| Hondo Creek | |
| Texas | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Texas |
| Source | Texas Hill Country |
| - location | Bandera County, Texas |
| - elevation | 577 m (1,893 ft) |
| - coordinates | [1] |
| Mouth | Frio River |
| - location | Frio County, Texas |
| - elevation | 182 m (597 ft) |
| - coordinates | [1] |
Hondo Creek is a tributary of the Frio River in Texas that rises in Bandera County northwest of Tarpley and runs approximately 67 miles to its mouth near Pearsall, Texas. The creek crosses through three counties including Bandera, Medina, and Frio.
Contents |
Hondo (Spanish for deep) Creek begins in the Texas Hill Country. The initially broken waters of the stream travels through limestone benches and steep slopes until the land flattens near Tarpley. This section of the creek is generally shallow with a bottom of clay loam, which serves as a habitat for Ashe juniper and live oak woods. As it runs south, the creek grows in depth in the surrounding rolling plain, and a mixture of clay with a large concentration of sand is found in its bed. As the tributary approaches its mouth, the environment changes to fertile crop lands with Mesquite trees growing along its bank. [2]
The creek was the site of the Battle of the Arroyo Hondo in 1842. [3] The battle occurred following the third in a series of three invasions by pro-Mexican forces in 1842 to reclaim territory lost during the 1836 Texas Revolution. After the 1200 man Mexican army was defeated in San Antonio by Mathew Caldwell and 200 gathered Texans, the forces of Mexican General Adrian Woll headed west.[4] On September 21, they met up with a few Texas soldiers on the banks of the creek, and a battle ensued. Although accounts of the battle varied between the combatants, it is believed that the Texas forces outnumbered, under provisioned, and facing fierce cannonade, lacked a consensus of agreement and leadership was unable to rally unanimity in an offense. Following the battle, the Texans disbanded and the Mexican forces continued their trek westward, back to Mexico.[5] A Historical marker can now be found in Medina County where the battle is believed to have taken place. [3]
Also marked along the stream in Medina County, is the Cow Camp Massacre. This is the site of a January 27, 1866 Native American attack that occurred as three minors (aged 12-19) set up camp along Hondo Creek to recover lost livestock. [6] Eight Indians followed one of the boys to the camp. He and another were captured, but one escaped. Of the two captured, one was never seen again and the other's mutilated body was found several days later. [6]
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, the following fish have been caught in the tributary (records in parenthesis): [7]