Ewen Cameron (Captain)
Encyclopedia
Captain Ewen Cameron was an officer in the Republic of Texas
army, and participated in the ill-fated Mier Expedition
.
Cameron, who had migrated from Scotland
to Kentucky, had come to Texas in 1836, arriving just after the Texas Revolution
.
On December 26, 1842, The Mier Expedition was a failed raid on the Mexican border settlement of Ciudad Mier
. Cameron and the Texans were taken prisoner and sent to a prison in Mexico. At Perote Prison, a jar containing 159 white beans and 17 black beans was presented to the Texan prisoners. Each man drew a bean from the jar. The 17 Texan prisoners who drew black beans were executed by Mexican firing squad. This is known as the Black Bean Episode.
Cameron had selected a white bean, which should have saved his life. Yet he had earned the hostility of Mexican Colonel Antonio Canales Rosillo
for his role in his embarrassing defeat in the battle and escape attempts at the prison. Colonel Canales urged the Mexican dictator Antonio López de Santa Anna
to have Cameron executed. On April 25, 1843 the prisoners who drew white beans were moved to Mexico City
. As they neared the city, a courier arrived with orders from Santa Anna for Cameron's execution.
Cameron was shot by a Mexican firing squad at Perote Prison the next morning, April 26, 1843. Cameron refused to confess to a priest, and declined the offer of a blindfold, declaring, "For the liberty of Texas, Ewen Cameron can look death in the face." He then opened his hunting shirt and yelled at his executioners, "Fuego!" (Fire!)
Cameron and the other men executed in the Black Bean Episode were buried in Mexico. Their remains were later exhumed and re-interred atop Monument Hill, overlooking the town on LaGrange in Fayette, County, Texas. Their tomb is now part of the Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites
. Cameron County, Texas
and Cameron, Texas
are named for Ewen Cameron.
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
army, and participated in the ill-fated Mier Expedition
Mier Expedition
The Mier Expedition, was an offshoot that developed originally out of the Somervell Expedition, which was a unsuccessful military operation launched in November 1842 by a Texian militia against Mexican border settlements. It included a major battle at Ciudad Mier on December 26 and 27, 1842 which...
.
Cameron, who had migrated from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to Kentucky, had come to Texas in 1836, arriving just after the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
.
On December 26, 1842, The Mier Expedition was a failed raid on the Mexican border settlement of Ciudad Mier
Ciudad Mier
Mier , also known as El Paso del Cántaro, is a city in Mier Municipality in Tamaulipas, located in northern Mexico near the Rio Grande, just south of Falcon Dam. It is north east of Monterrey on Mexico Highway 2. In 1990 the population was recorded at 6,190. By the 2010 census, it had dropped...
. Cameron and the Texans were taken prisoner and sent to a prison in Mexico. At Perote Prison, a jar containing 159 white beans and 17 black beans was presented to the Texan prisoners. Each man drew a bean from the jar. The 17 Texan prisoners who drew black beans were executed by Mexican firing squad. This is known as the Black Bean Episode.
Cameron had selected a white bean, which should have saved his life. Yet he had earned the hostility of Mexican Colonel Antonio Canales Rosillo
Antonio Canales Rosillo
Antonio Canales Rosillo was a 19th century politician, surveyor, and military officer.- Career:...
for his role in his embarrassing defeat in the battle and escape attempts at the prison. Colonel Canales urged the Mexican dictator Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
to have Cameron executed. On April 25, 1843 the prisoners who drew white beans were moved to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. As they neared the city, a courier arrived with orders from Santa Anna for Cameron's execution.
Cameron was shot by a Mexican firing squad at Perote Prison the next morning, April 26, 1843. Cameron refused to confess to a priest, and declined the offer of a blindfold, declaring, "For the liberty of Texas, Ewen Cameron can look death in the face." He then opened his hunting shirt and yelled at his executioners, "Fuego!" (Fire!)
Cameron and the other men executed in the Black Bean Episode were buried in Mexico. Their remains were later exhumed and re-interred atop Monument Hill, overlooking the town on LaGrange in Fayette, County, Texas. Their tomb is now part of the Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites
Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites
Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites is a historic state park located at 29.888° -96.876°, just off U.S. Route 77, south of La Grange, Texas. The park sits on a sandstone bluff above the Colorado River...
. Cameron County, Texas
Cameron County, Texas
Cameron County is the southernmost county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 406,220. Its county seat is Brownsville. Cameron was founded in 1848...
and Cameron, Texas
Cameron, Texas
Cameron is a city in Milam County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,634 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Milam County.-Geography:Cameron is located at . It is situated at the junction of U.S...
are named for Ewen Cameron.