The Twin Sisters are a pair of cannons used by Texas Military Forces during the Texas Revolution. They are among the most famous artillery in Texas military history with the "Come and Take It" cannon starting the revolution at the Battle of Gonzales and the Twin Sisters winning it at the Battle of San Jacinto. The Twin Sisters were also potentially used during the Mexican Invasions of 1842 and American Civil War.
Their disappearance and ensuing search efforts have fueled their notoriety, colloquially referred to as the "Texas Holy Grail."
History Provenance Nearly every aspect of the Twin Sisters is debated among historians, archaeologists, and treasure hunters including their design, type (iron or bronze), caliber (four or six pounder), foundry of fabrication (Hawkins and Tatum or Eagle Iron Works/Greenwood), origin of the "Twin Sisters" moniker, where they were used, and where they disappeared.
The earliest and most credible primary source of their name, origin, and role comes from a letter by President of the Republic of Texas, David G. Burnet 92 days after the Battle of San Jacinto. It was written on July 22, 1836 and published in the Telegraph and Texas Register (Columbia, TX Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1) on Tuesday, August 30, 1836:
Name The origin of the "Twin Sisters" moniker is debated.
The first documented use of the name comes from a letter by President of the Republic of Texas, David G. Burnet 92 days after the Battle of San Jacinto. It was written on July 22, 1836 and published in the Telegraph and Texas Register (Columbia, TX Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1) on Tuesday, August 30, 1836:
An exposition of the most repeated provenance comes from Elizabeth Mars (née Rice) Stapp in a letter to the editor of The Houston Daily Post on August 24, 1897 — 61 years after the Battle of San Jacinto. It was published in the post (Vol. THIRTEENTH YEAR, No. 147, Ed. 1) on Sunday, August 29, 1897:
Cincinnati connection Why Cincinnatians aided Texas is debated. Among the theories include: Robert Todd Lytle led a fund raising initiative for the cannons because he believed "that as American citizens, we can do no less than encourage the Spirit of Freedom, wherever or by whatever people it might be displayed". David T. Disney, whose brother Richard Disney was executed in the Goliad Massacre, purportedly worked with Robert Todd Lylte on fund raising. Andrew M. Clopper, who served in the Texian Army, is the son of Nicholas Clopper, a land speculator in Cincinnati who owned Morgan's Point, purportedly worked with Robert Todd Lylte on fund raising. Thomas F. Corry, an emigrant from Cincinnati who served in the Texian Army, may have been related to the "William Corry" of whom President Burnet addressed in his letter of thanks on July 22, 1836. Society of the Cincinnati, a fraternity of American Revolutionary War officers dedicated to promoting freedom. Approximately 59 veterans of the American Revolutionary War are buried in Texas and at least 4 are known to have also fought in the Texas Revolution: Benjamin W. Anderson, Alexander Hodge, Antonio Gil Y'Barbo. The fourth, Stephen Williams, also fought in the War of 1812.
On April 7, 1895, Andrew Jackson Houston gifted Santa Anna's dagger, a war trophy from the Battle of San Jacinto, to Cincinnatians.
Texas Revolution The Twin Sisters played a vital role as the only Texian artillery in the Battle of San Jacinto, which effectively ended the Texas Revolution and established the Republic of Texas.
They arrived at Brazoria on March 28, 1836 and were received by Captain John M. Allen as the Texian Army, under command of General Sam Houston, was maneuvering against the Mexican Army, under command of General Santa Anna, near San Felipe de Austin, approximately 90 miles away. Fearful of interception, quartermaster general Colonel Almanzon Huston ordered the Twin Sisters to Galveston Island via the schooner Pennsylvania. They arrived on April 3 and were received by Colonel Edward Harcourt. Secretary of War David Thomas then ordered the steamboat Ohio under command of Captain Aaron Burns to retrieve them via the Buffalo Bayou for relocation to Harrisburg. The Ohio arrived at New Washington on April 6 where the schooner Flash, under the command of Captain Luke Falval and supervision of Secretary of the Navy Robert Potter, were waiting with the Twin Sisters.
