“A Nation Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand.”
Sam Houston was involved in the Civil War primarily through his opposition to secession and his stance on the issue of slavery. Houston served as the governor of Texas at the time when the state was considering secession from the Union. Although he personally disagreed with secession, when Texas voted to secede in 1861, Houston accepted the decision but refused to swear allegiance to the new Confederate States of America.
Houston’s refusal to pledge loyalty to the Confederacy led to his removal from office by the Texas convention, and he was replaced by Lt. Gov. Edward Clark. Despite his removal, Houston nominally supported the Southern cause during the war. His son, Sam Houston Jr., fought for the Confederacy and was wounded at the Battle of Shiloh.
It is worth noting that Houston’s opposition to secession and his refusal to support the Confederacy were not widely popular in Texas at the time. Many Texans were in favor of secession and were supportive of the Confederate cause. Houston’s stance on these issues significantly impacted his political career and reputation in the state.
Houston’s involvement in the Civil War was limited to his opposition to secession and his refusal to join the Confederacy. He passed away in 1863 during the war, and his political influence in Texas during that period was relatively diminished.