Col. Benjamin Rush Milam - San Antonio, TX, USA - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Benjamin Rush Milam, born October 20, 1788, died December 7, 1835(1). He was shot in the head by a Mexican sniper and was buried the first time in the courtyard of the Veramendi house, very near where he fell during the Seige of Bexar, which was a precurser to the Battle of the Alamo. Eleven years later, in 1846, Milam was exhumed and reintered in the cemetery located where Milam Park now is. In the 1850s, this cemetery was closed and all but Ben Milam's remains were removed and reburied in a new cemetery farther west of town. In 1897 the Daughters of the Republic of Texas placed a marker on Milam's grave site but the marker was removed in 1976 when the park was renovated for the US bicentennial and the location of Milam's burial was lost(2). Then in 1993, during the construction of the large gazebo donated by a "sister city" in Mexico, the burial site was discovered when the foundation for the gazebo was being excavated(3). The remains found were in the center of the park. These were examined by experts from the University of Texas at San Antonio and confirmed that they were the bones and remains of Ben Milam. On December 11, 1994, these remains of Colonal Benjamin R. Milam were again reburied for the third time in the location of the current monument. Finally, on March 5, 1995, the large red granite slab showing Milam's name and dates of birth and death was dedicated and installed(2). Ben Milam enlisted as a private in the 8th Regiment of the Kentucky Militia to fight in the War of 1812. By the time he was discharged in 1815, he was at the rank of Lieutenant(2). In 1818 Ben Milam was a trader with the Comanche Indians, but by 1819, he joined with Jose Felix Trespalacios, a Mexican revolutionary who was trying to win Mexico's independence from Spain. For Milams efforts in support of Trespalacios' cause, Milam was promoted to Colonel(1). While in Mexico, Milam was put in jail twice, but eventually was released. Trespalacios helped him become a Mexican citizen! Milam stayed in Mexico through 1835 when Santa Anna overthrew the democrative Mexican government and declaired himself dictator. Milam was again arrested and jailed for a third time in Mexico as a revolutionary against the dictatorship but was able to escape and return to Texas(2). Milam joined with the Texians to capture Goliad and then marched with them to San Antonio to try to drive the last remnant of Mexican troops out of San Antonio and back into Mexico. When Milam heard there were plans to delay the attack on San Antonio, he requested to call for volunteers to do it. He is reputed to have said, "Who will go with Old Ben Milam into San Antonio?"(1,2). With the 300 soldiers who came along, Col. Milam planned the attack strategy. On Deember 7, 1935, Milam was shot in the forehead by a Mexican sniper and died instantly. He was hastily buried close to where he had been killed(1,2). It was Col. Ben Milam's initiative that kept the momentum of the Battle of Bexar going in the Seige of San Antonio. Within a few more days after Milam died, the Mexican army surrendered and left Texas. Milam's plans had worked and had prepared the way for Texans to have control of San Antonio and the Alamo mission by the time Santa Anna returned in a few months later.

Source references:
(1) (visit link)
(2)http://www.robertwilbanks.com/benmilam.htm
(3) (visit link)

Description: Benjamin Milam was a hero of the Texas battle for independence. He fought in the War of 1812, fought for Mexico's independence from Spain, and fought for Texas independence from Mexico. His leadership and battle planning help capture Goliad from the Mexican army, and win the Siege of Bexar where the Mexican Army surrendered and left Texas. A county in Texas is named in his honor and many streets and parks are also named after him. Date of birth: 10/20/1788 Date of death: 12/07/1835 Area of notoriety: Military Marker Type: Monument Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Accessible at any time. It is open to public view. Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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