1Lieut. Joe Garza - Tejano Confederado
In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, let’s talk about some of those brave Tejanos who defended their homes from the cruel Yankee invaders.
The below poem was found among the papers of Capt. Manuel Yturri, of San Antonio. Capt. Yturri served in Co. F, 3rd Texas Infantry Regiment. He rose from lieutenant to captain. He first enlisted in Capt. Samuel McCallister’s “Alamo Rifles” as a private in 1862. The Alamo Rifles became part of the 6th Texas Infantry. Later, Yturri transferred to Col. James Duff’s 33rd Texas Cavalry. He then was elected lieutenant in the 3rd Texas Infantry in 1863. Col. Philip N. Luckett raised the 3rd Texas in Bexar, Gillespie, San Patricio and Travis counties. The regiment included many foreign-born soldiers and Tejanos.
In January, 1863, the entire 6th Texas Infantry was captured at the Battle of Arkansas Post. Yturri was on leave, so avoided capture himself. Later that year, he transferred to the Third Texas Infantry. In 1863, the Third Texas was sent to Brownsville where the men…