Texas Brave and Strong Podcast

The Runaway Scrape was a chaotic episode (in late 1835 and early 1836) during the Texas Revolution. When Santa Anna suspended the Mexican Constitution and declared martial law, Texians rebelled and Santa Anna invaded Texas. The resulting flight of settlers eastward, to escape Santa Anna's relentless pursuit, was one of desperation and life-threatening conditions.

Stories--both funny and serious--from when camels were part of the US Army in early Texas and after camels joined the Confederacy during the Civil War. Plus, a bit about how camels became Texans.

In the first year of the Civil War War, the Confederacy had no navy. This caused President Jefferson Davis to take an unusual strategic step. He licensed private ships (called privateers) to sail the Confederate coastline and capture Union merchant ships and their cargos, distracting the Union's warships from their blockading efforts and disrupting the North's merchant fleet.

It was a swashbuckling time of legal piracy, ocean battles, death trials, and a brilliant, life-saving negotiation by Jefferson Davis.

Find the historic story here.

Topsy, a 100-year-old camel, and the "Red Ghost are true Texas legends.

Roy Bean was a fugitive from the law. Then he became Judge Roy Bean, "The Law West of the Pecos," and practiced his own unique form of justice with saloon patrons as jurors.

An invention that tamed the West, and it all started with a wandering cow.

From ghost stories and Indians to Civil War fugitives, Texas' Big Thicket's history is about more than lumber and oil.

Belle Starr was almost as famous as Billy The Kid. Listen to find out why!

Big Foot Wallace is Captured by Indians and learns an Indian legend.

Forget Scarlet O'Hara--Meet Lucy Pickens!