was assigned to one led by Captain Thomas H. Breece. His group took a steamboat up the river to ], where they prepared to enter ]. The United States was officially neutral in the conflict, and President ] had publicly ordered that no armed men be allowed to cross the border. The Greys were cautious and crossed without incident.<ref name=brands293>Brands, p. 293.</ref> | The Greys were divided into two companies. Ehrenberg was assigned to one led by Captain Thomas H. Breece. His group took a steamboat up the river to ], where they prepared to enter ]. The United States was officially neutral in the conflict, and President ] had publicly ordered that no armed men be allowed to cross the border. The Greys were cautious and crossed without incident.<ref name=brands293>Brands, p. 293.</ref> | ||
| ===Siege of Bexar=== | ===Siege of Bexar=== | ||
| The Greys joined the ] outside San Antonio de Bexar (now ]). The Texians had laid ], trapping Mexican General ] and his troops. On December 5, the Texians attacked.<ref name=brands297>Brands, p. 297.</ref> Ehrenberg's company followed the ] into town and made their way to the central square.<ref name=brands298>Brands, p. 298.</ref> As they neared the square, Mexican soldiers opened fire. Ehrenberg and several others entered a stone guardhouse which soon bore the brunt of fire from Mexican artillery.<ref>Brands, p. 299.</ref> | The Greys joined the ] outside San Antonio de Bexar (now ]). The Texians had laid ], trapping Mexican General ] and his troops. On December 5, the Texians attacked.<ref name=brands297>Brands, p. 297.</ref> Ehrenberg's company followed the ] into town and made their way to the central square.<ref name=brands298>Brands, p. 298.</ref> As they neared the square, Mexican soldiers opened fire. Ehrenberg and several others entered a stone guardhouse which soon bore the brunt of fire from Mexican artillery.<ref name=brands299>Brands, p. 299.</ref> | ||
| Unwilling to return to the streets, where there was no cover, Texians began fighting from house to house. Ehrenberg's small group exchanged fire with forces on the other side of the street. One of Ehrenberg's companions, was seriously wounded one before they realized that neither group contained Mexican soldiers. Determined to join forces again, the men dug a trench to allow for safe passage from house to the other.<ref name=brands299/> Fighting continued for three days as the Texians consolidated their positions and worked their way towards the center of town.<ref name=brands303>Brands, p. 303.</ref> Cos surrendered on December 11 and led his troops back to the Mexican interior. | Unwilling to return to the streets, where there was no cover, Texians began fighting from house to house. Ehrenberg's small group exchanged fire with forces on the other side of the street. One of Ehrenberg's companions, was seriously wounded one before they realized that neither group contained Mexican soldiers. Determined to join forces again, the men dug a trench to allow for safe passage from house to the other.<ref name=brands299/> Fighting continued for three days as the Texians consolidated their positions and worked their way towards the center of town.<ref name=brands303>Brands, p. 303.</ref> Cos surrendered on December 11 and led his troops back to the Mexican interior. | ||
| ==Matamoros Expedition== | ===Matamoros Expedition=== | ||
| Ehrenberg was assigned to the Texian garrison at the ].<ref name=ornish/> No Mexican troops remained in Texas, and many members of the garrison became bored. ] and ] were lobbying the ] to authorize an invasion of the Mexican interior. Many of the Greys, including Ehrenberg, left the Alamo to join the ].<ref name=brands316through18>Brands, pp. 316–318.</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | Ehrenberg was |
||
| The expedition was soon the subject of much political turmoil. The governing council and the interim governor disagreed on who should lead the troops and the governor soon dismissed the council, which impeached the governor. It was unclear who was in charge of the expedition - Grant, Johnson, or Colonel ].<ref name=brands316through18/> ], who had originally been named head of the army, and who may had been relieved of duty by the council, joined the troops near ]. There he gave an impassioned speech exhorting the soldiers to remain to defend Texas from the Mexican army rumored to be returning to the province.<ref name=Brands320>Brands, p. 320.</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | ===Battle of Coleto=== | ||
| Most of the troops, including Ehrenberg, heeded Houston's plea and remained in Goliad under Fannin, while Johnson and Grant took several dozen troops to continue preparing for a potential invasion.<ref name=ornish/> The Mexican Army of Operations crossed into Texas in February 1836. President ] led one group of troops through the center of the province towards Bexar. General ] led a second group up the coast toward Goliad. Urrea's ] was victorious over Grant and Johnson's small groups of troops. | |||
