ENVIRONMENTAL T SHIRT

I think this is the grave of James Austin Sylvester. But I could be wrong. Any Texas-history buffs want to help out?

James Austin Sylvester was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1807. After reaching manhood he moved to Kentucky. Captain Sidney Sherman raised a company of volunteers to aid Texas in her struggle for independence. James A. Sylvester joined this company of volunteers on December 18, 1835, at Newport, Kentucky. Captain Sherman's Company left Nacogdoches February 29, 1836, for Gonzales, but it seems that Sylvester had preceded them, for on January 10th he was commissioned a captain in the reserve army of the Texas Republic by Henry Smith at San Felipe de Austin. The original commission is in the Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas. They were given a farewell reception at the home of one of the leading citizens of Cincinnati the night before Colonel Sherman and his men left for Texas. At this reception the ladies of Newport presented the company of volunteers with a beautiful battle flag. The presentation was made by Mrs. Sherman herself. The flag was beautiful blue silk, bordered with gold fringe. In the center was painted a female figure representing the Goddess of Liberty and the words, "Liberty or Death." At about the end of the reception Ensign James Austin Sylvester asked the daughter of their host to give him some momento of the occasion to take with him as good luck. This beautiful girl removed her dainty white glove and said, "Here sir, is a gage of battle---let it be borne always in the foremost of the fight." The gallant Sylvester bowed low and replied, "I take it as a pledge of victory, and shall die before I surrender it to a foe." He placed this glove to the top of his standard. It remained on the staff pole throughout their journey to Texas, then to Gonzales, back across Texas and into the Battle of San Jacinto, where it was lost. It was never found.

March 12, 1836, Sherman's Volunteers were reorganized at Gonzales. Captain Sherman was elected colonel of the first regiment of Texas Volunteers. James Sylvester was made second sergeant and color bearer of the company. His service record may be seen in the State Archives at Austin. It is Comptroller's Military Services Record No. 1046. It is certified by Captain Wood that Sylvester enlisted December 18, 1835: was second sergeant and color bearer. It states that he participated in the engagement on April 20th and 21st and "was the individual who took the person of Santa Anna." It shows that he was honorably discharged June 18, 1836. General Sam Houston on August 3, 1836, at San Augustine presented Mr. Sylvester with a printed pamphlet, containing the names of the men who had fought at San Jacinto. On the back he wrote:

Presented to James A. Sylvester by General Sam Houston as a tribute of regard for his gallant and vigilant conduct first in the battle of San Jacinto and subsequently in the capture of Santa Anna, whose thanks were tendered by Santa Anna, in my presence to Captain Sylvester, for his generous conduct towards him, when captured. (Signed) Sam Houston San Augustine 3rd Aug. 1836 The original manuscript is in the Rosenberg Library of Galveston. He was appointed captain by General Houston in August 3, 1836, when he presented him with the pamphlet and requested him to remain in the army until June, 1837.

Captain James Sylvester was the man who found and captured Santa Anna after the Battle of San Jacinto. Sylvester's own account of the capture of Santa Anna is as follows:

On the morning of the 22nd of April, 1836, news came into camp that a portion of our cavalry had surrounded Santa Anna and a number of his officers in a mot of timber some miles from our camp, and called for reinforcements in order to capture them. Col. Edward Burleson, commanding the First Regiment of Texas troops, called for volunteers, and mounting such horses as were under their control, they set out in search of the Mexican chief---after marching from the camp, near Lynch's Ferry to Vince's Bayou, where the bridge, but recently burned by Deaf Smith, impeded our further progress, and not knowing where our services were required, Col. Burleson called a parley. Some of the party were anxious to proceed by fording or swimming the bayou while others thought it useless to proceed farther after an ignis fatuus, when Col. Burleson ordered myself to take charge of such men as were disposed to return to camp and the others proceeded toward the Brazos in search of any Mexican stragglers that might be found.

The squad under my command proceeded back to camp. We left the main road and took down the bayou. We had not proceeded very far before some one of them proposed to skirt the timber in search of game. I took the straight direction promising to await their arrival at a certain point. After leaving the party, pursuing my course alone, I suddenly espied an object coming towards me, near a ravine. I immediately t

2010 10 03
On the corner next to the gallery where we were having the photoshoot was a small restaurant that specialized in Poor Boy sandwiches. Being Sunday they were closing early and one of the employees, Michael, came out to close the metal blinds, which are a clue to the type of neighborhood. LOL Pretty much like neighborhoods on the periphery of the downtown area of any major city. Michael was a pretty sizable young man, not one I would want upset with me. He was wearing a bright red shirt and the metal blinds were painted bright red so there was no way I could resist asking for a photograph. The kicker was the cafe’s motto on the back of his shirt, Size Matters, so I had to shoot Michael from the back. He was a very pleasant young man and I promised to return with a copy of the print which I will do. Michael didn't ask for money so he will go into my second project, 100 Strangers.