On February 13, 2009, we left for San Antonio to participate in a living history event in front of the Alamo. The event was called Twigg's Surrender which recalled the surrender of Texas to the Confederacy in 1861. Interestingly, this information was located by a man doing research at the Alamo. In February of 1861, the Alamo was being used by the US Army as its headquarters. General Twiggs was the officer commanding the Dept.
of Texas. He had requested orders on how to handle things if the Texans were to secede from the Union but Washington refused to answer his request and left him hanging. Sure enough, a group of Texas volunteers, demanded Twiggs surrender the Federal forces and holdings. Rather than have bloodshed as the two groups faced each other, Twiggs negotiated and withdrew the Federal army from Texas with their weapons and what they could take with them. Shortly after this confrontation, Texas did vote to secede and the Civil War began with shots fired at Ft. Sumter in South Carolina. Harper's Weekly published details of this event and images of the articles can be seen at ttp://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1861/march/san-antonio-plaza.htm including this picture of the plaza in San Antonio.
of Texas. He had requested orders on how to handle things if the Texans were to secede from the Union but Washington refused to answer his request and left him hanging. Sure enough, a group of Texas volunteers, demanded Twiggs surrender the Federal forces and holdings. Rather than have bloodshed as the two groups faced each other, Twiggs negotiated and withdrew the Federal army from Texas with their weapons and what they could take with them. Shortly after this confrontation, Texas did vote to secede and the Civil War began with shots fired at Ft. Sumter in South Carolina. Harper's Weekly published details of this event and images of the articles can be seen at ttp://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1861/march/san-antonio-plaza.htm including this picture of the plaza in San Antonio. Our valentine to each other was to stay in the Menger Hotel, 
an elegant establishment from those days which boasted the stay of famous people like Robert E. Lee and George Custer. We arrived about noon and were elegantly escorted to our room with great fanfareby an nice hotel employee . The room was elegance itself with a sitting area, large closet, bar and table -- much more than these bumpkins had seen before in hotels. Felt like we'd been dropped into the "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous."
an elegant establishment from those days which boasted the stay of famous people like Robert E. Lee and George Custer. We arrived about noon and were elegantly escorted to our room with great fanfareby an nice hotel employee . The room was elegance itself with a sitting area, large closet, bar and table -- much more than these bumpkins had seen before in hotels. Felt like we'd been dropped into the "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous."We wandered the streets around the Alamo and found ourselves at the Institute of Texan Cultures just at the foot of the 1968 Hemisphere Tower . 
The museum had a display of the San Antonio Hemisphere along with displays of the different ethnic groups that settled Texas. We talked to an elderly lady of 80+ years who showed us how wool was carded, spun and woven on a loom she was working. Then, we hurried through the Riverwalk Mall and headed to Tony Roma's for supper. Chuck's favorite (groan) Andean flute band was playing on the steps of the Riverwalk as usual.
The museum had a display of the San Antonio Hemisphere along with displays of the different ethnic groups that settled Texas. We talked to an elderly lady of 80+ years who showed us how wool was carded, spun and woven on a loom she was working. Then, we hurried through the Riverwalk Mall and headed to Tony Roma's for supper. Chuck's favorite (groan) Andean flute band was playing on the steps of the Riverwalk as usual.On Saturday, we met up with our friends, Lee and Shirley Ragan of Odessa and Joe and Stella 
Gonzalez of San Antonio, on the Alamo Plaza. At 11:00 and 2:00 we participated in the event which was narrated for the large group of public. (Just so they didn't think this was the Battle of the Alamo). In between the events, we visited with old friends in the re-enactment community and posed for lots of pictures. We met up with another Midlander, Betty Adcox and her sister, Judy from Tennesse and friend from Mississipi who were attending for the first time. At 3:00 there was a Ladies' tea in the Menger which was very nice. We then adjourned to prepare for the Victorian Ball and Dinner that night at 7:00.
Gonzalez of San Antonio, on the Alamo Plaza. At 11:00 and 2:00 we participated in the event which was narrated for the large group of public. (Just so they didn't think this was the Battle of the Alamo). In between the events, we visited with old friends in the re-enactment community and posed for lots of pictures. We met up with another Midlander, Betty Adcox and her sister, Judy from Tennesse and friend from Mississipi who were attending for the first time. At 3:00 there was a Ladies' tea in the Menger which was very nice. We then adjourned to prepare for the Victorian Ball and Dinner that night at 7:00. 
The dance and dinner was in an elegant ballroom and the band was our favorite, the Sweet Song String Band. This band plays period music with hammer dulcimer, banjo, piano, fid
dle and has a d
ance caller that makes it easy to learn the period dances without making too big a fool of your two left-footed self. Once, when I left the dance for a trip down the hall, I heard this totally startled "Ann" and turned to see Jeff, a MISD music teacher who was attending the TMEA conference. We had met at the Menger where we were both staying and had told him about the event and dance. He seemed so bumfuzzled to see me so elegantly if strangely dressed (I guess). He commented about my beautiful dress and said, " Ya'll are really serious about this, aren't you." He seemed so startled to see me in such a different light from my school/MISD personna that I got a big chuckle out of the whole thing.
dle and has a dance caller that makes it easy to learn the period dances without making too big a fool of your two left-footed self. Once, when I left the dance for a trip down the hall, I heard this totally startled "Ann" and turned to see Jeff, a MISD music teacher who was attending the TMEA conference. We had met at the Menger where we were both staying and had told him about the event and dance. He seemed so bumfuzzled to see me so elegantly if strangely dressed (I guess). He commented about my beautiful dress and said, " Ya'll are really serious about this, aren't you." He seemed so startled to see me in such a different light from my school/MISD personna that I got a big chuckle out of the whole thing.After the dance, we returned to the room. Sunday morning we headed home to Midland. Sadly, however, Walmart stops were forbidden and I arrived home with no new fabric.
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