Chad Michael Murray | Texas Rising

• Genre: Western
• Written by: Leslie Greif, Darrell Fetty, George Nihil
• Directed by: Roland Joffé
• Starring: Bill Paxton, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Olivier Martinez, Thomas Jane, Crispin Glover, Jeremy Davies, Rhys Coiro, Christopher McDonald, John Elvis, Max Thieriot, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Knepper, Chad Michael Murray, Jeff Fahey, Joe Egender, Robert Baker, Marklen Kennedy, Stephen Monroe Taylor, Trevor Donovan, Rob Morrow, Kris Kristofferson, Brendan Fraser, Ray Liotta
• Music by: Bruce Broughton, John Debney
• No. of episodes: 5
• Executive producer: Leslie Greif
• Producers: Roland Joffé, Batán Silva, Joanne Rubino, Herb Nanas, Darrell Fetty
• Cinematography: Arthur Reinhart
• Editor: Don Cassidy
• Running time: 600 minutes
• Production companies: A+E Studios, ITV Studios America, ThinkFactory Media
• Network: History
• Release: May 25 – June 15, 2015

A depiction of the rise of Texas from the Battle of the Alamo to San Jacinto. A story told through the lives of the men who gave everything up to defend an infant country from a ruthless Dictator and Native Americans, and paved the way for the Republic of Texas to emerge.

"From the Ashes"

The day after the brutal defeat and executions at The Alamo on March 7, 1836, lone survivors, Emily D. West and Susana Dickenson journey to Texas Republic Army camp in Gonzalez with the help of the newly named Texas Rangers who battle Karankawa Indians along the way. Meanwhile, at the outpost, the Texas Revolution is in full swing under General Sam Houston's command. After hearing of the grave news, he and his Texian troops want revenge against General Santa Anna and his mighty Mexican army. But in order to fight another day, they must retreat and abandon their stronghold in Goliad and join forces in Victoria, much to the stubbornness of Colonel Fannin, who doesn't want to follow orders. Also, soon-to-be-famous rangers Jack Hays and Bigfoot Wallace meet for the first time in Nacogdoches and ride to Fort Defiance to fight.

"Fate and Fury"

Colonel Fannin finally retreats from Fort Defiance, but faces overwhelming odds when he and his troops are ambushed by General Urrea, who assures him mercy for his men if they surrender. However, after the decision to become prisoners, the Battle of Coleto Creek proves costly for the Texians when they are brought back to their fort and are all massacred on Colonel Portilla's command. Meanwhile, Emily plays spy and gets close to Santa Anna to learn his secrets. Also, Hays and Wallace are on the trail of robbers who stole their belongings, and wind up at Goliad where Bigfoot's brother Samuel died. Later, Houston teams up with the rangers and encounters Comanches and the lunatic Lorca, who after witnessing the aftermath, slays the remaining Mexicans. Back at camp, Officers Baker and Sherman rile up the soldiers against their general to "stand and fight", but Houston asks them to follow him east where victory awaits.

"Blood for Blood"

Despite Houston's leadership still being under question by his officers, he marches his troops south outside Harrisburg to prepare for engagement with Santa Anna and his army in a final battle in San Jacinto. But Colonel Sherman defies orders and sends his cavalry in to fight, which almost costs them the war. Meanwhile, after purchasing farmland on the Mexican border, the Wycoff family are murdered by Comanches. However, while carrying the badly wounded lone survivor in his arms, their slave Nate warns of the attack to the empresario Buckley in Victoria. He then enlists Bigfoot and Hays, who are being held prisoner, to help defend the town. Also, Emily tries to get out of a sticky situation when Santa Anna finds her pistol in his bed, thinking she means to kill him. He then gives her an ultimatum: Him or Houston.

"Vengeance is Mine"

On April 21, 1836, Houston puts his plan into action when he and his troops stage a surprise attack on the Mexican Army in the decisive Battle of San Jacinto. It all starts with the Rangers, as a way of distraction, to blow up Vince's Bridge, along with Santa Anna's soldiers who are stationed on it. As both armies engage each other, Emily has had enough with Santa Anna and tries to kill him, but the general flees the scene to join in on the fighting. However, he sees something he's never seen before—defeat. His men are retreating and later surrender, causing him to escape. The Texas Republican Army has won and "el presidente" is captured and imprisoned to be ransomed for a treaty—Santa Anna's release for an independent Texas. Meanwhile, Bigfoot and Hays successfully defend the town of Victoria from Comanches and finally meet up with Deaf Smith to officially ride with the Rangers to rescue Emily who's being held prisoner by Colonel Portilla at his hideout.

"The Rise of the Republic"

Two months after the Battle of San Jacinto, Houston holes up in a brothel in New Orleans. But when he is greeted by Thomas Rusk and Doc Ewing, he is encouraged by them to take a pivotal role in the future of the now newly independent territory of Texas. Meanwhile, the Rangers arrive back in Victoria to celebrate their victory over Mexico, but it is short lived when they decide to rescue Emily from Colonel Portilla's hideout. They take Bigfoot and Hays, who are hastily sworn into the Texas Ranging Company. Also, they must fight the Comanches, who plan to attack Texan immigrants at the border. Houston keeps his promise to Santa Anna, who is being held prisoner at a plantation, to meet President Jackson to discuss a peace treaty at the White House in Washington. Later, Juan Seguín, along with his Tejano troops gather at The Alamo to pay their respects to those who died there and to bury a box of ashes of the slain in tribute.