The Yellow Rose of Texas story and song/melody

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The "Yellow Rose Of Texas" story...

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Emily Morgan was an  indentured servant to a Texas land owner named Morgan at the time of the Texas Revolution. In 1835 Morgan went to New York to recruit indentured servants for his settlement.
Originally Emily West was a slave. She was puchased by Morgan under the terms of indentured servitude. She was a pretty, intelligent woman and was mulatto.(part white) Following the custom for an indentured worker she changed her name to Morgan.

In 1836 as the Texian War of Independence progressed, Santa Anna and the Mexican army had defeated the Texas army at the Alamo and at Goliad. They pushed eastward to the San Jacinto River and set up camp. General Santa Anna believed himself to be quite the ladies man. Near the camp he saw Emily and was struck by her beauty.Understanding the situation she commenced a liason with Santa Anna and sent word to Sam Houston of Santa Anna's Army's position.

The small Texas Army under Sam Houston had been harassing Santa Anna, but had not engaged him in a large battle. A frontal assualt against the Mexican troops would have failed. Houston's men were a mixture of volunteers and it was said Sam would take anybody who was willing to fight. In addition to many volunteers from parts of the US other than Texas, one account says a small garrison of US Army troops from Louisianna had been given 'vacation' to join the fight. The point is the Texas Army had to get it right the first time. Houston's men were spoiling for a fight and the Texas Provisional President David Burnet even sent a letter to Houston saying: "Sir; the enemy are laughing you to scorn. You must fight them. You must retreat no further. The country expects you to fight." But Sam was a good/smart commander and he was waiting for an opportunity to, as he put it to his men, fight Santa Anna at a time and place were we can beat these odds against us. Emily's intelligence gave him the chance he was looking for.

Here is a ...Picture of Sam Houston......[2]***

Houston moved his troops into the woods within a  mile of the enemy headquarters. On the morning of April 21, Houston climbed a tree to look into the Mexican camp. He saw Emily making breakfast for Santa Anna and said, "I hope that slave girl makes him [Santa Anna] neglect his business and keeps him in bed all day."

When Houston's army attacked, General Santa Anna was in fact occupied with Emily and therefore ineffective in directing his troops. Although surprised there was some fight initially put up by the Mexican Army. As the Texans approached the Mexican breastworks, they did so to the tune of 'Yankee Doodle'. They received a heavy volley of musket fire, slightly faltered and at this point a young volunteer from South Carolina ran forward, looked back and originated the call 'Remember The Alamo! Remember Goliad!. The effect of this encouraged the hell out the Texans and they attacked with  a well documented fury. A few brave Mexican officers tried to rally their troops but to no avail. The Mexicans latter refered to the attackers as 'diablos tejanos', Texas Devils. The Mexican army was decisively defeated. The Texans celebrated their victory so hard Houston remarked," Boys, I like your courage, but damn your manners."  This marked the end of Santa Anna's rule in Texas and the Republic of Texas was born.

Since that time Emily Morgan has been immortalized in legend and song as "The Yellow Rose of Texas".

When Morgan learned of Emily's efforts, he repealed her indenture and gave her a passport back to New York.

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This is a slightly different version of Emily's role in the events...

Emily D. West was born a free African American person in New Haven, Connecticut. She was incorrectly called Emily Morgan by people who assumed she was a slave owned by James Morgan. She signed a contract with Morgan in November, 1835 in New York City to work at the New Washington Hotel, Morgan's Point, Texas as a housekeeper. The agreement stated that she would receive transport to Texas and 100 dollars per year in pay.

In April, 1836 the Mexican Cavalry went to Morgan's Point in an attempt to capture David G. Burnett (Texas Provisional President). He had departed already and Emily was siezed, along with a few other citizens, as a captive. Santa Anna arrived the next day and the town was looted and burned.

Little documented evidence exists as to exactly what part Emily played in the events leading up to the Battle of San Jacinto.(there was/is plenty of heresay). Santa Anna had a well known penchant/appetite for beautiful women. Emily was acknowledged to be beautiful, therefore it is probable that Emily was with Santa Anna before and up to the battle. She would have had no choice in the matter, if Santa Anna had wanted it to be so.(she was a prisoner).

