Sword of George Hockley, Used at the Battle of San Jacinto

This 39" sword belonged to George Hockley, a longtime friend and close aide of Sam Houston. It was made by Nathan Starr and dates back to the War of 1812 period.

In 1829, Houston resigned as governor of Tennessee as a result of a still-mysterious scandal involving him and his first wife, Eliza Allen. The couple divorced and he eventually decided to start a new life in Texas. As the Texas Revolution got underway in 1835, Houston was named commander-in-chief of the ragtag band of volunteers known as the Texas Army, and Hockley became his chief of staff.

On April 21, 1836, at the Battle of San Jacinto, Hockley used this sword and some big guns to help Sam Houston rout Santa Anna's troops. Just nine days earlier, the army had received a donation of two cannons from the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. The artillery pieces were known as the "Twin Sisters." Hockley assumed command of the Twin Sisters during Houston's surprise attack on Santa Anna's napping soldiers. Since the Texans had no ammunition for the cannons, Hockley and his men bombarded the Mexican forces with musket balls, broken glass, and horseshoes, spreading panic and confusion throughout the Mexican forces .

After the revolution, Hockley served as colonel of ordnance for the Texas army, then as secretary of war for the Republic of Texas during Houston's terms as president. Hockley County was named in his honor in 1876.