By: Ian Curtis. February 27, 2019

As a major historical event, signs of the Texas Revolution are everywhere. Songs, movies, books, and monuments have all been dedicated to the war and its battles. However, the Revolution was not the first attempt at creating an independent republic in Texas. In fact, many had tried before with varying degrees of success.

In June of 1819, a force of seventy five Americans commanded by Dr. James Long marched into Texas. The group was proceeded by another force of one hundred and twenty men who were also part of Long’s expedition. That advance group was lead by Eli Harris. The advance party crossed the Sabine River on June 8 and arrived at Nacogdoches soon after. At nearby Camp Freeman, the total force declared Texas’ independence from Spain.

Long’s force was not your typical military unit. His ragtag army was raised in Natchez, Mississippi, which at the time was a hotbed of outrage after the United States gave up its claim to Texas in the Adams-Onís Treaty. Many Americans at the time viewed Texas as rightfully theirs, and several adventurers set out in non-sanctioned and illegal expeditions to claim it. These expeditions were known as filibusters, and angered both the Spanish and Amercian authorities. Several hundred men pledged money toward the Natchez expedition in exchange for land in their new republic, and they elected Long as their leader.

After Long’s force declared independence, the task of establishing a nation became apparent. The Declaration of Independence established freedom of the press, religious freedom, and free trade. Land was given to each member of the expedition, and additional land was sold off in order to generate much-needed revenue for the new government. Trading outposts of the republic were also established along the Trinity and Brazos rivers.

Knowing he and his force needed help, Long contacted the notable privateer Jean Lafitte, who was running a smuggling operation out of Galveston Island. Long suggested that his republic establish a presence near the Gulf of Mexico, and offered to make Lafitte governor of Galveston. At the time Lafitte was actually a Spanish spy, and he passed information to the Spanish Consul in New Orleans as he made promises to Long.

Without much needed assistance, the republic’s provisions began to run low. Long elected to scatter his men so they could forage for food nearby. Small groups took isolated points throughout July and August, and Long continued his plan to expand his territory. However, Col. Ignacio Perez of Spain began to slowly advance towards the expedition, reaching Nacogdoches on October 28. One month later, he had successfully driven out the majority of Long’s army.

In 1820, Long returned to Texas in order to revive his republic. He joined forces with another campaign for a time, before splitting off. He managed to reestablish his ruling council briefly, before later being captured by the Spanish after he gained control of another town in September of 1821. He was then brought to Mexico City and executed about six months later.

Even though the “Long Republic” was not successful in the long term, it did play a part in the history of Texas. It established the first English-language newspaper in Texas, the Texas Republican, which was in print in August of 1819. Long’s force was also the first to use the name the Republic of Texas, which would of course be used by the independent nation from 1836-1845. The Long Expedition was arguably the most successful and most important of the early filibusters in Texas, and yet it is a little-known part of Texas history and heritage.