What if these grounds could talk? They would tell a tale of an army’s hunger and a family’s sacrifice at the Samuel McCarley Homesite.
The Samuel McCarley Homesite Plaque commemorates a pivotal moment. It marks where the Texas army camped on April 15, 1836. Samuel McCarley, his wife Celia, and their ten children had settled here. They made their home near Spring Creek in 1831.
By 1836, the McCarley home was on a well-traveled road. This road linked Washington-on-the-Brazos with Harrisburg. Abraham Roberts, their neighbor, lived three miles east. His home was at a fork in the road. One path led to the Trinity River. The other went southeast to Harrisburg.
General Sam Houston led the Texas army. They arrived here at dusk. The 1,100 soldiers were weary and hungry. Overnight, they consumed the McCarleys’ cattle, corn, and bacon. They even burned 4,000 of their fence rails for fuel. Imagine the scene that night. The McCarley family watched their livelihood disappear to support the army.
Post-war accounts suggest some soldiers doubted Houston’s willingness to fight. The Mexican army was advancing toward Harrisburg. But on April 16, Houston and his troops took the Harrisburg Road. This decision led to the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21. There, they secured Texas independence.
Samuel McCarley passed away in 1838. In 1858, the State of Texas awarded Celia $460. This was compensation for the damages caused by the Texas army. It was a small price to pay for the family’s contribution to Texas independence.
The Samuel McCarley Homesite Plaque stands as a reminder. It honors the family’s sacrifice. It also commemorates a crucial moment in Texas history. This site connects us to the struggles and triumphs. These struggles and triumphs shaped the Lone Star State. The Sam Houston Bicentennial marked it in 1993. So remember the McCarleys as you reflect on Texas’s fight for freedom. Their sacrifice helped forge the path to independence.