In 1842 an Englishman visiting Texas had a conversation with a veteran of the  Battle of San Jacinto and based on that conversation made the following entry in his diary:"The battle of San Jacinto was probably lost to the Mexicans, owing to the influence of a Mulatta Girl (Emily) belonging to Col. Morgan who was closeted in the tent with G'l Santana."  He does not state the name of the veteran. 

After the battle of San Jacinto, Emily lived at the house of Isaac N. Moreland, an artillery officer, who had served in The Texas Army of the Rebellion. The circumstances of this arrangement are not recorded. As she was black, it was assumed by the local people that she was a slave. In early 1837 Emily wanted to return to New York and Moreland wrote to the Texas Secretary of State requesting permission for her to leave the state. He stated that she was a 36 year old free woman who had lost her "free" papers. The Texas State Archive has the copy of this application. The application was approved and since it was Morgan's steamer that was to provide transport back to New York, it is probable he arranged her passage.

In 1955 the song, 'The Yellow Rose of Texas'(which had been written back in the mid 1800's and was popular in the Civil War) was adapted by a band leader and given new lyrics. It became very popular. That is the melody that is widely known today.(The Yellow Rose Melody 1 below). The original melody(and lyrics) was written by an African American man known only as J. K.. The older melody is listed as 'Yellow Rose 2' below.

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Yellow Roses Picture

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The Yellow Rose Of Texas Melody 1

Yellow Rose 2

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Yellow Rose Of Texas Song and Lyrics by J. K.(mid 1800's)

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There's a yellow rose in Texas

That I am going to see

No other darky knows her

No one only me
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She cried so when I left her

It like to broke my heart

And if I ever more find her

We nevermore will part.
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She's the sweetest rose of color

This darky ever knew

Her eyes are bright as diamonds

They sparkle like the dew
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You may talk about dearest May

And sing of Rosa Lee

But the yellow rose of Texas

Beats the belles of Tennessee.
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Where the Rio Grande is flowing

And the starry skies are bright

She walks along the river

In the quiet summer night
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She thinks if I remember

When we parted long ago

I promised to come back again

And not to leave her so.
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Oh now I am agoing to find her

For my heart is full of woe

And we will sing the song together

We sung so long ago
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We will play the banjo gaily

And will sing the song of yore

And the yellow rose of Texas

Shall be mine forevermore.
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The Yellow Rose Of Texas Melody 1

Yellow Rose 2

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The Yellow Rose of Texas Song 1955 Lyrics

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There's a yellow rose in Texas, that I am going to see,
Nobody else could miss her, not half as much as me.
She cried so when I left her, it like to broke my heart,
And if I ever find her, we nevermore will part.

She's the sweetest little rosebud that Texas ever knew,
Her eyes are bright as diamonds, they sparkle like the dew;
You may talk about your Clementine, and sing of Rosalee,
But the yellow rose of Texas is the only girl for me.

When the Rio Grande is flowing, the starry skies are bright,
She walks along the river in the quiet summer night:
I know that she remembers, when we parted long ago,
I promise to return again, and not to leave her so.

She's the sweetest little rosebud that Texas ever knew,
Her eyes are bright as diamonds, they sparkle like the dew;
You may talk about your Clementine, and sing of Rosalee,
But the yellow rose of Texas is the only girl for me.

Oh now I'm going to find her, for my heart is full of woe,
And we'll sing the songs together, that we sung so long ago
We'll play the bango gaily, and we'll sing the songs of yore,
And the yellow rose of Texas shall be mine forevermore.

She's the sweetest little rosebud that Texas ever knew,
Her eyes are bright as diamonds, they sparkle like the dew;
You may talk about your Clementine, and sing of Rosalee,
But the yellow rose of Texas is the only girl for me.

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this is a link to ...Old West Songs

and a link to...Remember The Alamo

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