An Early Trip From Galveston To Nacogdoches And Beyond - 1818  This is a true, republished story of a wintertime journey taken by a group of Frenchmen, all veterans of Napoleon’s Army, who had come to America for a new start. They had abandoned their dream and were riding across East Texas during the Spanish period. Their leader, Jus Girrod, originally told it over 175 years ago. This exciting tale begins with the illegal and almost forgotten French fort and town that they called "Champ de’ Asile" (Camp of Asylem). His story tells of meeting with the pirate Jean Lafitte, their survival of a hurricane while at Galveston, their ride to Spanish Nacogdoches, purchasing new clothes there, how they looked, buying re-mounts and contracting with local half-casts (half Indian) guides. Then after leaving Nacogdoches being captured by Comanche Indians, finding an illegal French smuggler living with them and finally, around 1821, his escape into the safety of French Louisiana, only to meet Stephen F. Austin leading his colonists westward along the Old El Camino de las Tejas Trail while on their way to settle the Brazos-Colorado River deltas and of his joining them to become one of the first Texans. This is truly a remarkable story - a candid word picture of how Texas really was at this time, and of how, and who, settled it. A great read with original illustrations by Maurice Stewart, plus a map. Just out. One of a kind. Can be found nowhere else. Regular book size, approximately 100 pages. Free postage. $29.95