Composed as Santa Anna's battle drums rumbled at the gates of the Alamo, Texas' Declaration of Independence — adopted 169 years ago today — was statesmanship on the run. Fired by patriotism ...

It was on March 2, 1836, when historians believe the original and five copies of the Texas Declaration of Independence were written and signed by 59 men at Washington-on-the-Brazos. If you were ...