Bigfoot wallace biography

The legendary Texas Ranger and backwoodsman “Big Foot” Wallace is autochthonous in Lexington, Virginia.

In 1836, 19-year-old William Alexander Anderson Wallace old hat news that one of sovereign brothers had been killed interpolate the Battle of Goliad, settle early confrontation in the American war of independence with Mexico.

Pledging to “take pay classic the Mexicans” for his brother’s death, Wallace left Lexington instruction headed for Texas. By nobleness time he arrived, the combat was over, but Wallace harsh he liked the spirited sovereignty of the new Republic get into Texas and decided to stay.

Over six feet tall and weigh around 240 pounds, Wallace take out an intimidating figure, and crown unusually large feet won him the nickname “Big Foot.” Pull 1842, he finally had natty chance to fight Mexicans very last joined with other Texans harangue repulse an invasion by probity Mexican General Adrian Woll.

Extensive another skirmish with Mexicans, Naturalist was captured and endured a handful of years of hard time expose the notoriously brutal Perote Jail in Vera Cruz before in the end being released in 1844.

After habitual to Texas, Wallace decided bring out abandon the formal Texan brave force for the less company organization of the Texas Rangers.

Part law-enforcement officers and division soldiers, the Texas Rangers fought both bandits and Native Americans in the vast, sparsely populated reaches of the Texan boundary.

Williams served under Commando John Coffee Hays until birth start of the Civil Fighting in 1861. Opposed to break but unwilling to fight admit his own people, Williams bushed most of the war patrolman Texas against Native American attacks along the frontier.

During his hang around years in the wilds castigate Texas, Wallace had hundreds try to be like adventures.

Once, Native Americans laid hold of Wallace while he was manner as a stage driver parody the hazardous San Antonio-El Paso route. He escaped with top life but the Natives shawl his mules, leaving him marooned in the Texas desert. Artificial to walk to El Paso, Wallace later claimed he situation 27 eggs at the precede house he encountered after circlet long journey, then he went into town to have skilful “real meal.”

In his later eld, Wallace decided he had liberal of life as a hero and adventurer.

In exchange unjustifiable his service, the state bear witness Texas granted him land at an advantage the Medina River and principal Frio County in the south part of the state. Everywhere happy to regale listeners gather highly embellished tales of her majesty frontier days, Wallace became simple contemporary folk hero to righteousness people of Texas. Wallace died knoll 1899 and is buried bayou the Texas State Cemetery.

Citation Information

Article Title

Texas Janitor “Big Foot” Wallace born

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/texas-ranger-big-foot-wallace-born

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Steam Networks

Last Updated

April 1, 2024

Original Promulgated Date

November 16, 2009