The Real Yellow Rose Of Texas

In 1830 the territory that was later to become the Republic of Texas was still part of Mexico and governed by Mexican laws. One of these laws prohibited slavery. Their were many like James Morgan from Philadelphia who were eager to capitalize on the cheap land and business opportunities in the new Mexican colony. Morgan had 16 slaves that he wanted to bring to Texas with him, so he freed his slaves on the condition they become indentured servants for a term of 99-years.

In the years that followed, these entrepreneurs developed this into a plan that would allow them to bring in many non-Mexicans. The slaves back in the United States figured that being an indentured servant was better then being a slave. In 1835 Morgan returned to New York to recruit more workers for his settlement.

One such �migr� was a twenty year old woman named Emily D. West � "an eastern import with extraordinary intelligence and sophistication." Emily West was mulatto and possibly from Bermuda, since Morgan brought many of his workers from this Atlantic island. According to some records, West volunteered to be indentured, most probably to escape the prejudice against her mixed race. And, as was the custom for an indentured worker at the time, she changed her last name to that of Morgan.

James Morgan had established his settlement, called New Washington, near the mouth of the San Jacinto River. By 1836, Texas was totally involved in it's revolution to gain independence from Mexico. James Morgan freely gave cattle, oranges, and assorted grains to Sam Houston and his army.

One parcel of Morgan's land extended into San Jacinto Bay. It was and still is called Morgan's Point and from it flatboats were loaded with supplies for Houston. Due to his aid to the army, Morgan was appointed a Colonel in the Texas army. He was assigned to the Port of Galveston (some 30 miles away) in March, 1836 to guard Texas refugees and fugitive government officials. In order to continue shipping supplies to Houston's line, Morgan left Emily in charge of loading flatboats destined to feed the Texas army.

When General Santa Anna moved his men into position to attack the Texas rebels he knew to be nearby on the afternoon of April 18, he passed through New Washington. It was mostly deserted by then. One of those that remained behind, however, was Emily, and Santa Anna was immediately struck by her beauty. The next morning, after his men helped themselves to the crops and cattle, Santa Anna set about securing one more spoil of war - Emily. He captured her and a young yellow boy named Turner who was loading yet another flatboat headed for Houston's army.

Santa Anna cajoled Turner to lead his Mexican scouts to the Houston encampment. But as they were departing, Emily convinced Turner to escape from Santa Anna's men and rush to Houston's camp to inform him of the Mexican generals arrival.

General Santa Anna believed himself quite the ladies man. And although still married to a woman in Mexico, he remarried one of his teenaged captives from his Texas campaign. But he had been without his most recent bride for two weeks now. Emily looked like she would make a very suitable replacement.

Thus, he ordered the immediate setting up of his encampment on the plains of the San Jacinto despite protestations from his colonels who insisted the location violated all principles of wartime strategy. And they were right.

Houston, upon hearing of Santa Anna's location from Turner, moved his troops into the woods within a scant mile of the beguiled general's headquarters. On the morning of April 21, Houston climbed a tree to spy into the Mexican camp. There he saw Emily preparing a champagne breakfast for Santa Anna, and reportedly remarked, "I hope that slave girl makes him [Santa Anna] neglect his business and keeps him in bed all day."

Later that day, when Houston's army attacked, General Santa Anna was in fact caught with his pants down and the Mexican army was caught completely by surprise. Emily West Morgan survived the battle and made her way back to New Washington. Two days later, James Morgan, who had not heard of the battle, returned from Galveston and Emily told him of her ordeal and the outcome of the last great battle. The colonel was so impressed with Emily's heroism, he repealed her indenture and gave her a passport back to New York.


The Yellow Rose Of Texas

The Lyrics

There's a yellow rose in Texas
That I am going to see
No other darky knows her
No one only me
She cried so when I left her
It like to broke my heart
And if I ever more find her
We nevermore will part.

Chorus:
She's the sweetest rose of color
This darky ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew
You may talk about dearest May
And sing of Rosa Lee
But the yellow rose of Texas
Beats the belles of Tennessee.

Where the Rio Grande is flowing
And the starry skies are bright
She walks along the river
In the quiet summer night

She thinks if I remember
When we parted long ago
I promised to come back again
And not to leave her so.
Oh now I am agoing to find her
For my heart is full of woe
And we will sing the song together
We sung so long ago
We will play the banjo gaily
And will sing the song of yore
And the yellow rose of Texas
Shall be mine forevermore.
-J.K.

The Original lyrics

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