In 1796 Commandante de Nava sent orders banning any foreigners from entering into Texas without extensive documentation.  They mainly didnt want any anglos to enter this territory because there had been rumors of the whites wanting to take over the area. Despite these orders Phillip Nolan, a bold, adventurous, and very brave man entered the territory with 27 associates (18 americans, 7 spaniards, and 2 negro slaves) and traveled from Natchez up the Mississippi River to current Vicksburg and then turned west toward Texas.

He crossed the Ouochita, Red, Sabine ,Neches and Trinity rivers and then built a small primitive fort called Nolans Fort on the current Nolan River near the Brazos. Commander Manuel Muzquiz was ordered by the Governor to arrest Nolan. On March 21 1801, Nolan and his associates were attacked by 120 royal soldiers near what is today known as Blum. A small town in northern Hill county. In the confrontation that followed Nolan was killed and his men surrendered and were promised a safe return to the United States.

A friend and I walked around and took these beautiful pics on the river. Its a very nice place to go for a hike and think about the things that happened here a couple hundred years ago. Also, I was reading online that in the Spring it is a very good place to catch White Bass that come from the lake to spawn in the running water. And supposedly it is a good stretch of the river to go kayaking and even encounter a little whitewater. I will  be checking that out this Spring and I will have some more pics and video for you.