The Twin Sisters are a pair of cannons used by

Texas Military Forces The Texas Military Forces (TXMF) are the principal instrument through which the Texas Military Department (TMD) executes security policy for Texas, which has the second-largest population and border in the United States, and the 9th-largest econ ...

during the Texas Revolution. They are among the most famous

artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...

in Texas military history with the "

Come and Take It "Come and take it" is a historic slogan, first used in 480 BC in the Battle of Thermopylae as "Molon labe" by Spartan King Leonidas I as a defiant answer and last stand to the surrender demanded by the Persian Army, and later in 1778 at Fort Mo ...

" cannon starting the revolution at the

Battle of Gonzales The Battle of Gonzales was the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. It was fought near Gonzales, Texas, on October 2, 1835, between rebellious Texian settlers and a detachment of Mexican army soldiers. In 1831, Mexican authoriti ...

and the Twin Sisters winning it at the

Battle of San Jacinto The Battle of San Jacinto ( es, Batalla de San Jacinto), fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day La Porte and Pasadena, Texas, was the final and decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Samuel Houston, the Texan Army engaged ...

. The Twin Sisters were also potentially used during the

Mexican Invasions of 1842 Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

and

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. Their disappearance and ensuing search efforts have fueled their notoriety, colloquially referred to as the "Texas

Holy Grail The Holy Grail (french: Saint Graal, br, Graal Santel, cy, Greal Sanctaidd, kw, Gral) is a treasure that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Various traditions describe the Holy Grail as a cup, dish, or stone with miracul ...

History

Provenance

Nearly every aspect of the Twin Sisters is debated among historians, archaeologists, and treasure hunters including their design, type (iron or bronze), caliber (four or six pounder), foundry of fabrication (Hawkins and Tatum or Eagle Iron Works/Greenwood), origin of the "Twin Sisters" moniker, where they were used, and where they disappeared. The earliest and most credible primary source of their name, origin, and role comes from a letter by

President of the Republic of Texas The president of the Republic of Texas ( es, Presidente de la República de Tejas) was the head of state and head of government while Texas was an independent republic between 1836 and 1845. History and duties The Republic of Texas was formed ...

David G. Burnet David Gouverneur Burnet (April 14, 1788 – December 5, 1870) was an early politician within the Republic of Texas, serving as interim President of Texas (1836 and again in 1841), Vice President of the Republic of Texas (1839–1841), and Se ...

92 days after the Battle of San Jacinto. It was written on July 22, 1836 and published in the Telegraph and Texas Register (Columbia, TX Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1) on Tuesday, August 30, 1836:

Name

The origin of the "Twin Sisters" moniker is debated. The first documented use of the name comes from a letter by

92 days after the Battle of San Jacinto. It was written on July 22, 1836 and published in the Telegraph and Texas Register (Columbia, TX Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1) on Tuesday, August 30, 1836: An exposition of the most repeated provenance comes from Elizabeth Mars (née Rice) Stapp in a letter to the editor of The Houston Daily Post on August 24, 1897 — 61 years after the Battle of San Jacinto. It was published in the post (Vol. THIRTEENTH YEAR, No. 147, Ed. 1) on Sunday, August 29, 1897:

Cincinnati connection

Why Cincinnatians aided Texas is debated. Among the theories include: *

Robert Todd Lytle Robert Todd Lytle (May 19, 1804 – December 22, 1839) was a politician who represented Ohio in the United States House of Representatives from 1833 to 1835. Early life and career Lytle was born in Williamsburg, Ohio, a nephew of John Rowan. ...

led a fund raising initiative for the cannons because he believed ''"that as American citizens, we can do no less than encourage the Spirit of Freedom, wherever or by whatever people it might be displayed"''. *

David T. Disney David Tiernan Disney (August 25, 1803 – March 14, 1857) was a U.S. Representative from Ohio for three terms from 1849 to 1855. He also served as Speaker of both the Ohio State Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives. Early life and care ...

, whose brother Richard Disney was executed in the Goliad Massacre, purportedly worked with Robert Todd Lylte on fund raising. * Andrew M. Clopper, who served in the

Texian Army The Texian Army, also known as the Revolutionary Army and Army of the People, was the land warfare branch of the Texian armed forces during the Texas Revolution. It spontaneously formed from the Texian Militia in October 1835 following the Ba ...

, is the son of Nicholas Clopper, a land speculator in Cincinnati who owned

Morgan's Point Morgan's Point is located 30 miles east of Houston in Harris County, Texas, United States, located on the shores of Galveston Bay at the inlet to the Houston Ship Channel, near La Porte and Pasadena. As of the 2010 census, it had a population ...

