Texas' Historical Milestones On This Day June 29th

The James Long Expedition has roots dating back to 1821, when James Long led a group of 60-70 volunteers to Texas to support the independence of Mexico from Spanish colonial rule. When the group returned the following year, they encountered a much different landscape, as Mexico had declared itself independent by then. After Long was killed in battle, Texas became an independent republic in 1836.
In 1845, the American government declared Texas the twenty-eighth state. This eventually led to the James Long Expedition setting out on June 29th of that year. Robert M. Williamson had been elected to lead the movement. The mission was initially unsuccessful in its mission to take control of the Santa Fe region, as the American forces were defeated by three Mexican General's forces. However, their journey left a lasting legacy on Texas.