Historical Period: Texas Revolution (1835-1836)
Historical Topic: Stephen F. Austin, Texas Independence
Species: Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
County: Guadalupe
Public Access: No longer applicable; tree is dead
From Gonzales, following the initial skirmish that sparked the Texas Revolution, Stephen F. Austin led the newly formed Texas Army westward to confront Gen. Martín Perfecto de Cos and
his Mexican troops in Béxar (modern day San Antonio). Austin and his men camped on the flats near Cibolo Creek to reconnoiter and wait for supplies.
It was common practice to climb trees to do reconnaissance, and in mid-October 1835 frontiersman, scout, and military spy, Erastus “Deaf” Smith (1787–1837) did just that, climbing a tall live oak to obtain tactical information on the Mexican army. In so doing, he was able to effectively spy on the advance movement of Mexican troops near Cibolo Creek.
Smith’s legacy as a noted scout and guide, particularly during later battles, remains strong—in addition to the Deaf Smith Oak, a Texas county is named in his honor—but perhaps his most enduring legacy is the result of a childhood disease that caused him permanent hearing loss. “Deaf” Smith achieved great military success despite his disability and became a role model for those who are hearing impaired.