, purportedly worked with Robert Todd Lylte on fund raising. *Thomas F. Corry, an emigrant from Cincinnati who served in the

Texian Texians were Anglo-American residents of Mexican Texas and, later, the Republic of Texas. Today, the term is used to identify early settlers of Texas, especially those who supported the Texas Revolution. Mexican settlers of that era are referr ...

Army, may have been related to the "William Corry" of whom President Burnet addressed in his letter of thanks on July 22, 1836. *

Society of the Cincinnati The Society of the Cincinnati is a fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of military officers wh ...

, a fraternity of

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

officers dedicated to promoting freedom. Approximately 59 veterans of the American Revolutionary War are buried in Texas and at least 4 are known to have also fought in the Texas Revolution: Benjamin W. Anderson,

Alexander Hodge Alexander Hodge is an Australian actor. He is best known for portraying Andrew on the HBO series '' Insecure''. Hodge has acted on ''Black Lightning'', '' Resort to Love'', and '' Joy Ride''. Early life and education Hodge was born and raised in ...

Antonio Gil Y'Barbo Dón Antonio Gil Ybarbo (1729–1809), also known as ''Gil Ybarbo'', ''Gil Ibarbo'', and many other name variants, was a pioneering settler of Nacogdoches, Texas. Ambiguously described by the National Park Service as a "prolific trader and smuggl ...

. The fourth, Stephen Williams, also fought in the War of 1812. On April 7, 1895,

Andrew Jackson Houston Andrew Jackson Houston (June 21, 1854June 26, 1941) was an American politician. He was a son of the famous Texas hero and statesman Sam Houston and his wife Margaret Lea Houston, and was named for his father's mentor Andrew Jackson. He served br ...

gifted

Santa Anna Santa Anna may refer to: * Santa Anna, Texas, a town in Coleman County in Central Texas, United States * Santa Anna, Starr County, Texas * Santa Anna Township, DeWitt County, Illinois, one of townships in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. ...

's dagger, a

war trophy __NOTOC__ A war trophy is an item taken during warfare by an invading force. Common war trophies include flags, weapons, vehicles, and art. History In ancient Greece and ancient Rome, military victories were commemorated with a display of captu ...

from the

, to Cincinnatians.

Texas Revolution

The Twin Sisters played a vital role as the only Texian artillery in the

, which effectively ended the Texas Revolution and established the

Republic of Texas The Republic of Texas ( es, República de Tejas) was a sovereign state in North America that existed from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846, that bordered Mexico, the Republic of the Rio Grande in 1840 (another breakaway republic from Mex ...

They arrived at Brazoria on March 28, 1836 and were received by Captain John M. Allen as the

, under command of General Sam Houston, was maneuvering against the

Mexican Army The Mexican Army ( es, Ejército Mexicano) is the combined land and air branch and is the largest part of the Mexican Armed Forces; it is also known as the National Defense Army. The Army is under the authority of the Secretariat of National De ...

, under command of

General Santa Anna A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED On ...

, near

San Felipe de Austin San Felipe ( ), also known as San Felipe de Austin, is a town in Austin County, Texas, United States. The town was the social, economic, and political center of the early Stephen F. Austin colony. The population was 747 at the 2010 census. History ...

, approximately 90 miles away. Fearful of interception, quartermaster general Colonel Almanzon Huston ordered the Twin Sisters to

Galveston Island Galveston Island ( ) is a barrier island on the Texas Gulf Coast in the United States, about southeast of Houston. The entire island, with the exception of Jamaica Beach, is within the city limits of the City of Galveston in Galveston County. T ...

via the schooner ''Pennsylvania.'' They arrived on April 3 and were received by Colonel Edward Harcourt. Secretary of War David Thomas then ordered the steamboat ''Ohio'' under command of Captain Aaron Burns to retrieve them via the

Buffalo Bayou Buffalo Bayou is a slow-moving body of water which flows through Houston in Harris County, Texas. Formed 18,000 years ago, it has its source in the prairie surrounding Katy, Fort Bend County, and flows approximately east through the Houston Ship ...

for relocation to

Harrisburg Harrisburg is the capital city of the Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the List of c ...

. The ''Ohio'' arrived at New Washington on April 6 where the schooner ''Flash,'' under the command of Captain Luke Falval and supervision of Secretary of the Navy Robert Potter, were waiting with the Twin Sisters. The Twin Sisters arrived in Harrisburg on April 8 and were loaded onto

bullock carts A bullock cart or ox cart (sometimes called a bullock carriage when carrying people in particular) is a two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicle pulled by oxen. It is a means of transportation used since ancient times in many parts of the world. The ...

by Major Leander Smith, Captain John M. Allen, and Captain Alfred Henderson Wyly for transport to the Bernardo Plantation (near Hempstead) where the Texian Army was now encamped. The 44,000 acre plantation was the first and largest cotton plantation in Texas. It was established by

