SAN ANTONIO — Members of the San Antonio chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution highlighted South Texas's role in supplying cattle and financial support during the American Revolutionary War on July 2, 2026. Cattle raised in the region supplied Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez's forces in Louisiana, and salted beef eventually reached General George Washington's Continental Army.

Raul Hinojosa, a descendant of Jose Manuel Hinojosa, displays a Spanish silver coin from the 1770s in his home. His ancestor's family established ranches along the Rio Grande. "We were lucky to get many of our ranches on the Rio Grande. The big thing about cattle is you need water. By chance, one of my cousins still owns the ranch 300 years later," Hinojosa said. He added, "We herded it...to New Orleans to feed Gálvez. At some point, they started processing and salting it to get the meat to George Washington. Without that, especially around Valley Forge, they would have starved to death."

Ron Finch, president of the San Antonio chapter, noted that ranchers supplied cattle while others in New Spain provided financial assistance. "We were all New Spain back at the time. You had individuals who participated in the cattle drives," Finch said. The chapter, founded in 1930, has approximately 200 members. Eligibility extends to descendants of those who supported American independence, regardless of whether their ancestors were part of the original 13 colonies. "There are so many avenues. You didn't have to be part of the 13 colonies. It could have been from here within New Spain," Finch said.

The group is also looking ahead to 2033, which will mark the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris. "So even though we're doing the declaration of the 250 this year, it really just got started," Finch added.