The night of November 8 was cold and windy, and it was raining throughout south central Texas, but this did not stop 44 members of the San Antonio’s bailliage from participating in an evening of fine dining among (1) the ghosts of the battle of the Alamo, Mexican-America war and (2) the remembrance of the Civil War era. On this evening, the bailliage participated in an epicurean delight at the “Dashiell House” part of The Fig Tree and Little Rhein Steak House restaurant establishment situated in the La Villita historic district of downtown San Antonio on the south banks of the River Walk.

La Villita was San Antonio’s first neighborhood. It was originally a settlement for dirt and grass huts for the Spanish soldiers stationed at the Alamo during the early 1800’s. It was also the site for General Santa Ana’s cannon line barrage in 1836 during the siege of the Alamo. Therefore, while Chaine members enjoyed hors d’oeuvres of venison ham & white asparagus crepe; port & peach glazed caribou medallion; prosciutto wrapped fig balsamic glaze; and tarmasalata & lobster canapé, and with respect, admiration, and reverence, it was easy to conjure up images of the fall of the Alamo after its 13 day battle and the ghosts of Crockett, Bowie, Travis, along with the other 186 brave defenders.

The Dashiell House, as a structure, has its own brand of history also. The house was originally built in 1850, just 14 years after the fall of the Alamo, by U. S. Army Officer Jeremiah Dashiell. Major Dashiell was born in Baltimore Maryland, became a doctor, a teacher, minister, soldier, and newspaper editor.  Major Dashiell is best known for having the title “the most unlucky paymaster of the U.S. Army. Doctor Dashiell was friends with President Polk and President Andrew Jackson. During the Mexican War and the war with the Seminole Indians, Dashiell was appointed Captain and the title of Army paymaster. However, after losing two payrolls, one at the bottom a Florida lagoon ($23,000) and the other at the hands of thieves ($28,000), he was asked to resign. Major Dashiell then moved to San Antonio, bought the land near where General Santa Ana had positioned his cannon line, built the Dashiell House, and later became the editor of the San Antonio Herald news paper. Major Dashiell was later called back into service during the Civil War, again as paymaster, and served to the end of the war without incident.

Needless to say, we not only had a lot to talk about during the reception phase of the dinner, but also during the second course of “black mint marinated mango filet, grilled ½ quail” and the third course of “herb rubbed akaushi strip.”

At the end of the meal accolades and praise was bestowed upon Maitre de Table Restaurateur and owner of the establishment, Moe Lazri. We all then grabbed our coats, umbrellas, and car keys and headed out the door to brave the cold wet elements of a black wintery night in south Texas.