On this episode of the El Mesteño podcast, Host David Flores and Subject Matter Expert Homero Vera explore the life of Catarino Erasmo Garza, the journalist, folk hero, and revolutionary who bridged the gap between "the pen and the sword".
The episode dives into the late 19th-century borderlands—a cultural and political battleground—where Garza forged his revolutionary spirit in the print shops and ranchos of South Texas. Learn how Garza moved from founding newspapers like El Bien Público and El Comercio Mexicano to fearlessly criticizing Mexican President Porfirio Díaz and local Texas authorities in his paper, El Libre Pensador. His status as a defender of the Mexican people solidified after a shootout during the Rio Grande City Riot of 1888.
The discussion moves to the "Garza War," which began on September 15, 1891. Garza led about 26 armed men, known as the "Libres Fronterizos" (Free Bordermen), across the Rio Grande to launch a revolution. Their "Plan Revolucionario" declared that the Díaz government was plagued by "frightful corruption" and called for the people to rise up against dictatorship.
Discover how the mobile conflict forced the U.S. and Mexican armies to cooperate until pressure from the Texas Rangers and U.S. Army forced Garza to flee Texas by 1892. Garza’s legacy is preserved as a precursor to the great Mexican Revolution of 1910, who used the power of the press to fight for civil rights and dignity on the border.

On this episode, Host David Flores and Subject Matter Expert Homero Vera dive into the history of Duval County to celebrate the legendary Anastacio B. Saenz—or "Tacho"—and his equine empire at Rancho Mesquite Bonito. Tacho was a true pioneer of the American Quarter Horse, with four of his horses (Ace of Hearts II, Leonell, Little Pancho, and Saenz) listed in the A.Q.H.A. Foundation Sire Registry.1Discover how Mesquite Bonito became a center for high-stakes carreras de caballos (horse races) and international business, attracting Mexican Generals who crossed the border to buy his prized stock. Learn about the sale of the horse Leonell to General Miguel Acosta for a dineral ($1,000) in 1928, and Tacho’s influential sale of Ace of Hearts II to Bill Warren, who would become the first president of the American Quarter Horse Association.

The episode also tracks the family legacía (legacy) back to Tacho’s uncle, Agapito Saenz, who set the stage for racing in the region. Hear the incredible story of Agapito’s 1911 journey to secure a $600 racehorse from Seguin, Texas, which was delivered over 150 miles on foot through the brush country. It’s a nostalgic and proud look at the dedication of the pioneers whose efforts continue to shape the world of racing today.

Uncover a critical, yet often-overlooked Civil War clash in the heart of South Texas. On this somber anniversary, host David Flores and resident expert Homero Vera delve into The Battle of Los Patricios at Los Olmos Creek on March 14, 1864.
Hear the dramatic story of Valerio's men, Union-aligned forces, and the Confederate interception that changed lives. Homero Vera shares how new evidence—including recently discovered Civil War-era bullet casings and a firsthand Union account tracked down by Marcos Flores—is finally confirming the skirmish lines and the texture of the narrative.
Featured: The poignant service of Union soldier Julian Garza, a ranchero who suffered devastating injuries at Los Patricios and struggled for years to prove his service, only to find his final resting place beside his Confederate foe.
Join El Mesteño to track the hoofprints of history that the land never forgets. Original maps and the full write-up are available in Issue 48 of El Mesteño.