benmilam

Benjamin Rush Milam, soldier, colonizer, and entrepreneur, was born in Frankfort, Kentucky on October 20, 1788. He enlisted in the Kentucky militia and fought for several months in the War of 1812. In 1818, Ben Milam moved to Texas to begin his varied careers as trader, colonizer, miner and soldier.

In 1835, Milam encountered a company of soldiers, from whom he heard of the movement in Texas for independence. Milam joined them, helped capture Goliad, and then marched with them to join the main army to capture San Antonio. While returning from a scouting mission on December 4, 1835, Milam learned that the army had decided not to attack San Antonio as planned but to go into winter quarters.