This text explores the natural history of Texas and more than 2900 springs in 183 Texas counties. It also includes an in-depth discussion of the general characteristics of springs - their physical and prehistoric settings, their historical significance, and their associated flora and fauna.

Under the command of Major A.V.E. Johnston, the 155 raw Union recruits were underequipped and inexperienced fighters. Anderson's followers, joined by additional guerrilla forces gathered in preparation for the invasion of Missouri, numbered close to 400. These guerrillas, including a young Jesse James, Cole Younger, and Frank James, seized the chance to consolidate their revenge against the federal forces who had occupied various sections of the Missouri-Kansas region since the mid-1850s. At Centralia, proslavery forces finally had the clear advantage over their opponents. Anderson's proslavery men killed Johnston and all but 32 of his outnumbered men in the Battle of Centralia. Sergeant Goodman called the scene a drunken "carnival of blood," and the incident became notorious for the torture and mutiliations that Anderson's men inflicted on the survivors of the battle