Henry Karnes

Henry Wax Karnes was a Texas Revolutionary War soldier and figure, as well as the commander of General Sam Houston's "Spy Squad" at the Battle of San Jacinto. Karnes County and its county seat, Karnes City, are both named for him. Tennessee native Henry Wax Karnes first visited Texas in 1828. During the Texas Revolution, he was one of Sam Houston's most valuable spies, working closely with Deaf Smith. He participated in the fight of Concepción alongside Smith, Seguen, and James Bowie, and subsequently joined the siege of Bexar. Karnes was sent with Smith to ascertain the fate of the Alamo while serving in a volunteer company.

He was a captain by the time of the Battle of San Jacinto and eventually a colonel. He joined the Texas Rangers after the war. Karnes and Seguin collaborated on a strategy to defuse the Comanche menace in Texas. In August 1838, he was injured by an arrow during the Arroyo Seco Fight, an expedition against the Comanches. He died of yellow fever in San Antonio, Texas, in 1840. Karnes was buried outside of the Old Campo Santos Cemetery because he was a Protestant and only Catholics could be buried there. This cemetery was later relocated, and Santa Rosa Hospital was built across from Milam Park in its place. In 1932, a memorial to Karnes was placed in the park since it was the closest location to his tomb that the city was aware of.