Books published by publisher Copano Bay Press

This is the good stuff. Back in 1904, Eugene Barker and Herbert Bolton gathered up ninety-one firsthand accounts spanning over three centuries. These accounts were written by people whose feet were on Texas soil at the time of pivotal historical events. They are accounts written by participants in our history, not just observers. People like Sam Houston, James Fannin, Ben Milam, Stephen F. Austin, Reuben Potter, and William Wharton. And accounts written by people you probably never heard of, but who left us some fascinating stories. It's real Texas history without any academic filters. No egghead with an agenda had any part in assembling this uncommon core of historical Texas source material. It is raw history.

"That was the cowboy's Bible when I was growing up." - Will Rogers In 1885, Charlie Siringo introduced himself to the world as "an old stove-up cowpuncher" who had just spent "fifteen years on the hurricane deck of a Spanish pony." That's how he described himself on the title page of his book, A Texas Cowboy. It was the first the first time a real Texas cowboy had told his own story in his own words between the covers of a book. A Texas Cowboy reads like Charlie Siringo telling you his story in person. And he tells you all about: cowboying on the great cattle drives, working as a range detective, meeting and pursuing Billy the Kid, falling in love with beautiful maidens (on a routine basis) and getting shot at (also on a routine basis). Reading Siringo is like a chat with an old friend.

In 1887 a Boston physician came to Texas for some bird hunting for ornithological purposes. He found the perfect guide in John M. Priour, a true hair-on-hide Texan, full of good natured abuse. Priour led his Yankee friend on a 400 mile trek through bramble, bog, forest, mud and more mud. When he returned to Boston, Dr. Peirce wrote a book about his misadventures in Texas. Exceedingly well written, poignant and humorous, this is the book Mark Twain would have written had he ever embarked on a hunting trip in South Texas. Now you can tag along as they fight off skunks and marauding pigs. You will be there as they brave every fashion of Texas weather in a tent made of quilts and calico. You'll watch their dealings with former slaves living in the river bottoms. You'll hear tales of love powders, ghosts and even a pterodactyl. And through it all you'll enjoy the company of Absalom, the most useless hunting dog ever to draw breath in Texas. This animal, while greatly loved by Priour, brought them misery at every turn. Of course, you'll read some well written and detailed accounts of the bird hunting they did too. The journey takes you from Nueces county, across the Coastal Bend to Brazoria, up to Columbus and back to Corpus Christi through Victoria and Refugio.

Some writers can relay the facts, but they can't tell the story. Others can spin a yarn, but stretch the truth and omit details. John Myers clothes dry bones in living flesh, and makes it sweat, bleed and speak the truth. His book, The Alamo, is a pure pleasure. He researched and wrote it just after WWII, while working at the San Antonio Evening News. It was the first complete history of the Alamo. It delves into the history of the structure itself. It covers the backgrounds of the principal players we associate with the Alamo saga. And it gives a detailed, blow by blow account of the siege and battle; the weaponry, tactics, and strategies of both Texian and Mexican commanders and men. There's no revisionism here. T. R. Fehrenbach considered it the best book on the Alamo, and even recommended it in the chapter notes of his book, Lone Star. Thorough research, vivid style and a Fehrenbach recommendation. You really can't ask for much more. The true exploits of heroes at a time when they are needed most.

This volume compiles 105 stories of Houston's history originally written by Dr. Young for his column in the Houston Chronicle. This is history at its most entertaining. He brings early Houstonians to life, describing their personalities, their admirable traits and their many eccentricities. His stories of boyhood in Houston read like something out of Tom Sawyer. There are also stories of early citizens and their day-to-day lives, of the Civil War and Houston's fighting men, of slaves and former slaves, of rigged elections and reconstruction days. Dr. Young gives vivid descriptions of Houston's many saloons and gambling dens. You'll read about what a mischievous undertaker did with the Yankee dead during a Yellow Fever epidemic, about the superstitions of the day, about ghosts and haunted houses. There are stories of gentlemen and of scoundrels, of hangings and jail breaks. Even a little cross dressing.

"That was the cowboy's Bible when I was growing up." - Will Rogers In 1885, Charlie Siringo introduced himself to the world as "an old stove-up cowpuncher" who had just spent "fifteen years on the hurricane deck of a Spanish pony." That's how he described himself on the title page of his book, A Texas Cowboy. It was the first the first time a real Texas cowboy had told his own story in his own words between the covers of a book. A Texas Cowboy reads like Charlie Siringo telling you his story in person. And he tells you all about: cowboying on the great cattle drives, working as a range detective, meeting and pursuing Billy the Kid, falling in love with beautiful maidens (on a routine basis) and getting shot at (also on a routine basis). Reading Siringo is like a chat with an old friend.