| On March 19, Fannin ordered a retreat from Goliad. They were confronted by Urrea's troops that evening, and the ] commenced. On March 20, Fannin began negotiations for surrender.<ref>Brands, pp. 390–395</ref> This almost caused a mutiny, as the soldiers had heard rumors that Mexican troops had killed Texian troops who attempted to surrender after the ] several weeks previously and were worried that they would meet the same fate.<ref name=brands400>Brands, p. 400.</ref> | |||
| None of the Mexican officers spoke English, and none of the Texians spoke fluent Spanish. When it was discovered that Mexican Captain Juan Jose Holzinger spoke German, Ehrenberg was asked to conduct the parley on behalf of the Texians. Fannin conceded all arms, while Urrea agreed to expel the men from Texas provided they all promise not to take up arms against the present government of Mexico. Ehrenberg later admitted this was an easy promise to make, as no one expected the same government to be in power the following year.<ref name=brands391>Brands, p. 391.</ref> As a German citizen, Ehrenberg was invited to join the Mexican Army with no consequences, but he declined.<ref name=ornish/> | |||
| The Texians were taken to their own garrison, ], and imprisoned. Although Urrea left orders for the Mexican commander there to treat the prisoners well, these were countermanded by Santa Anna, who ordered the execution of all prisoners.<ref name=brands399>Brands, p. 399.</ref> A week later, the Texians were divided into groups and marched from the barracks. Ehrenberg was in a group marched towards the San Antonio River. Mexican soldiers opened fire at point-blank range.<ref name=brands406>Brands, p. 406.</ref> Ehrenberg was not wounded in the first volley. In the confusion, he fell to the ground and crawled towards the river. He suffered a small wound from a sword before jumping off the banks to the river 30–40 feet below.<ref>Brands, pp. 404–407.</ref> According to Ehrenberg, after he reached the safety of the opposite bank, he "looked back at the place where my friends lay bleeding to death. The enemy was still shooting and yelling, and it was with a sorrowful heart that I listened to these shouts of triumph which in my fancy were mingled with the groans of pain of my dying friends."<ref>Brands, p. 407.</ref> Ehrenberg was one of only a handful of men to survive the ].<ref name=brands406>Brands, p. 406.</ref> | |||
| Ehrenberg wandered the countryside for the next few days. Most settlers had already fled, and the Texian army was essentially decimated. With few options on how to proceed, Ehrenberg approached Urrea and claimed to be a Prussian traveler who neded protection. Urrea allowed Ehrenberg to travel with him for the next few weeks. After Texian troops defeated Santa Anna at the ] on April 21, Ehrenberg left Urrea. He was discharged from the Texian Army on June 2, 1836.<ref name=ornish/> | |||
| ⚫ | ==Battle of Coleto== | ||
| Few months later, Ehrenberg transferred to the Mobile Greys and served under Colonel ], who was in commander in ]. Ehrenberg and his company of Fannin surrendered to Mexican General ] following the March 19-20, 1836. Ehrenberg and his forces were taken prisoners and send them to confinement in Presidio La Bahia. Few days later, General Jose de Urrea had to ask Mexican President ] to clemency for the prisoners but Santa Anna rejected Urrea's recommendation. Mexican Colonel Jose Nicolas de la Portilla, who replaced Urrea's position, had received word from Santa Anna to execute prisoners. | |||
| ==1836–1846== | |||
| ==Goliad Survivor and Written account== | |||
| Ehrenberg returned to Germany and enrolled at ]. In the early 1840s he worked at ], teaching English. He wrote a memoir of his experiences in the Texas Revolution, published in 1843 as ''Texas un Seine Revolution''. It was reprinted in 1844 as ''Der Freiheitskampf in Texas im Jahre 1836'' and in 1845 as ''Fahrten und Schicksale eines Deutschen in Texas]].<ref name=ornish/> | |||
| One survivor of the massacre, a young ] named H. von Ehrenberg, wrote an account of the murders on December 3, 1853. He said the Texian prisoners and American volunteers numbered about 400, while the Mexican captors totalled 700, in addition to cavalry and smaller groups of Mexican soldiers he saw gathered on the prairie. He described the slaughter: | |||
| He returned to the United States in 1844,<ref name=ornish/> and journeyed to ] to join a group traveling to ].<ref name=cady>Cady, p. 64.</ref> In May 1845 he sailed from Oregon to ], where he was drew a map of Honolulu. He sailed to Tahiti and several other Polynesian idlands.<ref name=ornish/> | |||
