Sam Houston

"All is well." - the final words of Sam Houston.


This Christmas, I was gifted a copy of James L. Haley's book on Sam Houston. As a fond student of history, I looked forward to learning quite a bit more about one of the founding fathers of Texas. My school textbooks barely discussed him in much detail aside from when it comes to recounting the Texan War of Independence. His career and achievements span a far greater period of history, and I'm pleased to say Mr. Haley's work gives the full breadth of his life a fine accounting.

James Haley frankly admits that, in the preface of the book, he had three goals in mind. Many prior histories and biographies of Houston tended toward the partisan, both for and against their subject, and he desired to be objective. He also lamented how earlier biographies used historical records of dubious validity and wanted to cross-reference as many reliable accounts as existed at the time he was writing the manuscript. His final goal was to examine Sam Houston in all his glory and destard equally. He would provide his own analysis, but whether he was a man of virtue or a man of vice he wanted the reader to ultimately judge.

As to the first goal, Haley has included many sources including many personal letters and documents not used in earlier books, some in praise, some in scorn, but Mr. Haley gives due weight to both. His own position is apparently positive, but every contentious part of Houston's life such as his first marriage and his potential political skullduggery over the acquisition of Mexico in potential collusion with the United States are admitted in deep question as to Houston's probity on some details. He takes frequent breaks while recounting Houston's life to refute the more baseless libel used by Houston's detractors, though he concedes whenever any of it had any basis in fact. As to whether Sam Houston was a man of honor or a villain regarded positively by the naive lacking hindsight of biographers, it's revealed via Haley he had much to praise and much to condemn.

I came away with several of my own observations from the text. Sam Houston could be a disreputable man haunted by a disposition for wrath and spent several disgraceful years in the throes of alcohol addiction. He also showed courage in battle, wisdom as a statesman both as President of the Lone Star Republic and as a senator for Texas after her union with the United States, and restraint both personal and political to avoid disunion and political violence.

His political views in many areas were quite enlightened. He lived as a brother among the Cherokee tribes and often argued for their welfare even when other men sought to cheat them. He also was a committed Unionist and refused to wheel and deal backdoors for political gain even to his own detriment. His married life was rocky, with a first wife he divorced under deeply contentious circumstances and in his personal life managed to make many great enemies despite not overly trying to accrue many of them.

As regards his contributions to both Tennessee and Texas, over which he governed, he deserves high praise for conscience, honesty, and attentiveness to the people during his terms. As to whether he deserved laurels as a founding son of Texas as she (as a US state) is now known, his battle prowess in her defense and his able governing during her founding years brought her glory and peace. Conversely, he failed despite all efforts to convince Texas to remain loyal to the Union during the Civil War, but in fairness, he certainly tried.

Overall, I found this a very good read. It's a very lengthy and meaty book, and while I consider myself something of a speed reader, it took a few days for me to finish this book. Its sheer depth of detail as Haley laid out meticulous cross references of all the details of Sam Houston's life required me to take my time. I learned how to separate a lot of fact from fiction due to Haley's calm yet thorough breakdown of Houston's life from the cradle to the grave. The final words of Houston's life were that all was well before he breathed his last, and like Houston, I echo his sentiments regarding this account of Houston's life, and all was well with me for having been given the opportunity to read it.

This book can be purchased in hardcover, softcover, and in Kindle format.
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