Community Forum: History ignored Col. J.D. Blackburn

Editor:
Texas history has chosen to forget Col. John (Juan) Davis Bradburn, the most hated Anglo who fought in Santa Anna's army against fellow Anglos in Texas in the first armed major conflict during the pre- Texas revolution period, 1832.

Bradburn, a Kentucky native, came to Mexico as a member of the Gutierrez-Magee expedition in 1812 that failed to win Texas independence from Spain. However, Bradburn would stay in Mexico and continue to fight in several more battles, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and aide to General Iturbide. In 1830, General Manuel de Mier y Teran ordered Colonel Bradburn to build a fort and a custom house at Anahuac, close to Galveston, to inspect land titles and enforce collection of tax duties. William Travis, the future commander of the Alamo, and his tax partner, Patrick Jack, were soon arrested and jailed for leading the town outrage and movement against Col. Bradburn for installing martial law and confiscating private property. Col. Jose de las Piedras, Bradburn's superior, fearing that the Anglos outnumbered them, removed Bradburn from command and had Travis and others freed.

Bradburn would later retire and lived in Matamoros until 1836, when he was ordered, against his own wishes, to join Gen. Urrea's command at the port of Copano. The defeat of Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto ended his military campaign in Texas, where he made his way back to Matamoros and retirement, again. Bradburn would be called back for military service to attack San Antonio in the Mexican Invasion of 1842, but ill health prevented his participation. On April 20, 1842, Bradburn would die in Matamoros, Mexico, in the country he chose to fight for over his own, and the most hated Anglo in Texas would soon be forgotten in Texas history.
Jack Ayoub,
Harlingen
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Guerra leaving a dubious legacy
Editor:
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, just when we thought the antics and circus like entertainment of our very own Willacy County's former D.A., Juan Guerra, ousted in a landslide defeat, he is going out in a ball of fire. He is shooting out indictments at will. He does not take time to aim; he's shooting from the hip.

What a legacy he is leaving. What a leader for the children of Willacy County to look up to. What a Mexican for other Mexicans to admire. What does that say about the people that voted for this obviously unstable individual? The Vice President of the United States was not out of his mental reach; he tagged him, too, right before getting kicked out of office.

When you lose like Juan did, it is not a loss; it is a slaughter. Has anyone out there heard of illusions of grandeur? I am sorry for the citizens of Willacy but more than anything I am sorry for the innocent victims of this clown's maliciousness: Senator Eddie Lucio, a pillar, Judge Migdalia Lopez, Judge Janet Leal. The people who we, the citizens of Cameron County voted into office, having to get dirty by a well-known clown?

The question I am currently pondering is this: who will be the first foolish person to hire this silly guy after January 2008? I personally believe he will have to take it on the road. I know Laredo, Mexico is looking for someone of Juan's caliber to take over the place of several retired or disappeared public officials. I am of the opinion that he would fit right in. As a very last resort he might look into running for Willacy County Dog Catcher.
Yolanda Campos,
San Benito
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DROP US A LINE
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