Manuel Antonio Santiago Tarin
Manuel Antonio Santiago Tarín (1811–1849) (also known as Manuel Leal) was a Mexican soldier and a recruiter and participant in the Texas Revolution on the Texian side.
Manuel Antonio Santiago Tarin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1811 |
| Died | 1849 Texas |
| Nationality | Spanish (1811-1821), Mexican (1821-1836), Tejano (1836-44) and American (1844-49) |
| Occupation | soldier |
Early life
He was born in San Antonio de Béxar (now San Antonio, Texas, United States). He married María Luisa Cásares by 1846 and had at least two children.
The son of a military officer, Vicente Tarín and his wife, Juana Isidora Leal,[1] he was grandson of rancher Joaquin Leal and great-great-grandson of Juan Leal, first alcalde (mayor) of San Antonio.[2] Tarín was baptized at the San Antonio de Valero Mission ("the Alamo") two days after his birth.
In 1813, there was much political turmoil in the region. His father, a Spanish officer, joined the invasion forces of the Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition. After the defeat at the battle of Medina, he fled the Spanish repercussions. He went into exile in the Louisiana territory leaving Manuel and his mother in the care of a Catholic priest. Though his father was given a conditional pardon in 1814, he refused it and chose to remain in exile, continuing in the rebellion against the Spanish crown.
By 1830, Manuel Tarín became a soldier in the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras (Álamo de Parras), serving first at the Alamo and then Fort Tenoxtitlán. The Mexican government's failed support of its frontier outposts forced its men and their families to suffer under the harshest of conditions. Tarín deserted twice, but was returned to duty both times. His unit ultimately returned to San Antonio and the Alamo.[1]
Texas Revolution
Tarín was largely dissatisfied with the Mexican army as was demonstrated when he was apprehended with his own brother, José Vicente and other accomplices after trying to steal guns and ammunition from the Alamo stores.
By 1835, he deserted the Mexican army and enlisted in the Texas army. On February 22, 1836, Tarin mustered into Juan N. Seguín's company of Tejanos.[3] Salvador Flores and Manuel Leal recruiting and organizing 41 Tejano volunteers from ranches southwest of San Antonio[4] reinforced the Texan forces on the Salado Creek, in mid October,[5] a few days after Juan Seguin[6][7] and Plácido Benavides of Victoria had gathered almost 70 men to aid Commander Stephen F. Austin.[4][8] He fought at the siege of Béxar under the command of Stephen F. Austin. Although traveling with Seguín to the Battle of San Jacinto, illness prevented him from being in the final fight.
Tarín left the military in July 1837. For his service as a Corporal with the Texas army, he was awarded several hundred acres in donation land grants and bounty warrants.
He died sometime after 1849.
Tejanos who served under Juan Seguín
Tejano volunteers under the command of Juan Seguín for all or part of their service in the Texas Revolution and the Republic of Texas. Note that Seguin's men at the Alamo were scouts/couriers going in and out, between San Antonio and nearby Gonzales, the rallying point for volunteers.
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Republic of Texas service post-San Jacinto
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Sources:
- "San Jacinto Museum of History - The Kemp Sketches". San Jacinto Museum of History.
- MacDonald, L. Lloyd (2009). Tejanos in the 1835 Texas Revolution. Pelican Publishing. pp. 260–262. ISBN 978-1589806382.
- Teja, Jesus F. De la; Matovina, Timothy; Poché, Justin (2013). Recollections of a Tejano Life: Antonio Menchaca in Texas History. University of Texas Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0292748651.
- Texas State Archives, Republic of Texas Claims
- Texas A & M professor Wallace L. McKeehan, also on the school's Board of Regents website: Hispanic Texian Patriots in the Struggle for Independence
- Handbook of Texas
References
- Tarín, Randell. "Manuel Tarín". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- Tarín, Randell. "Joaquin Leal". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- Barr (1990), p. 18.
- de la Teja (1991), p. 24.
- Tovares (2004), pbs/wgbh/american experience/alamo/timeline/1835 Archived 2014-01-06 at the Wayback Machine.
- Brands (2005), p. 274.
- Edmonson (2000), p.218.
- Barr (1990) p.18
- Barr, Alwyn (1990), Texans in Revolt: the Battle for San Antonio, 1835, Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, ISBN 0-292-77042-1, OCLC 20354408
- Brands, H.W. (2005), Lone Star Nation: The Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence, 1835, New York: Random House, Inc., ISBN 1-4000-3070-6
- del la Teja, Jesus (1991), A Revolution Remembered: The Memoirs and Selected Correspondence of Juan N. Seguin, Austin, TX: State House Press, ISBN 0-938349-68-6
- Edmondson, J.R. (2000), The Alamo Story-From History to Current Conflicts, Plano, TX: Republic of Texas Press, ISBN 1-55622-678-0
- Tovares, Joseph (2004), Remember the Alamo, PBS American Experience