JULY 1867 AND A MILITARY TAKEOVER OF TEXAS HAPPENS… QUIETLY.

JULY 30, 1867. AUSTIN. AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, TEXAS IS IN TURMOIL. CONTROLLED BY THE UNION ARMY, THE STATE JUST LAST YEAR ELECTED IT’S FIRST POST-WAR GOVERNOR, JAMES THROCKMORTON.

THROCKMORTON IS A RELUCTANT REBEL WHO OPPOSED SECESSION BUT FOUGHT FOR THE CONFEDERACY. NOW, AS GOVERNOR, HE’S SLOW TO DEFEND BLACKS AND UNIONISTS FROM REPRISALS.

WITH THE BACKING OF CONGRESS, UNION GENERAL PHIL SHERIDAN REMOVES THROCKMORTON FROM OFFICE, AND PUTS HIS FORMER OPPONENT E.M. PEASE IN HIS PLACE.

THROCKMORTON LEFT OFFICE CALMLY AND SOME SAY… GLADLY.

A QUIET MILITARY COUP HAPPENED IN TEXAS 144 YEARS AGO, THIS WEEK IN TEXAS HISTORY.