| {{quote|<p>"Kneel down!" Now burst in harsh accents from the lips of the Mexican commander. No one stirred. Few of us understood the order, and those who did would not obey. The Mexican soldiers who stood at about three paces from us, leveled their muskets at our breasts. Even then we could hardly believe that they meant to shoot us, for if we had we should assuredly have rushed forward in our desperation, and weaponless though we were, some of our murderers would have met their death at our hands.</p> | |||
| ==Mexican-American War== | |||
| <p>The sound of a second volley, from a different direction than the first just then reached our ears, and was followed by a confused cry, as if those at whom it had been aimed, had not all immediately been killed. A thick cloud of smoke was wreathing toward the San Antonio River. The blood of my lieutenant was on my clothes, and around me lay my friends convulsed in their last agony. I saw nothing more. Unhurt myself, I sprang up and, concealed by the thick smoke, fled along the hedge in the direction of the river, the noise of the water for my guide.</p> | |||
| In 1846, Ehrenberg sailed to California. The ] had already begun, and Ehrenberg joined ]'s "attempt to free California from Mexican rule".<ref name=cady/> | |||
| ⚫ | ==Arizona== | ||
| <p>On I went, the river rolled at my feet, the shouting and yelling behind. "Texas forever!" And without a moment's hesitation, I plunged into the water. The bullets whistled round me as I swam slowly and wearily to the other side, but none wounded me. Whilst these horrible scenes were occurring on the prairies, Col. Fannin and his wounded companions were shot and bayoneted at Goliad, only Dr. Shackleford and a few hospital aids having their lives spared, in order that they might attend the wounded Mexicans.</p>}} | |||
| In the early 1850s, Ehrenberg created the first map of the ].<ref name=ornish/> He then moved to Arizona, where in 1856 he partnered with ] to form the Sonoro Exploring and Mining Company.<ref name=ornish/> From 1863 through 1866, Ehrenberg served as Indian Agent for the Mojave people at the ].<ref name=ornish/> | |||
| Ehrenberg contributed to '']'', the '']'', and '']''.<ref name=ornish/> | |||
| Another written account can be found in ''Early Times in Texas'' (serial form, 1868–71; book, 1892) by ]. | |||
| ⚫ | Ehrenberg was murdered on October 9, 1866 in ].<ref name=ornish/> | ||
| == Freedom, Education and Adventures == | |||
| After Santa Anna's surrender at San Jacinto, Ehrenberg reached freedom and the Texas army discharged him in 1836. He returned to Saxony and studied mining at ]. He taught English at the ] briefly. In 1844, He returned to the United States and traveled from ] to ] with a fur-trapping party and then in May 1845 sailed to ], where he did a survey of the streets and drew a map of ]. He also visited a number of Polynesian islands, including ]. Ehrenberg then came to ] in 1846 and participated in the ]. He then helped rescue Americans held captive in ] during the ]. He then took part in the ]. | |||
| ==Legacy== | |||
| ⚫ | == |
||
| ] called Ehrenberg "one of the greatest surveyors and map makers ever to visit the Western United States".<ref name=ornishq>quoted in Ornish, ''Handbook of Texas''.</ref> ] includes a summit named Ehrenberg Peak, and the town of Mineral City, Arizona was renamed ] after his death.<ref name=ornish/> | |||
| Herman Ehrenberg traveled to the ] in 1854 and made the first map of the purchase. In 1855 he surveyed and helped incorporate the town of ], ]. In 1856, Ehrenberg with ], established the headquarters of the Sonora Exploring and Mining Company at ], and was appointed its surveyor and mining engineer. Few years later, he moved to ], ]. In 1863, his friend Poston, now Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Arizona Territory made him the Indian agent for the ] on the ] from 1863 to 1866. On October 9, 1866, while traveling on the ], Ehrenberg was murdered by robbers, at the ].<ref></ref> | |||
| His book on the Texas Revolution was translated into English in 1925. Ten years later is was translated again and edited into a book for children named ''With Milam and Fannin: Adventures of a German Boy in Texas' Revolution''.<ref name=ornish/> | |||
| ==Town== | |||
| ], formerly Mineral City, is named for Ehrenberg. | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 19:04, 10 October 2011
Herman Ehrenberg (1816 or 1818 - October 9, 1866) is the namesake of Ehrenberg, Arizona. A native of Germany, Ehrenberg joined the military volunteer unit the New Orleans Greys and fought against Mexico in the Texas Revolution. He was one of few survivors of the Goliad Massacre. His memoirs of the Revolution were published in Germany in the 1840s and translated into English in the 20th century.
Ehrenberg created the first map of the Gadsden Purchase.
