Damacio Galván

 

 

Damacio Galván ( at times written Damazo ) was among the settlers who came from San Antonio. He served with the Tejano militia under Juan N. Seguin, who stormed and captured Bexar on December 18, 1835, during Texas' independence revolt against Mexico.

Among others in this company were Vicente Garza, Manuel Leal, Salvador Flores, Francisco Salinas, Crescenscio Montes & Manuel Montalvo. Four of these men were also present in the summer of 1839, in a three week campaign against hostile Comanches with capt. L.B. Franks & Juan Seguin, which included 55 Anglos and 55 Tejanos.

Later in September of 1839, he served in a company organized by Jose Ma. Gonzalez, against hostile indians. This group consisted of 50 men which departed San Antonio on September 10 and returned on November 21, 1839.

On August 28, 1840 Damacio along with Manuel Montalvo, were assigned as "spies" against the hostile Indians. They were under the command of colonel W.M. Cooke, of the 1st Infantry regiment of the Texas Army, 2nd division.

In October of 1840, He served in a campaign under the command of Maj. G. T. Howard against the hostile indians. The Anglos were in the company of capt. L.R. Cunningham, while the Tejanos in the company of capt. Salvador Flores. This campaign lasted 40 days.

Also in the fall of 1840, Damacio served as a scout for the "Hammond Campaign" against hostile Indians, and again in 1841 he served in the Hays company of militiamen.

On March 8, 1841, Damacio recieved as pay for his services rendered as a "spy" from the 11th of November, to the 29th of January, the sum of $553.33

On April 23,1857, Damacio was granted a pension for his military services to the former Republic of Texas. A few years later, in the first years of the settlement of Resurrección he was killed by indians, the Jiménez records do not state the date, only that he went to confront a hostile Indian party, and in the ensuing gunbattle he lost his life. It's possible that he may have been one of the victims of the 1861 Indian attack on the settlement.

He was married to Juana de Arcos, and they had a son who was also named Damacio. After his death, it is known that his widow was not included in the land grants to the original settlers that took place in 1870. Subsequently, the widow doña de Arcos filed legal petitions stating her case until finally the governor of Coahuila ruled on her behalf, and she was given lot number 76, next to doña Casimira Casillas widow of captain Manuel Leal.

 

 

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