Soldier and publisher James Abner Glascock or Glasscock (1816-1876) was born in Kentucky to Thomas and Elizabeth (Milligan) Glascock. He arrived in Austin at its founding in the fall of 1839. Following the Mexican invasion of San Antonio in September 1842, Glascock responded to General Alexander Somervell’s call to invade Mexico and became a private in the First Regiment of Somervell’s South Western Army on November 12, 1942. When Somervell ordered his troops’ return Texas, the majority of volunteers, including Glascock, followed Colonel William S. Fisher to Mier, Mexico, where the entire force was captured on December 26. While imprisoned at Perote Prison, Glascock edited a short-lived newspaper and kept a detailed diary.
In September 1844, Glascock was released and sailed to New Orleans from Veracruz.
During the Mexican War, he served as a lieutenant in the First Regiment of the Texas
Mounted Rifles and, co-founded one of San Antonio’s first newspapers, the
Source:
Cutrer, Thomas W. “
Consisting of a Photostatic copy, the James A. Glascock Diary, 1842-1844, documents Glascock’s capture and experiences as a member of the Mier Expedition held at Perote Prison, Mexico. The diary includes entries from December 24, 1842, to February 12, 1844, and from June 8, 1844, to September 13, 1844, describing the daily life of the prisoners.
This collection is open for research use.
Cite as: James A. Glascock Diary, 1842-1844, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
The Texas State Library and Archives holds the original diary.
Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s