Manuel Antonio Santiago Tarin
Encyclopedia
Manuel Antonio Santiago Tarín (1811–1849) (also known as Manuel Leal) was a Mexican
soldier and a recruiter and participant in the Texas Revolution
on the Texian
side.
, United States
). He married María Luisa Cásares by 1846 and had at least two children.
The son of a military officer, Vicente Tarín and his wife, Juana Isidora Leal. Tarín was baptized at a the San Antonio de Valero Mission ("the Alamo
") two days after his birth.
In 1813, there was much political turmoil in the region. His father, a Spanish officer, joined the invasion forces of the Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition
. After the defeat at the battle of Medina
, he fled the Spanish repercussions. He went into exile in the Louisiana
territory leaving Manuel and his mother in the care of a Catholic priest. Though his father was given a conditional pardon in 1814, he refused it and chose to remain in exile, continuing in the rebellion against the Spanish crown
.
By 1830, Manuel Tarín became a soldier in the Second Flying Company of Álamo de Parras, serving first at the Alamo and then in a remote East Texas fort. The Mexican government's failed support of its frontier outposts forced its men and their families to suffer under the harshest of conditions. Tarín deserted
twice, but was returned to duty both times. His unit ultimately returned to San Antonio and the Alamo.
By 1835, he deserted the Mexican army and enlisted in the Texas army. On February 22, 1836, Tarin mustered into Juan N. Seguín's company of Tejanos. Salvador Flores
and Manuel Leal recruiting and organizing 41 Tejano volunteers from ranches southwest of San Antonio reinforced the Texan forces on the Salado Creek
, in mid October, a few days after Juan Seguin
and Plácido Benavides
of Victoria had gathered almost 70 men to aid Commander Stephen F. Austin. He fought at the siege of Béxar
under the command of Stephen F. Austin
.
Although traveling with Seguín to the Battle of San Jacinto
, illness prevented him from being in the final fight.
Tarín left the military in July 1837. For his service as a Corporal with the Texas army, he was awarded several hundred acres in donation land grants and bounty warrants.
He died sometime after 1849.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
soldier and a recruiter and participant in 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 the Texian
Texian
Texian is an archaic, mostly defunct 19th century demonym which defined a settler of current-day Texas, one of the southern states of the United States of America which borders the country of Mexico...
side.
Early life
He was born in San Antonio de Béxar (now San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). He married María Luisa Cásares by 1846 and had at least two children.
The son of a military officer, Vicente Tarín and his wife, Juana Isidora Leal. Tarín was baptized at a the San Antonio de Valero Mission ("the Alamo
Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a battle fought during the Texas Revolution.Alamo may also refer to:-Places:*Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas*Alamo, California*Alamo, Georgia*Alamo Township, Michigan*Alamo, Nevada*Alamo, New Mexico...
") two days after his birth.
In 1813, there was much political turmoil in the region. His father, a Spanish officer, joined the invasion forces of the Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition
Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition
The Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition was an 1812–13 joint Mexican-American filibustering expedition against Spanish Texas during the early years of the Mexican War of Independence.-Background:...
. After the defeat at the battle of Medina
Battle of Medina
The Battle of Medina was fought approximately 20 miles south of San Antonio de Bexar on August 18, 1813 as part of the Mexican War of Independence against Spanish authority in Mexico...
, he fled the Spanish repercussions. He went into exile in the Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
territory leaving Manuel and his mother in the care of a Catholic priest. Though his father was given a conditional pardon in 1814, he refused it and chose to remain in exile, continuing in the rebellion against the Spanish crown
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
By 1830, Manuel Tarín became a soldier in the Second Flying Company of Álamo de Parras, serving first at the Alamo and then in a remote East Texas fort. The Mexican government's failed support of its frontier outposts forced its men and their families to suffer under the harshest of conditions. Tarín deserted
Desertion
In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
twice, but was returned to duty both times. His unit ultimately returned to San Antonio and the Alamo.
Texas Revolution
Tarín was largely dissatisfied with the Mexican army as was demonstrated when he was apprehended with his own brother, José Vicente and other accomplices after trying to steal guns and ammunition from the Alamo stores.By 1835, he deserted the Mexican army and enlisted in the Texas army. On February 22, 1836, Tarin mustered into Juan N. Seguín's company of Tejanos. Salvador Flores
Salvador Flores
Salvador Flores served as a volunteer in the Texan Army in 1835–1836. He was instrumental in organizing and commanding Texian volunteers in support of the Texas Revolution. He participated in many battles and would rise through the ranks to reach Captain status during the fight for Texas...
and Manuel Leal recruiting and organizing 41 Tejano volunteers from ranches southwest of San Antonio reinforced the Texan forces on the Salado Creek
Salado Creek
Salado Creek is a waterway in San Antonio that runs from Northern Bexar County for about to the San Antonio River near Buena Vista.-Watershed:...
, in mid October, a few days after Juan Seguin
Juan Seguín
Juan Nepomuceno Seguín was a 19th-century Texas Senator, Mayor, Judge, and Justice of the Peace and a prominent participant in the Texas Revolution.-Early life and family:...
and Plácido Benavides
Plácido Benavides
Plácido Benavides was an early Mexican-born settler in De Leon's Colony, Victoria County, Texas. Benavides earned himself the sobriquet of the Paul Revere of Texas for his 1836 journey from San Patricio to Goliad to Victoria, warning residents of the approaching Mexican army. He was twice elected...
of Victoria had gathered almost 70 men to aid Commander Stephen F. Austin. He fought at the siege of Béxar
Siege of Bexar
The Siege of Béxar was an early campaign of the Texas Revolution in which a volunteer Texan army successfully defeated Mexican forces at San Antonio de Béxar . Texians had become disillusioned with the Mexican government as President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's tenure became increasingly...
under the command of Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
.
Although traveling with Seguín to the Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
, illness prevented him from being in the final fight.
Tarín left the military in July 1837. For his service as a Corporal with the Texas army, he was awarded several hundred acres in donation land grants and bounty warrants.
He died sometime after 1849.