Mathew Caldwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matthew Caldwell
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Monument at the gravesite of Matthew Caldwell.
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| Born | March 8, 1798 |
| Died | December 28, 1842 (aged 44) |
| Resting place | Gonzales City Cemetery |
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| Children | 3 |
Matthew Caldwell (March 8, 1798 – December 28, 1842) was an important Texas settler and military leader in the 1800s. He was also known as Mathew Caldwell. He served as a Captain of the Gonzales – Seguin Rangers. He also signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. Because he rode to gather support before the Battle of Gonzales, some people call him the Paul Revere of Texas.
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Matthew Caldwell's Early Life
Matthew Caldwell was born in Kentucky on March 8, 1798. People sometimes called him "Old Paint." In 1818, he moved to Missouri with his family. There, he learned about trading and the ways of the Native American people.
He and his family arrived in the Green DeWitt Colony in Texas on February 20, 1831. A few months later, he received land near Hallettsville, Texas. Caldwell settled in Gonzales and became well-known. He helped with security and led local volunteer groups.
Caldwell and the Texas Revolution
Matthew Caldwell played a big part in the Texas Revolution. In October 1835, before the Battle of Gonzales, he rode from Gonzales to Mina. He told colonists that the volunteer army urgently needed their help. This ride is why some compare him to Paul Revere.
During the Battle of Gonzales, he worked as a scout and helped solve problems. In November 1835, Texas leaders created a temporary government. This government allowed 25 Rangers to be recruited. Caldwell was chosen to help supply and manage a volunteer army for the Siege of Béxar and the Alamo.
Signing the Texas Declaration of Independence
On February 1, 1836, Caldwell and John Fisher were chosen to represent Gonzales. They went to the Texas Independence Convention of 1836 at Washington on the Brazos. On March 2, both men signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.
The convention also asked Caldwell to join a committee. This group had to check on the enemy and the Texian army's condition. They sent messages about independence to different settlements. Caldwell went with them, watching how the new republic was doing.
Forming the Gonzales Ranging Company
On February 4, 1836, Matthew Caldwell, Byrd Lockhart, and William A. Matthews were asked to form a volunteer group. This group was called the Gonzales Ranging Company. By March 23, 1836, the company was ready.
When Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis asked for help at the Alamo, twelve of these rangers responded. They left Gonzales on February 27, led by Lieutenant George C. Kimble. Twenty more men joined them on their way to the Alamo.
The Immortal 32 at the Alamo
The Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers was mostly made up of family men from Gonzales. They gathered after Travis sent his famous plea for help, "To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World."
On the evening of February 27, the Gonzales Rangers left Gonzales. They were led by Lieutenant George C. Kimble and Captain Albert Martin. Martin was the messenger who brought Travis's appeal to Gonzales.
Of the original 23 rangers, twelve are believed to have entered the Alamo on March 1. All but one of them died there. Other people, like Lockhart and John William Smith, went with the 32 Rangers into the Alamo but left later as couriers.
A group of 25 men left Gonzales on the 27th. As they traveled, eight more men joined them, making the group 32 strong. The youngest Alamo defender, 16-year-old William Philip King, joined this group. He took his father's place because his father was sick.
On March 1, at 3 AM, the group bravely rushed into the Alamo. They were shot at by Alamo guards but managed to get inside. These 32 brave men are known as the "Immortal Thirty-Two." They were likely the only reinforcements to reach the Alamo during the siege. They all died defending the fort in the battle of the Alamo.
Life in the Republic of Texas
After the revolution, settlers returned to Gonzales in late 1837. The town was mostly destroyed. The Comanche people had also returned to claim the area. Caldwell became the first Law Enforcement Official, or Sheriff, for Gonzales County and nearby areas.
Founding Seguin, Texas
In 1838, Caldwell and other rangers helped found the town of Walnut Branch. This area was a favorite camping spot for rangers before the revolution.
Caldwell also formed a frontier ranger company of 29 men. They built a log fort to protect the residents. These rangers only gathered when there was a serious problem. In October 1838, Native Americans raided the town and took two young women and some children. The rangers chased them but could not catch them. The rangers often worked with friendly Native American groups.
Defending the Frontier
Rumors of Mexico planning to attack Texas again began to spread. On January 15, 1839, Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar made Caldwell a captain. His job was to recruit a company of Gonzales Rangers to defend the Texas border.
By March 23, 1839, Caldwell had his company of rangers ready. On March 29, 1839, General Edward Burleson's company of 80 men defeated Vicente Córdova and his rebels. This fight happened near Seguin, Texas, at "Battleground Prairie." Córdova escaped, but Caldwell's Rangers chased him, making sure he left Texas.
Caldwell's Rangers in 1839
During this time, Lieutenant James Campbell and half of Caldwell's Rangers were stationed at the Seguin outpost. They protected the new town and other areas near Gonzales.
The officers of this Ranger company included:
- Captain Matthew Caldwell
- 1st Lt. James Campbell
- 2nd Lt. Canah C. Colley
Defending Texas in the 1840s
Native Americans continued to cause problems for the new Republic. In March 1840, Caldwell attended a meeting to trade captives with the Comanches. However, the meeting turned violent, leading to the Council House Fight, where Caldwell was wounded.
He recovered in time to lead a company at the battle of Plum Creek on August 12, 1840. In 1841, Caldwell was captain of a scouting group in the Texan Santa Fe Expedition. He and other members were captured and put in prison in Mexico. After being released, he went to San Antonio to face Mexican forces that were invading there.
On September 18, 1842, Caldwell led 200 men from Gonzales, Seguin, San Antonio, and nearby settlements. They fought and defeated General Adrián Woll at the Battle of Salado Creek.
Matthew Caldwell's Family and Death
In 1826, when he was 28, Matthew Caldwell married Martha A. They had three children:
- Curtis (born 1827)
- Lucy Ann (1829–1906)
- Martha Elizabeth (1831–1892)
Martha died around 1833 in Gonzales, Texas. On May 17, 1837, Matthew, then 39, married Hannah Morrison in Washington County, Texas.
Matthew Caldwell died at his home in Gonzales on December 28, 1842. He was buried with honors as a military hero.
Matthew Caldwell's Legacy
Caldwell County, Texas was created in 1848 and named to honor Matthew Caldwell. In 1930, the state of Texas honored him with a monument at his grave in Gonzales. His image is also on the outside of the 1936 Texas Hall of State Building in Dallas.
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