Burnam's Ferry
La Grange vicinity, Fayette County, Texas
Marker Inscription
First ferry in present-day Fayette County. Established about 1824 at the crossing of the La Bahia Road by Jesse Burnam. After the Army of the Republic of Texas crossed on March 19, 1836, the ferry was destroyed by order of General Sam Houston to prevent its use by the advancing Mexican Army.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In the mid-1820s, as Stephen F. Austin's colonists were spreading across the lower Colorado River country, Jesse Burnam set up a ferry where the old La Bahia Road met the water — the first in what is now Fayette County. It became a vital link on a route that carried settlers, traders, and travelers deep into Mexican Texas. During the frantic retreat of the 'Runaway Scrape' in March 1836, the Army of the Republic of Texas crossed here, and Sam Houston ordered the ferry destroyed so the pursuing Mexican army could not follow.
Why it matters
River crossings like Burnam's were the arteries of frontier Texas, and this one's deliberate destruction shows how ordinary infrastructure became a weapon in the fight for independence.
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Related people
- · Jesse Burnam
- · Sam Houston
Related events
- · Texas Revolution
- · Runaway Scrape
Themes & tags
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