Linnville, Calhoun County, Texas facts for kids

Linnville, Texas was a town in the Republic of Texas, which is now part of Calhoun County. It was started in 1831 but was completely destroyed in a big event called the Great Raid of 1840.

What Was Linnville?

Linnville was an important port town located on Lavaca Bay. It was a busy place for trade and shipping in the early days of Texas. However, its story came to a sudden end in August 1840 when it was attacked by a group of Comanche warriors.

The Great Raid of 1840

The attack on Linnville, along with the nearby town of Victoria, was led by a powerful Comanche war chief named Buffalo Hump. This event is known as the largest raid by Native Americans on cities in what would become the United States. At the time, Texas was its own country, the Republic of Texas, not yet part of the U.S.

During the raid, the Comanches took over Linnville, taking many things and then setting the town on fire. The port was so badly damaged that it was never rebuilt. Luckily, most of the people living in Linnville managed to escape to safety. They quickly got into small boats and a larger ship in the bay, watching from the water as their town burned to the ground.

Why Did the Raid Happen?

The raid on Linnville and Victoria was not a random event. It was part of a long and difficult period of fighting between the Comanches and the Texans. Both sides had reasons for their actions, leading to a series of attacks and counter-attacks.

The Council House Fight

The trouble began a few months earlier, in March 1840, with an event called the Council House Fight in San Antonio. Comanche leaders had come to San Antonio to talk about peace and try to make a treaty. However, during these talks, officials from the Republic of Texas tried to capture the Comanche chiefs. This led to a terrible fight where many Comanche leaders and their families were killed.

Comanche Revenge

The Comanches were very angry about what happened at the Council House Fight. To get revenge, they launched the big raid on Victoria and Linnville in August 1840. This was their way of striking back at the Texans for the lives lost.

Texan Retaliation

The Texans quickly responded to the destruction of Linnville. Soon after the raid, they fought the Comanches in the Battle of Plum Creek, near Lockhart, Texas. This battle was the Texans' way of fighting back as the Comanches were leaving Linnville.

The Texans continued their revenge later that year. In October 1840, an expedition led by Colonel John Henry Moore attacked a Comanche village. This attack, near what is now Colorado City, was another act of revenge by the Texans against the Penateka Comanches for the raid on Linnville and Victoria.