On this day, important chapters in Texas’ history

April 27, 1836: Following the Battle of San Jacinto, the "Treaties of Velasco" were signed on this day by General Antonio López de Santa Anna and the interim government of the Republic of Texas, led by President David G. Burnet. The treaties consisted of two documents: a public treaty, which stipulated that hostilities would cease and Mexican troops would withdraw south of the Rio Grande, and a secret treaty, in which Santa Anna pledged to secure recognition of Texan independence from the Mexican government. However, the Mexican government later repudiated these treaties, leading to ongoing conflicts between the two nations.

April 27, 1861: Colonel Earl Van Dorn assumed command of the Confederate Department of Texas. A West Point graduate and experienced officer, Van Dorn was tasked with organizing the defense of Texas against potential Union incursions during the American Civil War.