Hondo Creek | |
Texas | |
Country | ![]() |
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State | ![]() |
Source | Texas Hill Country |
- location | Bandera County, Texas |
- elevation | 577 m (1,893 ft) |
- coordinates | 29°42′58″N 99°23′16″W / 29.71611°N 99.38778°W |
Mouth | Frio River |
- location | Frio County, Texas |
- elevation | 182 m (597 ft) |
- coordinates | 28°56′37″N 99°10′44″W / 28.94361°N 99.17889°WCoordinates: 28°56′37″N 99°10′44″W / 28.94361°N 99.17889°W |
Battle of the Arroyo Hondo | |||||||
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Part of Woll Expedition | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Mathew Caldwell | Adrián Woll | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown |
Texan victory;
Hondo Creek is a tributary of the Frio River in Texas that rises in Bandera County northwest of Tarpley and runs approximately 67 miles to its mouth near Pearsall, Texas. The creek crosses through three counties including Bandera, Medina, and Frio.
Hondo (Spanish for deep) Creek begins in the Texas Hill Country. The initially broken waters of the stream travels through limestone benches and steep slopes until the land flattens near Tarpley. This section of the creek is generally shallow with a bottom of clay loam, which serves as a habitat for Ashe juniper and live oak woods. As it runs south, the creek grows in depth in the surrounding rolling plain, and a mixture of clay with a large concentration of sand is found in its bed. As the tributary approaches its mouth, the environment changes to fertile crop lands with Mesquite trees growing along its bank.
Hondo Creek where it meets Quahi Creek was the site of the Battle of the Arroyo Hondo in 1842. The battle occurred following the third in a series of three invasions by Mexican forces in 1842 to reclaim territory lost during the 1836 Texas Revolution. After the 1200-man Mexican army was defeated in San Antonio by Mathew Caldwell and 200 gathered Texans, the forces of Mexican General Adrián Woll headed west. On September 21, they met up with a few Texas Rangers, who were part of the Texas forces, Under the command of John Coffee Hays, known as "Captain Yak" by the Indians, the Rangers attacked on the banks of the creek, and a battle ensued. Four Rangers were wounded including Samuel Luckie. The Rangers captured a cannon battery but had to abandon it, as the Texas Army did not advance to their position.