The Twin Sisters arrived in Harrisburg on April 8 and were loaded onto bullock carts by Major Leander Smith, Captain John M. Allen, and Captain Alfred Henderson Wyly for transport to the Bernardo Plantation (near Hempstead) where the Texian Army was now encamped. The 44,000 acre plantation was the first and largest cotton plantation in Texas. It was established by Old Three Hundred settler Jared E. Groce who freely provided refuge to the Texian cause. Stalled by the "sea of mud" from April showers, the detachment completed the 60 mile trip on April 13. They are received by Lieutenant Colonel James C. Neill, who assigns a company of nine soldiers to each cannon: ArtilleryCommanding OfficerSenior Enlisted AdvisorCrewCrewCrewCrewCrewCrewCrewTwin BatteryCPT George W. Poe1SG Thomas P. PlasterPVT Soloman B. BardwellPVT George W. SeatonPVT Willis CollinsPVT Thomas N.B. GreerPVT Hugh M. SwiftPVT Joseph FloydPVT Daniel T. DunhamTwin BatteryCPT Isaac N Moreland1SG Richardson A. ScurryPVT Alfred BentonPVT Montgomery BaxterPVT John M. WadePVT Ellis BensonPVT Benjamin McCullochPVT John P. FerrellPVT Thomas Green On April 20, the Twin Sisters are engaged in combat for the first time during a skirmish near San Jacinto. Artillery commanders from both armies were severely wounded. Mexican commander of the "Golden Standard" Captain Fernando Urriza is relieved by Lieutenant Ygnacio Joaquin del Arenal. Texian commander Lieutenant Colonel James C. Neill is relieved by Inspector General Lieutenant Colonel George Washington Hockley. On April 21 at 4:30p CST, the Twin Sisters, positioned in the center of the formation, initiated the Battle of San Jacinto with the first volley into Mexican forces. With major combat over in 18 minutes, a 1.5:1 strength ratio, and a 28:1 casualty ratio, it is considered by some historians among the most one-sided victories in history. The Twins Sisters final role in the revolution were providing security for the 300 prisoners of war during the Treaties of Velasco.
Sources
Antebellum As of 2019, only a few primary sources have been unrecovered mentioning the Twin Sisters following the Texas Revolution. Adding to the extensive confusion of the historical record is the introduction of replicas purchased by various Texas cities, conflation of other artillery by various Texas military units, and the annexation of the Texas Army and Navy into the United States Armed Forces in 1845.
Mexican Invasions of 1842 The last documented mention of the Twin Sisters occurred during the ongoing military raids and expeditions that followed the Texas Revolution, including a report ordering them to defense in 1842, and a work order in 1843, indicating they may have been used:
23 June 1842, ordered to San Felipe de Austin by Secretary of War & Marine George W. Hockley "to be in readiness for transportation to any point that may be designated in opening the mediated campaign." Note: Hockley was the commanding officer of artillery during the Battle of San Jacinto 24 March 1843, ordered by the Ordnance Department to Frederick Schierman for various maintenance.
Houston Twins
13 December 1841, used for Sam Houston's inauguration as President of the Republic of Texas 1853, used for BBB&C Railway's dedication ceremony 1859, used for Sam Houston's inauguration as Governor of Texas
Presumed final sightings 8 February 1864 — dispatch by Confederate Lieutenant Walter W. Blow stating Twin Sisters were in transit to Colonel John S. Ford in San Antonio Ford took six cannons to Brownsville (presumably including the Twin Sisters) and used them in the Battle of Palmito Ranch Twin Sisters were left in Fort Brown after Ford learning outcome of Battle of Appomattox Court House 30 July 1865 — journal entry by Union Corporal M. A. Sweetman saw them in a scrap pile in Houston
Disappearance theories Date of LossTheoryDate of TheoryTheoristPrimary Source ReferenceJuly 1836Lost to quicksand ~40 miles outside of Goliad5/1/1917Dr. Joseph Osterman Dyer15 August 1865Buried by Henry North Graves, Sol Thomas, Ira Pruitt, Jack Taylor, and John Barnett in the woods near Harrisburg6/28/1921Henry North Graves1865Melted for scrap by Union Army6/15/2010Jeffrey W. Hunt Notable search efforts Date Location Person / OrganizationResult(s)Ref1849PSAProfessor R.C. Matthewson / Texas State GazetteFirst public inquiry after annexation1872At-largeColonel James Davidson, Adjutant General of Texas / Texas Military DepartmentAbandoned > fled Texas on corruption charges1878At-largeSarah and Cornelia Disney / wife and daughter of purported financier David T. Disney, who was the brother of Richard Disney, a veteran executed in the Goliad MassacreFirst major effort to locate Twin Sisters1893At-largeDaughters of the Republic of TexasUncovered Henry North Graves burial theory1908–1910At-largeCaptain William C. Day, Superintendent / Texas Public Buildings and Grounds1987–1997Brays Bayou, HarrisburgClive Cussler / National Underwater and Marine AgencyDiscovered the Zavala and potential location of the Invincible
Legacy
7 April 1895, Andrew Jackson Houston gifted Santa Anna's dagger, a war trophy from the Battle of San Jacinto, to Cincinnatians 2 March 1897, University of Texas students "borrowed" a Twin from the capitol and fired it for Texas Independence Day, establishing a Texas Exes tradition. 1910, Featured on Sam Houston Grave Monument designed by Pompeo Coppini 1939, Twin Sisters Monument featured at San Jacinto Monument 1985, Twin Sisters exhibit featured in the San Jacinto Museum. Fabricated by students at University of Houston College of Technology. 1992, Twin Sisters exhibit featured in the Great Hall of Texas Military Forces Museum. Fabricated in 1975 by the "Guard of the Republic" to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States.
See also List of conflicts involving the Texas Military Awards and decorations of the Texas Military
References Twin Sisters plaque, Twins Sisters exhibit, Great Hall, Texas Military Forces Museum, August 2019