Early life
Ehrenberg's birthdate and parentage is the subject of some discussion. His biographer Natalie Ornish suggests that he is the Hermann Vollrath Ehrenberg whose birth on October 17, 1816 in Steuden, Prussia was recorded in a local Lutheran Church. According to Ornish, other historians have suggested the Ehrenberg was Jewish, but the Lutheran birth registration calls that theory into question. Ornish gives two possibilities for Ehrenberg's parents: local couple Johann and Sophie Ehrenberg or William von Ehrenberg, an official at the royal court of Frederick William III. The latter theory is supported by historian H.W. Brands.
In the early 1830s, Ehrenberg attended the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, where he became involved in protests against the government. According to Brands, "Ehrenberg seems to have been comparatively unimportant or particularly clever, for he eluded the Prussian police" who were actively searching for protest leaders. Ehrenberg left Prussia in 1834 to move to the United States. He spent a year in New York City and then travelled to New Orleans.
Texas Revolution
Ehrenberg arrived in New Orleans in October 1835. The city was abuzz with news of the newly declared Texas Revolution. All of the local papers and many of the residents supported the actions of the American settlers in Texas against the government of Mexico. On October 11, Adolphus Sterne organized a rally in support of the Texians. Ehrenberg attended the rally, which collected over $10,000 for the volunteer troops. The next day, he enlisted in the volunteer militia company that Sterne was organizing. The group became known as the New Orleans Greys for the color of the uniformat that they wore.
The Greys were divided into two companies. Ehrenberg was assigned to one led by Captain Thomas H. Breece. His group took a steamboat up the river to Natchitoches, Louisiana, where they prepared to enter Mexican Texas. The United States was officially neutral in the conflict, and President Andrew Jackson had publicly ordered that no armed men be allowed to cross the border. The Greys were cautious and crossed without incident.
Siege of Bexar
The Greys joined the Texian Army outside San Antonio de Bexar (now San Antonio, Texas). The Texians had laid siege to the city, trapping Mexican General Martin Perfecto de Cos and his troops. On December 5, the Texians attacked. Ehrenberg's company followed the San Antonio River into town and made their way to the central square. As they neared the square, Mexican soldiers opened fire. Ehrenberg and several others entered a stone guardhouse which soon bore the brunt of fire from Mexican artillery.
Unwilling to return to the streets, where there was no cover, Texians began fighting from house to house. Ehrenberg's small group exchanged fire with forces on the other side of the street. One of Ehrenberg's companions, was seriously wounded one before they realized that neither group contained Mexican soldiers. Determined to join forces again, the men dug a trench to allow for safe passage from house to the other. Fighting continued for three days as the Texians consolidated their positions and worked their way towards the center of town. Cos surrendered on December 11 and led his troops back to the Mexican interior.
Matamoros Expedition
Ehrenberg was assigned to the Texian garrison at the Alamo Mission. No Mexican troops remained in Texas, and many members of the garrison became bored. James Grant and Frank W. Johnson were lobbying the provisional government to authorize an invasion of the Mexican interior. Many of the Greys, including Ehrenberg, left the Alamo to join the Matamoros Expedition.
The expedition was soon the subject of much political turmoil. The governing council and the interim governor disagreed on who should lead the troops and the governor soon dismissed the council, which impeached the governor. It was unclear who was in charge of the expedition - Grant, Johnson, or Colonel James W. Fannin. Sam Houston, who had originally been named head of the army, and who may had been relieved of duty by the council, joined the troops near Goliad. There he gave an impassioned speech exhorting the soldiers to remain to defend Texas from the Mexican army rumored to be returning to the province.
Battle of Coleto
Most of the troops, including Ehrenberg, heeded Houston's plea and remained in Goliad under Fannin, while Johnson and Grant took several dozen troops to continue preparing for a potential invasion. The Mexican Army of Operations crossed into Texas in February 1836. President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led one group of troops through the center of the province towards Bexar. General Jose de Urrea led a second group up the coast toward Goliad. Urrea's Goliad Campaign was victorious over Grant and Johnson's small groups of troops.
On March 19, Fannin ordered a retreat from Goliad. They were confronted by Urrea's troops that evening, and the Battle of Coleto commenced. On March 20, Fannin began negotiations for surrender. This almost caused a mutiny, as the soldiers had heard rumors that Mexican troops had killed Texian troops who attempted to surrender after the Battle of the Alamo several weeks previously and were worried that they would meet the same fate.
None of the Mexican officers spoke English, and none of the Texians spoke fluent Spanish. When it was discovered that Mexican Captain Juan Jose Holzinger spoke German, Ehrenberg was asked to conduct the parley on behalf of the Texians. Fannin conceded all arms, while Urrea agreed to expel the men from Texas provided they all promise not to take up arms against the present government of Mexico. Ehrenberg later admitted this was an easy promise to make, as no one expected the same government to be in power the following year. As a German citizen, Ehrenberg was invited to join the Mexican Army with no consequences, but he declined.
