Salado Creek

Infobox River
river_name = Salado Creek


image_size =
caption =
origin = Recycled water
mouth = San Antonio River
basin_countries = United States
length = convert|38|mi|km
elevation =
mouth_elevation =
discharge =
watershed =

Salado Creek is a waterway in San Antonio that runs from Northern Bexar County for about convert|38|mi|km to the San Antonio River near Buena Vista. [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/SS/rbs5.html "Handbook of Texas Online"] , June 6, 2001 ]

History

The Creek was given its name in 1716 by Spanish explorer Domingo Ramón. It has been the site of two battles in Texas History including the 1813 Battle of Rosillo and the 1842 Battle of Salado Creek following the Texas Revolution.

Battle of Rosillo

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Rosillo
partof=


caption=
date=March 29, 1813
place=Salado Creek
result=Decisive Republican victory
combatant1= Spanish Royalist Army
combatant2= Republican Army
commander1= Governor Manuel María de Salcedo
Governor Simón de Herrera
commander2=

strength1=950 to 1,500 men
strength2=600 to 900 men
casualties1=100 to 330 dead
casualties2=6 deadThe Battle of Rosillo (Called the "Battle of Salado Creek" at the time) started as a siege of Presidio La Bahía from November 7, 1812, to February 19, 1813 for the purpose of trying to recapture the fort after the Republican army of Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara and Samuel Kemper numbered at 600 to 900 men, had taken over. The Spanish Royalist Army of Texas Governor Manuel María de Salcedo and Nuevo León governor Simón de Herrera had retreated back to San Antonio. In March 1813, the Royalist army, numbering 950 to 1,500, had planned an ambush on the Republicans as they marched and searched for food along the creek banks. The Republicans caught sight of the Royalists and routed them within an hour, killing between 100 and 330 of the Royalists and capturing most of their arms and ammunition, six cannons, and 1,500 horses and mules at the expense of only six men. After the battle, the Royalists retreated back to San Antonio, signed a truce with Kemper on April 1, and surrendered Salcedo and Herrera. On April 3, Salcedo, Herrera, and twelve prisoners of war were executed by the Republican army at the site of the battle. On April 6, 1813, the first Declaration of Independence and Constitution for Texas were drafted and Gutiérrez was named President, establishing the first Republic of Texas. The new Republic was destroyed on August 18, 1813 at the fateful Battle of Medina. [ [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/RR/qfr2.html "Handbook of Texas Online"] , June 6, 2001 ]

Battle of Salado Creek

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Salado Creek
partof=


caption=
date=Fall 1842
place=Salado Creek
result=Texas victory
combatant1= Mexican Army
combatant2=flagicon|TexasTexas Volunteers
commander1=
commander2=flagicon|Texas Mathew Caldwell
strength1= 1,500 men
strength2=Around 200 men
casualties1=Over 60 dead
casualties2=1 deadThe latter battle was fought between the volunteers of the Texas Republic and the Mexican forces of Brig. General and French soldier Adrián Woll. The battle began following Brig. General Rafael Vásquez's incursion of San Antonio in March 1842. The volunteers prepared for battle but believed that peace was on the horizon after the release of prisoners from the failed Santa Fe Expedition. Because of this a potential attack was called off by President Sam Houston. However on September 11, 1842 Brig. Gen. Adrián Woll entered San Antonio with 1,000 regular infantry and 500 irregular cavalry. After this, around 200 volunteers from Gonzales, Seguin, and other lower Colorado River settlements joined together under Capt. Mathew Caldwell on the east bank of Salado Creek. They met up there with Capt. John C. Hays's regiment of fourteen rangers. The men took advantage of their good position on the bank and killed 60 Mexicans, losing only one of their own. After the victory, Capt. Nicholas M. Dawson decided to travel down from La Grange with his 53 man company and finish off Woll. The results were disastrous leading to the infamous Dawson Massacre. [ [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/SS/qfs1.html "Handbook of Texas Online"] , June 6, 2001 ]

Recent activities

In 1992, a well was plugged in Fort Sam Houston that had been used for irrigation for farmers. The well had maintained the ecosystem of the creek since a decline in the number of springs that had fed it. In 1995, plans to revitalize the creek began. Groups such as the Salado Creek Foundation began work to restore the historic significance of the creek as a link of Northern Bexar County to the missions in the South. The creek was affected by the causing property damage and unconstructive erosion to the creek bed. In March 2001, the San Antonio Water System's Salado Creek WRC began using recycled water to help the creek flow regularly for the first time in almost ten years.

References

External links

* [http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/salado.html Salado Creek] at "The Edwards Aquifer Website"