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About ‘Through This Window’ Columns and the Author

Columns by Ethelene Dyer Jones under the general title “Through This Window” with each column having its own title according to the subject she writes about in a particular week, have been published in The News Observer, Blue Ridge, Georgia, since April 5, 1990 through the present.

The author chose ‘Through This Window’ as a symbolic title for the series. She wished to convey that she was looking backward into history and remembrance, presently at current events, and forward into the future with implication of how history affects both the present and the future. She writes narratively to record and introspectively to analyze. Eventually the editors at the newspaper chose to drop the general title, “Through This Window”—but each column the author sends for publication weekly still bears that designation. For the purposes of this blog, therefore, “Through This Window” will accompany each title.

Although published by The News Observer, the columns are copyrighted by the author. Therefore, please contact the author for permission to quote any part of these columns.

She sincerely hopes readers will enjoy her view “Through This Window” and learn much of history and life as it was lived out in past generations. Thank you for your interest.

Ethelene Dyer Jones is a retired educator and free-lance writer. She was born in Union County, Blairsville, Ga. She received college degrees from Truett McConnel, Cleveland, GA (AA); Mercer University, Macon, GA (BA); Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC (MA in Ed.); and The University of Georgia (SEd). She was married 61 years to the Rev. Grover D. Jones who died in 2011. The couple had two children, Keith and Cynthia, and have seven grandchildren and currently fourteen great grandchildren, with three more expected shortly. Mrs. Jones lived in various towns in Georgia, with Epworth, Georgia being the longest residence from 1960-2003. She currently resides in Milledgeville, GA where she keeps active still as a creative writing and reading instructor, a writer, and an editor, helping other writers with their publications. She has two books of poetry published, The Singing in the Wood (1984); and Mother and Child Reunion (1995, jointly with her son). She assisted in writing, compiling and editing books: Faith Through Flood and Fire: A History of First Baptist Church, McCaysville, GA (1983); Facets of Fannin: A History of Fannin County, Georgia (1989); One Hundred Years of Heritage and Hope: A History of Morganton Baptist Association (1993); Cemeteries of Fannin County, Georgia (2003); Facing Forward: A History of Fannin County Schools (2013).

She is now working on a book of her memoirs and more chapbooks of poetry which she hopes to publish soon. She has often been asked to publish in book form columns from papers for which she has written, “Through This Window” series in The News Observer. Blue Ridge, GA; “Through Mountain Mists” series in The Union Sentinel, Blairsville, GA; “An Appalachian Voice” series in The Pickens County Progress, Jasper, GA, and others.

(-Ethelene Dyer Jones, 1708 Cedarwood Road, Milledgeville, GA 31061; edj0541@windstream.net. 478-453-8751)

Saturday, January 3, 2015

The ‘Lexington Shot’ of Texas

Colonel James Walker Fannin, Jr. led his Brazos Guards to Gonzales where other Texas units were preparing for attack against a Mexican fortification. On October 1, 1835, the first shot of the Texas War for Independence was fired. Ironically, the shot came from a cannon called the “Come and Take It” which had been loaned to Texas settlers by the Mexican government as a defense against Indian attacks.
     This came to be known as the ‘Lexington Shot’ of Texas, recalling that the first shot of the American Revolution was fired at Lexington.
     On October 6, 1835, Fannin was one of a committee that approached General Stephen F. Austin asking for aid and reinforcements for the troops at Gonzales. Austin complied, moving the major portion of the Texas Army toward that site and nearby Bexar. General Austin then sent Colonel Fannin and Colonel James Bowie as scouts to determine conditions between Gonzales and Bexar. They were also to secure food, ammunition and other supplies for the Texas Army.
     Fannin and Bowie selected Mission Conception (Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Conception, founded by Franciscan Friars in 1731) at San Antonio as the campsite for the Texas Army.
     Fannin’s Brazos Guards and other Texas regiments moved to the mission, setting it up as a regular fort. From there, the Battle of Concepion was fought on October 28, 1835.
     Victories in these first battles gave the Texans the stamina and patriotic fervor needed to press forward against the Mexican Army. With great exhilaration they received word of the “Declaration of Causes” signed November 7, 1835 by the “Consultation of the Chosen Delegates of All Texas” headquartered in Austin. It is noteworthy that the first battles were fought in advance of the official document declaring grievances.
     Three days later, on November 7, 1835, Fannin received orders from General Austin to cut a Mexican supply route between Laredo and San Antonio. Fannin moved the Brazos Guards, fully intending to comply to the command. However, seeing that his troops were gravely outnumbered, and receiving no reinforcements, he ordered his men to return to headquarters.
     Evidently the retreat was counted as a wise maneuver, for on November 13, Commander-in-Chief Sam Houston offered James Walker Fannin, Jr. the post of inspector general for the regular army.
     Fannin declined the appointment and was honorably discharged from the Texas Volunteer Army. Would there be a come-back for this soldier from Georgia?

(Next: Fannin, Hero of Goliad)

[©2015. Ethelene Dyer Jones. First published in The News Observer, Blue Ridge, Georgia, Wednesday, July 29, 1992, Section A, Page 6.]
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