'From a Farm to a Place in History' by Jeanne Williams, Temple Daily Telegram

From a Farm to a Place in History

by Jeanne Williams - Temple Daily Telegram

February 14, 2011

SAN GABRIEL — The life of Milam County farmer James H. Holtzcla embraced many of the

history making stages of Texas, according to “The 1893 History of Texas, together with

a Biographical History of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson

Counties.”

As a Texan in the early 1800s, Holtzclaw served under several governments, saw three

wars of national consequences, “as well as numerous Indian forays and expeditions, the

expulsion of the red man, the era of railway development, urban development, internal

improvement and all the wonders wrought by steam and electricity, brains, energy and

money.”

Holtzclaw, a respected Milam County farmer, served in local offices and was a volunteer

in the Confederate Army from 1862 to the end of the war serving with Co. B, 35th

(Brown’s) Regiment, Texas Cavalry. Adventures and exploits aside, Holtzclaw is best

remembered in Texas history for his furtiveness and daring as the ex-Confederate

soldier who boldly snatched ornaments off a regimental flag planted in plain sight of a

Union Army camp on the San Gabriel River in Milam County.

After the surrender of the Trans-Mississippi Department in May 1865, Union forces

entered Texas as part of the army of occupation. One regiment, the 18th New York

Cavalry, passed through Milam County in late July on its way to San Antonio. The

regiment halted for refreshments at the San Gabriel River on July 23. On that day, a

number of former Confederate soldiers from Milam County were paroled by Capt. Fenton

Rockwell, one of the regiment’s officers. This temporary military encampment along the

San Gabriel River was near Holtzclaw’s farm.

Holtzclaw, happening to pass that way at the time, “noticed their colors, a splendid

flag said to have been presented to them by the ladies of the town in New York where

the regiment was raised” standing in the bed of the river at some distance,

unprotected, but in full view of the camp.

“Slipping down unseen to where the flag stood, he hurriedly took off the large silver

spear head and cord, and made away with them, leaving the staff and flag,” accounts

stated.

As soon as the loss was discovered, there was consternation in the camp. An immediate

search was instituted. Several residents were detained and threatened with severe

punishment. Among those arrested was a tenant of Holtzclaw’s farm, Alexander Phillips,

who was treated by Union soldiers with “considerable indignity.”

Learning that his neighbors were suffering unjustly and that the search was liable to

develop into a sort of persecution, Holtzclaw decided to make “a clean breast of it”

and face the consequences.

Holtzclaw visited the camp requesting to see the commanding officer. The colonel asked

what Holtzclaw “meant by such conduct, and in the same breath desired to know if he was

fully aware of the nature of the offense he had committed.” Holtzclaw said after four

years in the Confederate Army he knew the rules of war.

“Looking the officer steadily in the eye, he said, ‘Colonel, when a flag is left

unprotected, isn’t it the property of the enemy, provided the enemy can get it?’”

The officer winced a little, but replied that it was not supposed there was an enemy in

the vicinity. Holtzclaw answered if there was not there would not be much need for

soldiers to be around. The officer then asked him what he intended to do with the

things he had taken. Holtzclaw said his intention was to make the finest bridle in

Texas out of the rope and decorate it becomingly with the silver spearhead.

Holtzclaw was released without penalty, and handed over the spearhead and cord to a

soldier who was sent after them, and no more was heard of the matter. Curiously, Union

Army records do not mention the incident, but Holtzclaw was considered a hero in his

neighborhood.

According to accounts, Holtzclaw was born at Andrew Jackson’s Nashville, Tenn., estate

The Hermitage on March 20, 1833, where his father, Warner Bernard Holtzclaw, worked as

an overseer. The family moved to Washington, Texas, in 1836 to become hotel keepers.

At age 14, after James Holtzclaw’s parents died, he was bound to William Rutledge of

Washington County to learn the blacksmith trade, but he ran away to search for gold.

The unsuccessful treasure hunt dissolved in 1852, with Holtzclaw stopping in El Paso

before moving to Washington County and relocating to Milam County in 1855. He married

Elizabeth T. Sanford in 1857, and settled on land between the San Gabriel and Little

rivers. Holtzclaw’s farm eventually spread over 2,300 acres. The couple had three

children, John E. Holtzclaw, Martha R. Holtzclaw Davis and James Holtzclaw.

Though he was born on an estate that became a national landmark, James Holtzclaw is

buried in an isolated, weed-choked and damaged family graveyard off FM 487 in Milam

County.

The Holtzclaw Cemetery — with 20 identified burial sites, including Holtzclaw’s wife,

Elizabeth; their son James, and daughter-in-law Melia Lizzie — is the only relic from

the vast family holdings that originated with a land grant, reported Norrine Holder

Holman, who wrote the book “170 Years of Cemetery Records in Milam County.”

jwilliams@tdtnews.com

All articles from the Temple Daily Telegram are published with the permission of the
Temple Daily Telegram.
All credit for this article goes to
Jeanne Williams and the Temple Daily Telegram

Courtesy of James H. Holtzclaw

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James Holtzclaw - Milamn County Texas Civil War hero

James H. Holtzclaw's Civil War escapade won him notoriety in Texas History