Old Three Hundred The "Old Three Hundred" were 297 grantees who purchased 307 parcels of land from Stephen Fuller Austin in Mexican Texas. Each grantee was head of a household, or, in some cases, a partnership of married men. Austin was an American approved in 18 ...

settler Jared E. Groce who freely provided refuge to the Texian cause. Stalled by the "sea of mud" from April showers, the detachment completed the 60 mile trip on April 13. They are received by Lieutenant Colonel James C. Neill, who assigns a company of nine soldiers to each cannon: On April 20, the Twin Sisters are engaged in combat for the first time during a skirmish near San Jacinto. Artillery commanders from both armies were severely wounded. Mexican commander of the "Golden Standard" Captain Fernando Urriza is relieved by Lieutenant Ygnacio Joaquin del Arenal. Texian commander Lieutenant Colonel James C. Neill is relieved by Inspector General Lieutenant Colonel

George Washington Hockley George Washington Hockley (1802 – June 6, 1854) was a Texas revolutionary who served as secretary of war for the Republic of Texas. Hockley was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents were Thomas Hockley (1764-1805), a Philadelphia me ...

. On April 21 at 4:30p CST, the Twin Sisters, positioned in the center of the formation, initiated the

with the first volley into Mexican forces. With major combat over in 18 minutes, a 1.5:1 strength ratio, and a 28:1 casualty ratio, it is considered by some historians among the most one-sided victories in history. The Twins Sisters final role in the revolution were providing security for the 300 prisoners of war during the

Treaties of Velasco A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between actors in international law. It is usually made by and between sovereign states, but can include international organizations, individuals, business entities, and other legal perso ...

. Sources

Antebellum

As of 2019, only a few primary sources have been unrecovered mentioning the Twin Sisters following the Texas Revolution. Adding to the extensive confusion of the historical record is the introduction of replicas purchased by various Texas cities, conflation of other artillery by various Texas military units, and the annexation of the

Texas Army The Texas Army, officially the Army of the Republic of Texas, was the land warfare branch of the Texas Military Forces during the Republic of Texas. It descended from the Texian Army, which was established in October 1835 to fight for independe ...

and

Navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...

into the United States Armed Forces in 1845.

Mexican Invasions of 1842

The last documented mention of the Twin Sisters occurred during the ongoing military raids and

expeditions Exploration refers to the historical practice of discovering remote lands. It is studied by geographers and historians. Two major eras of exploration occurred in human history: one of convergence, and one of divergence. The first, covering most ...

that followed the Texas Revolution, including a report ordering them to defense in 1842, and a work order in 1843, indicating they may have been used: * 23 June 1842, ordered to

by Secretary of War & Marine George W. Hockley ''"to be in readiness for transportation to any point that may be designated in opening the mediated campaign."'' **Note: Hockley was the commanding officer of artillery during the Battle of San Jacinto *24 March 1843, ordered by the Ordnance Department to Frederick Schierman for various maintenance.

Houston Twins

*13 December 1841, used for

Sam Houston Samuel Houston (, ; March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was an American general and statesman who played an important role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas and was one of the first two i ...

's inauguration as

*1853, used for BBB&C Railway's dedication ceremony *1859, used for Sam Houston's inauguration as

Governor of Texas The governor of Texas heads the state government of Texas. The governor is the leader of the executive and legislative branch of the state government and is the commander in chief of the Texas Military. The current governor is Greg Abbott, who ...

Presumed final sightings

* 8 February 1864 — dispatch by Confederate Lieutenant Walter W. Blow stating Twin Sisters were in transit to Colonel John S. Ford in San Antonio **Ford took six cannons to Brownsville (presumably including the Twin Sisters) and used them in the

Battle of Palmito Ranch The Battle of Palmito Ranch, also known as the Battle of Palmito Hill, is considered by some criteria as the final battle of the American Civil War. It was fought May 12 and 13, 1865, on the banks of the Rio Grande east of Brownsville, Texas, an ...

**Twin Sisters were left in

Fort Brown Fort Brown (originally Fort Texas) was a military post of the United States Army in Cameron County, Texas, during the latter half of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. Established in 1846, it was the first US Army military ...

after Ford learning outcome of

Battle of Appomattox Court House The Battle of Appomattox Court House, fought in Appomattox County, Virginia, on the morning of April 9, 1865, was one of the last battles of the American Civil War (1861–1865). It was the final engagement of Confederate General in Chief, Rober ...

* 30 July 1865 — journal entry by Union Corporal M. A. Sweetman saw them in a scrap pile in Houston

Disappearance theories

Notable search efforts

Legacy

* 7 April 1895,

gifted Santa Anna's dagger, a

from the

, to Cincinnatians *2 March 1897,

University of Texas The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1883 and is the oldest institution in the University of Texas System. With 40,916 undergraduate students, 11,075 ...

students "borrowed" a Twin from the capitol and fired it for

Texas Independence Day Texas Independence Day is the celebration of the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. With this document signed by 59 delegates, settlers in Mexican Texas officially declared independence from Mexico and created th ...

