African Americans in South Texas History

Just Southwest of Dixie

Just southwest of Dixie Reconstruction in SouthTexas, 1865–1876 KENNETH WAyNE HOWEll sCHOlArs HAVE PrODuCED NuMErOus sTuDIEs on reconstruction in Texas since the mid-twentieth century, but they have generally focused on regions in EastTexas where African American populations were concentrated.This was natural considering that federal officials between 1865 and 1876 devoted most of their time to protecting the newly freed slaves and white unionists from the attacks of white ex-Confederates. Nevertheless, scholars seemingly have forgotten that south Texas was also part of the state during the period and therefore an integral part of the story of reconstruction in Texas. Because of this lack of attention, one could assume that reconstruction in south Texas is still basically an untold story. such an assumption would not, however, be completely accurate.The history of south Texas during this complex era is hidden among the pages of numerous dissertations, published scholarly works, and scattered primary sources.With the exception of randolph B. Campbell’s work on Nueces County, the history of south Texas between 1865 and 1876 is primarily discussed within the context of south Texas itself, as if the region were not part of the lone star state.1 For example, the rise of the cattle industry is often studied within the confines of a mythical period known as the “Cattle Kingdom”; rarely do those discussions deal with how the industry influenced the development of reconstruction in the southern part of the state.likewise,scholars have written numerous accounts of the violence that occurred in south Texas between 1865 and 1876, but their narratives are usually placed in the context of economic studies, local histories, and the biographies of 46฀ Just฀Southwest฀of฀Dixie฀ 47฀ various men such as Juan Cortina, the infamous Mexican raider of the lower rio Grande.2 scholars have not deemed it necessary to place the violence of the region in the broader setting of reconstruction in Texas. Perhaps the story of reconstruction in south Texas is more properly defined as a “hidden” history than as an untold story inTexas’ past. In an effort to understand how south Texas residents experienced reconstruction, this paper looks at three distinct aspects of human activity—politics, economics, and violence—in five geographically diverse counties: Nueces, Victoria, Zapata, Maverick, and live Oak. Each county provides a unique perspective on south Texas. Nueces County, located along the Gulf Coast, reveals how residents in coastal communities reacted to the changes taking place in their world in the post-Civil War years.Victoria County, also located near the Texas coast but further inland, represented something of a transition county between East and south Texas. During this period Victoria County was the gateway to southTexas. Zapata County, located in deep south Texas along the rio Grande,illustrates the concerns and hardships that residents living on theTexas-Mexico border confronted daily.likewise, Maverick County,also located on theTexas-Mexico border,reveals the isolation and dangers of living on the outer edge of the Texas frontier. Finally, live Oak County, in central south Texas, represents a crossroads between the western and eastern portions of the region.As was true throughout the state, the residents of each county experienced reconstruction on their own terms. some people probably gave little thought to the events taking place in their county or their state while others were greatly affected by both local and statewide issues. Politically, reconstruction in Texas went through six stages of development . The initial stage began when President Andrew Johnson appointed Andrew Jackson Hamilton as provisional governor of Texas in June 1865. Facing the immense task of reorganizing the local and state governments,Hamilton immediately established a temporary government and began to fill county offices with men who were believed to be loyal to the union and willing to support President Johnson’s plan for reconstructing the state.Within a month Hamilton restored 48 KENNETH WAyNE HOWEll civil rule in eighty counties.The provisional governor also called for the election of delegates to the 1866 state constitutional convention. The convention met from February 7 to April 2, 1866, and created a constitution that fulfilled the minimal standards for readmittance into the union.Abolishing slavery was the most important of the new standards adopted at the convention.3 The second stage of reconstruction began in June 1866 when the voters of the state approved the 1866 Texas Constitution and elected state and local officeholders according to...