General H and the Women

Yesterday, we took up Sam Houston and the mystery of Eliza Allen.  I do believe I pointed out that SH had trouble determining what women want.  So let's continue from there, with "The Big Drunk."

As is often the case with a shattered man, another woman stepped in to pick up the pieces.  This was Tiana, a member of the tribe which had adopted the lost man.  In "white" culture, she would become known as Diana Rogers, the great-grandmother of famous Cherokee raconteur Will.  This tall, attractive widow of 30 became Houston's second wife in the customary ceremony, as she had fallen in love.

Now remember, he and Eliza had not yet gotten a bill of divorcement, as it was called, passed through the Tennessee legislature.  Hard to believe it was ever that difficult to get unhitched, but it was.  This did not set well with the people of his state when word got back to them.  They saw Houston as a barbarian who had, at the very least, abandoned Eliza, and he effectively burned his bridges behind him.

But the marriage to Tiana did not last.  She, too, was left behind when the former governor crossed the Sabine River in February, 1832, ignoring Mexican law against Americans doing so.  In the province, he took up residence in Nacogdoches, where he became deeply involved in political affairs--and those of the heart.

The new victim of his affections was Anna Raguet, all of 17, who came from an excellent local family.  Houston may have chosen often, but he chose well.  Of Swiss descent, Anna was considered a great beauty, with fair skin, large eyes, and dark curls.  She was well educated, impressively intelligent, and charmingly musical.  Despite the age difference (which seemed to be Houston's preference), they spent much time together and began to talk of marriage.  But his divorce from Eliza was not finalized.

And he was involved in a law practice and politics, which led him to spend more time away from Anna.  When he rode off to command the revolutionary army, she made a sash for him, as was the custom, and kept a lock of his hair.  After he was elected president of the fledgling Texas Republic, he continued to stay in contact with her and seek his divorce.  His secretary of state, Robert Irion, carried letters back and forth between the two, though they did not visit, and the inevitable happened.  Houston finally found himself free--and the Irions were married in 1837.  C'est la guerre.  C'est la vie. 

Anna and Robert were famously happy together.  She even caused a stir by appearing in public in the very last days of her pregnancy, ignoring class convention.  So things had worked out in their own way.  Houston had his divorce, Anna married the man she loved, and, unfortunately, poor Tiana had died of a fever.  The right woman was out there though.

Margaret Lea, of Alabama, had first seen the newly-wounded hero of San Jacinto when she was only 14.  Upon glimpsing him at a New Orleans dock, where he hobbled ashore in great pain, she was so touched that she cried in sympathy.  After the Raguet incident, she met Houston formally when he visited mutual friends in Georgia.  All agree that here was the most striking of his paramours.  With dark violet eyes, jet black hair, and pale ivory skin, Lea painted a slim, petite portrait of femininity.  But this was no pushover.  Houston had met his match.  They married in 1840.  He was 47; she was 21.

This was a very romantic and private couple.  They wrote sensitive poetry and lengthy letters.  And while Margaret had no qualms about sharing her opinions and feelings with her husband, she was renowned throughout the nation and then the state as the perfect political wife.  And they adored each other.

The former first president of Texas had found out quickly that his betrothed was also very Baptist.  He had gone through only one religious formality, having been baptized a Catholic upon settling in Nacogdoches, as was the law of Mexico.  Otherwise, he'd had not so much as a brush with any denomination.  But Margaret was determined to whip him into shape in this area--almost literally.

During one buggy excursion in Austin, during his second presidential term, he cursed vehemently at the horse, as it was ignoring his prodding.  With this, his diminutive wife snatched up the whip and threatened him with it.  She proceeded to force him down from the buggy and onto his knees in the street.  There, the great general did as he was told and prayed for forgiveness.  Sam Houston had become a Baptist.

He and Margaret spent the remainder of his life together.  She bore him eight children, supported his opposition to secession (you read it right), saw him bless his sons as they fought for the Confederacy, and buried him when he died in 1863.  His last word was "Margaret."

She followed him in death only five years later.  The cause was unknown, or so we are told.  Maybe she just remembered that "the two shall be as one."  At any rate, their story was either the end of his troubles or the beginning, depending on your point of view.

VK