, establishing a

Texas Exes The Ex-Students' Association of The University of Texas (more commonly known as Texas Exes) is the association of former students of the University of Texas at Austin. The organization is one of the largest alumni associations in the world (the ...

tradition. *1910, Featured on Sam Houston Grave Monument designed by

Pompeo Coppini Pompeo Luigi Coppini (19 May 1870 – 26 September 1957) was an Italian born sculptor who emigrated to the United States. Although his works can be found in Italy, Mexico and a number of U.S. states, the majority of his work can be found in T ...

*1939, Twin Sisters Monument featured at

San Jacinto Monument The San Jacinto Monument is a column located on the Houston Ship Channel in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, about 16 miles due east of downtown Houston. The monument is topped with a 220-ton star that commemorates the site of the Battle of ...

*1985, Twin Sisters exhibit featured in the San Jacinto Museum. Fabricated by students at

University of Houston College of Technology The University of Houston College of Technology is the second largest among 13 schools and colleges at the University of Houston. It offers 11 undergraduate degrees and 12 graduate degrees throughout four different departments. In Fall of 2017 ...

. * 1992, Twin Sisters exhibit featured in the Great Hall of

Texas Military Forces Museum The Texas Military Forces Museum (officially the Brigadier General John C.L. Scribner Texas Military Forces Museum'')'' is a history museum in Austin, Texas. It is hosted by the Texas Military Department at Camp Mabry and is part of the United St ...

. Fabricated in 1975 by the "Guard of the Republic" to celebrate the

bicentennial of the United States The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to historical events leading up to the creation of the United States of America as an independent republic. It was a central event ...

References

{{reflist, refs= {{Cite web, url=https://cemetery.tspb.texas.gov/news.asp?newsid=9262, title=San Jacinto and the Mystery of the Twin Sisters Cannons, last=Walker, first=Jason, website=Texas State Cemetery {{Cite web, url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Cannons-unveiled-at-San-Jacinto-monument-2056614.php, title=Cannons unveiled at San Jacinto monument, last=A. GARCIA, first=MIRIAM, date=August 19, 2001, website=Houston Chronicle {{Cite web, url=http://www.earlytexashistory.com/Twin%20Sisters/TS%20Web/TS%20one.html, title=The Search for the Twin Sisters, last=Pomeroy, Jr., first=C. David, date=2010, website=Early Texas History {{Cite web, url=http://www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/233-Twin-Sisters.htm, title=Twin Sisters, last=Cox, first=Mike, date=April 5, 2005, website=Texas Escapes {{Cite book, last=Hardin, first=Stephen L., author-link=Stephen L. Hardin, year=1994, title=Texian Iliad – A Military History of the Texas Revolution, location=Austin, TX, publisher=University of Texas Press, isbn=0-292-73086-1, oclc=29704011, page=177 {{Cite web, url=http://www.texashistorypage.com/The_Twin_Sisters.html, title=The Twin Sisters, website=Texas History Page {{Cite book, title=The Sea Hunters II, last=Cussler, first=Clive, publisher=Berkley Books, year=2002, isbn=978-1-4406-7426-6, pages=167–197 {{Cite web, url=https://numa.net/expeditions/twin-sisters/, title=Expeditions, TWIN SISTERS, last=Cussler, first=Clive, website=National Underwater and Marine Agency {{Cite web, url=http://ourtexashistory.com/post_11.html, title=The Twin Sisters, website=Our Texas History Twin Sisters plaque, Twins Sisters exhibit, Great Hall, Texas Military Forces Museum, August 2019 {{Cite web, url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qvt01, title=TWIN SISTERS, last=William Hunt, first=Jeffrey, website=Texas State Historical Association, date=2010-06-15 {{Cite web, url=http://historichouston1836.com/who-were-the-famous-twin-sisters-and-what-happened-to-them-after-the-battle-of-san-jacinto/, title=Who were the famous Twin Sisters and what happened to them after the Battle of San Jacinto?, website=Historic Houston, url-status=live, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413155813/http://historichouston1836.com/who-were-the-famous-twin-sisters-and-what-happened-to-them-after-the-battle-of-san-jacinto/, archive-date=2017-04-13, date=2014-01-03 {{Cite web, url=https://archive.org/stream/jstor-30234738/30234738_djvu.txt, title=The "Twin Sisters" Cannon, 1836–1865, last=WINKLEK, first=E. W., website=Internet Archive, publisher=The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, date=July 1917 Texas Military Department Texas Military Forces Lost objects Archaeology of the United States Treasure of the United States Puzzle hunts