The Road to Revolution ✯ 25

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Erastus “Deaf” Smith and Hendrick ArnoldWar Scouts and Guides

CHAPTER 9 Section 3 The Conflict Escalates 9.3B

Born April 19, 1787, in Dutchess County, New York,Erastus “Deaf” Smith moved to Mississippi with

his parents around the age of 11 or 12. He lost hishearing due to a childhood illness, a condition thatearned him his nickname. He moved to Texas in1821, where he settled near San Antonio. In 1822Smith married a Mexican widow, Guadalupe RuizDurán, and the couple had four children. One died asa child, but three daughters survived to adulthood.

The Smith family settled on the claim of JamesKerr along with five other families in the new colonyof Green DeWitt in the autumn of 1825. This smallcommunity, just west of present-day Gonzales, wasone of the first American settlements west of theColorado River.

Hendrick Arnold was born in Mississippi to Danieland Rachel Arnold. It appears that Arnold’s father waswhite, and his mother was African American. Thecouple joined Stephen F. Austin’s Texas colony onthe Brazos River in 1826. Hendrick was consideredAfrican American even though he was of mixeddescent. In 1835, Arnold settled in San Antonio andmarried a stepdaughter of Erastus Smith.

Politics in Texas Politically, Smith tried to maintainan even split of loyalties between Mexico and Texas.Arnold was first to offer his loyalties to Texas, and as pressure built, Smith did the same. Smith wasalready well known for his talents as a scout. Bothmen joined the Texas army and fought in the Battle of Concepción on October 28, 1835.

In the battles that followed, both men became wellknown. Smith became valuable as a spy, and Arnoldearned distinction as a soldier. He gained so muchrespect that an attack on San Antonio was postponedbecause the officers of one division refused to marchwithout him.

At the Alamo One of Smith’s most famous roles was in the siege and battle of the Alamo. Smith wasassigned to carry a letter from the Alamo to SamHouston on February 15, 1836. On March 13, Houstonsent Smith and another scout back to the Alamo tolearn the status of the fortress. When they arrived, the

battle was overand the Texandefenders dead. However, Susanna and AngelinaDickinson had survived the battle and relayed thestory of the Alamo to General Houston.

Throughout the rest of the Revolution, Smithremained one of Houston’s most important spies, and Arnold served with his company. Smith and his men intercepted key communications betweenMexican troops and Santa Anna before the Battle ofSan Jacinto. During that battle Smith destroyed a keybridge, trapping the Mexican troops.

Settling in Texas After the Revolution, both Smithand Arnold were granted property for their service.Arnold and his family settled just northwest of present-day Bandera on a fairly low-quality piece of land thatreflected his lower status in the eyes of the society.Smith was granted property on the northwest corner ofthe San Antonio Military Plaza, but he chose to remainwith his family in Columbia, Texas. After brieflycommanding a company of Texas Rangers, Smithresigned and moved his family to Richmond, Texas.

Erastus Smith died in Richmond on November 30,1837. Hendrick Arnold died in 1849 in Bexar Countyduring a cholera epidemic.

Review Questions

1. How were Smith and Arnold related?

2. Which of the two men was the first to pledgehis loyalty to Texas?

3. What role did Smith play during the Battle of the Alamo?

Critical Thinking

4. Analyzing Why were spies important to theTexas government during the Revolution?

5. Making Inferences Why did Smith receive abetter land grant than Arnold after their service?

Lone Star Legends: Unit 3

Erastus Smith Hendrick Arnold

Pupil’s Edition,p. 207

Erastus “Deaf” Smith (1787–1837) and Hendrick Arnold (?–1849) were bothnotable spies during Texas’s war with Mexico.