The Texians were taken to their own garrison, Presidio La Bahia, and imprisoned. Although Urrea left orders for the Mexican commander there to treat the prisoners well, these were countermanded by Santa Anna, who ordered the execution of all prisoners. A week later, the Texians were divided into groups and marched from the barracks. Ehrenberg was in a group marched towards the San Antonio River. Mexican soldiers opened fire at point-blank range. Ehrenberg was not wounded in the first volley. In the confusion, he fell to the ground and crawled towards the river. He suffered a small wound from a sword before jumping off the banks to the river 30–40 feet below. According to Ehrenberg, after he reached the safety of the opposite bank, he "looked back at the place where my friends lay bleeding to death. The enemy was still shooting and yelling, and it was with a sorrowful heart that I listened to these shouts of triumph which in my fancy were mingled with the groans of pain of my dying friends." Ehrenberg was one of only a handful of men to survive the Goliad Massacre.
Ehrenberg wandered the countryside for the next few days. Most settlers had already fled, and the Texian army was essentially decimated. With few options on how to proceed, Ehrenberg approached Urrea and claimed to be a Prussian traveler who neded protection. Urrea allowed Ehrenberg to travel with him for the next few weeks. After Texian troops defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, Ehrenberg left Urrea. He was discharged from the Texian Army on June 2, 1836.
1836–1846
Ehrenberg returned to Germany and enrolled at Freiburg University. In the early 1840s he worked at University of Halle, teaching English. He wrote a memoir of his experiences in the Texas Revolution, published in 1843 as Texas un Seine Revolution. It was reprinted in 1844 as Der Freiheitskampf in Texas im Jahre 1836 and in 1845 as Fahrten und Schicksale eines Deutschen in Texas]].
He returned to the United States in 1844, and journeyed to St. Louis, Missouri to join a group traveling to Oregon Territory. In May 1845 he sailed from Oregon to Hawaii, where he was drew a map of Honolulu. He sailed to Tahiti and several other Polynesian idlands.
Mexican-American War
In 1846, Ehrenberg sailed to California. The Mexican-American War had already begun, and Ehrenberg joined John C. Frémont's "attempt to free California from Mexican rule".
Arizona
In the early 1850s, Ehrenberg created the first map of the Gadsden Purchase. He then moved to Arizona, where in 1856 he partnered with Charles Poston to form the Sonoro Exploring and Mining Company. From 1863 through 1866, Ehrenberg served as Indian Agent for the Mojave people at the Colorado River Indian Reservation.
Ehrenberg contributed to Mining Magazine, the The Journal of Geology, and Arizona Weekly.
Ehrenberg was murdered on October 9, 1866 in Dos Palmas.
Legacy
Barry Goldwater called Ehrenberg "one of the greatest surveyors and map makers ever to visit the Western United States". Grand Canyon National Park includes a summit named Ehrenberg Peak, and the town of Mineral City, Arizona was renamed Ehrenberg after his death.
His book on the Texas Revolution was translated into English in 1925. Ten years later is was translated again and edited into a book for children named With Milam and Fannin: Adventures of a German Boy in Texas' Revolution.
References
- ^ Ornish, Handbook of Texas
- Brands, p. 290.
- Brands, pp. 290–1.
- ^ Brands, p. 291.
- Brands, p. 292.
- Brands, p. 293.
- Brands, p. 297.
- Brands, p. 298.
- ^ Brands, p. 299.
- Brands, p. 303.
- ^ Brands, pp. 316–318.
- Brands, p. 320.
- Brands, pp. 390–395
- Brands, p. 400.
- Brands, p. 391.
- Brands, p. 399.
- ^ Brands, p. 406.
- Brands, pp. 404–407.
- Brands, p. 407.
- ^ Cady, p. 64.
- quoted in Ornish, Handbook of Texas.
Sources
- Brands, H.W. (2005), Lone Star Nation: The Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence, Random House, ISBN 9781400030705
- Cady, John Henry (1916), Woon, Basil (ed.), Arizona's yesterday, being the narrative of John H. Cady, pioneer, Western Americana, frontier history of the trans-Mississippi West, 1550-1900; Issue 641 of Travels in the West and Southwest, Times-Minor Printing and Binding House
- Ornish, Natalie, "Ehrenberg, Herman", Handbook of Texas, Texas State Historical Association