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Runaway Scrape Oak LbNA #68090

Owner:Silver Eagle Supporter Verified
Plant date:Jan 30, 2015
Location: Independence Park
City:Gonzales
County:Gonzales
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: Gryzzled Gryphon
Last found:Mar 23, 2015
Status:F
Last edited:Jan 30, 2015
*** Part of my Famous Trees Of TX Series ***
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (flat, 100 yards RT)
Status: alive


Texans are fortunate to have such a rich and colorful historic heritage and trees which serve as witnesses to some of these historic events. Texas has also been blessed with trees famous for being the largest of their kind in America. "Famous Trees Of Texas" is a book written in 1970 by the Texas Forest Service that describes these trees, and this series will take you to some of them.


On March 13, 1836, at the foot of this giant live oak, General Sam Houston and a force of less than 400 Texans camped on the first night of their historic retreat from Gonzales, a retreat often referred to as the Runaway Scrape. At sunrise on March 14, 1836, Houston mounted his horse under this famous oak, which became known as the Runaway Scrape Oak (or Sam Houston Oak), and told his men that those who stayed behind must suffer the consequences. He and an army of about 374 men continued east to the Brazos and then south to engage Santa Anna in the decisive Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. You can view the tree on private property from the road, then go to Independence Park to find this box.

Directions:
From Gonzales go east on Hwy 90 about 7.5 miles to CR 361, turn left and go 0.3 miles to view the Runaway Scrape Oak on the left with sign saying Sam Houston Oak. For the letterbox, go back to Gonzales and turn left on St. Louis Street for about 2 miles to Water Street. Turn left for about 0.5 mile and turn right into Independence Park. Bear left at Y jct and bear right into RV camping area and go to the end and park near site RV22.

Clues:
Walk NE 60 steps to large tree with Y trunk on bluff overlooking the river. LB is at left base under rocks and sticks. Please replace as described and be discreet.