Texas Revolution Major Battles Flashcards
Gonzales
October 2, 1835
TX: Col. John H. Moore
MX: Col. Ugartechea
“Lexington of Texas” - launched a fight for Texas independence, 1st battle of Texas Revolution, both fought over armaments, colonists won
Casualties: 1 Mexican, 0 Texans
Texans able to defend their cannon after a brief skirmish with the Mexicans
confidence boost for Texans
2. made many indifferent colonists enthusiastic about fighting
3. Mexicans considered this an action of war
4. Texans continued march to San Antonio
Goliad
October 9, 1835
TX: George Collinsworth
Ben Milam
MX: 25 defenders
Took place one week after the Battle of Gonzales
Battle lasted approximately 30 minutes
Force of 120 Texans attacked the garrison at Goliad and forced Mexican troops to surrender
1. gained strategic presidio and supplies
2. convinced many Texans that Mexico could be defeated
3. Texans continued march to San Antonio
The grass fight
November 26, 1835
TX: Erastus (Deaf) Smith
MX: Mexican mule handlers
Texans fought a small skirmish over what they thought was a Mexican “silver train” (actually was carrying grass!)
After capturing more than 3 dozen mules during the attack, Texans were disappointed to find grass in their packs and not silver.
The nature of this cargo earned this skirmish the name the “ Grass Fight.”
- A third victory for the Texas forces
San Antonio
october 12-December 10, 1835
TX: Edward Burleson
Ben Milam
Frank W. Johnson
MX: General Cos
TX lay siege to San Antonio in Oct. By Dec., most TX were ready to go home for winter until Milam and Johnson rallied them to an attack against Cos’ troops on Dec. 5, forcing the Mex. to surrender.
1. Cos gave Texans all supplies and property in San Antonio
2. Mexicans allowed to return to Mexico
3. Cos agreed to never oppose the Constitution of 1824 or fight in TX again
4. TX were able to defeat a much larger Mexican force
5. TX now controlled Goliad and the Alamo
-TX Army dispersed throughout the state: 104 men at San Antonio; 400 men at Goliad; 500 men in S. Tx.; Houston at Gonzales raising permanent army
- Many Tx. Volunteers go home after San Antonio victory
The Alamo
February 23– March 6 1836
TX: William B. Travis
James Bowie
MX: General Santa Anna
Santa Anna determined to retake San Antonio and impress upon the Texans the futility of further resistance to Mex. rule.
The Mexican forces launched a two week attack on the 184 (est.) Texans who took refuge in old Alamo mission.
Santa Anna lost many professional soldiers
Mexican army march to the east was delayed for 2 weeks
Made Texans more determined to win independence because of Alamo stand
Encouraged U.S. to help Texans (people and money)
Allowed Houston’s army time to organize
San Patricio
February 27 1836
TX: Frank W. Johnson
MX: General Jose Urrea
The Mexican forces kill or capture all 50 of the Texans except for Johnson and 4 others.
1. Mexican victory in South Texas.
Agua Dulce Creek
March 2, 1836
TX: Dr. James Grant
MX: General Jose Urrea
Part of Urrea’s army encountered about 30 Texans and captured or killed all of them but 6 men.
1. Mexican victory in South Texas.
Refugio
March 12, 1836
TX: Amon King
William Ward
MX: General Jose Urrea
King and Ward split their forces to try and escape the Mexicans who surrounded the town.
King and his 33 men were captured and shot; Ward and his men retreated to Victoria
1. Mexican victory in South Texas
Victoria
March 16-17, 1836
TX: William Ward
MX: General Jose Urrea
Ward and his men were surrounded and captured by the Mexicans and impounded with other prisoners at Goliad.
1. Mexican victory in South Texas
2. Along with Refugio, delayed Fannin’s retreat from Goliad.
Coleto Creek
March 19-20, 1836
TX: James Fannin
MX: General Jose Urrea
On March 19, Fannin began his withdrawal from Goliad, but stopped at the Creek to rest and were soon surrounded by Urrea’s forces.
The Mexicans attacked 3 times but were driven back each time, but Fannin surrendered the next morning.
Many Texans believed they were surrendering as prisoners of war, but they actually surrendered unconditionally.
The 234 prisoners were marched to and imprisoned at Goliad.
1. Called “Fannin’s Flight”
2. Led to Goliad Massacre
Goliad Massacre
March 27, 1836
Fearing that if he let the captured Texans go, they would rejoin the rebellion, Santa Anna requested that they all be executed under Mexican law.
The Texans were marched onto a prairie thinking they were to perform work detail, but the Mexicans opened fire and killed about 350.
2 physicians, nurses, and workmen survived.
Senora Francisca Alvarez, the wife of a Mexican army officer, helped several Texans avoid execution.
“Angel of Goliad”-referred to by survivors
1. Losses in South Texas revealed the lack of cooperation among Texas forces.
2. Defeats in South Texas convinced Houston not to let his forces be separated into small groups.
San Jacinto
April 20-21 1836
TX: Sam Houston
MX: Santa Anna
Following the fall of the Alamo and the defeats in South Texas, Gen. Houston decided to retreat eastward from San Antonio.
Runaway Scrape – movement and evacuation of hundreds of families between Colorado and Brazos Rivers to avoid Mexican Army
Moved east following Houston’s Army
Santa Anna was leading his Mexican forces toward the Texas government in Harrisburg; small skirmishes along the way further influenced the Texan retreat and the Mexican advance.
Santa Anna was leading his Mexican forces toward the Texas government in Harrisburg; small skirmishes along the way further influenced the Texan retreat and the Mexican advance.
Houston set-up camp along Buffalo Bayou (near the San Jacinto River) with an open prairie to their front; Santa Anna set-up camp at the edge of the prairie.
On April 20, Santa Anna marched across the prairie but only a small, unsuccessful scuffle between the cavalry for both sides occurred.
Gen. Cos’ forces arrived early in the morning of April 21 at San Jacinto
Number of men: TX-750 MX-1500+
Houston sent Deaf Smith and Henry Karnes to destroy Vince’s Bridge, thus cutting off the only escape route for the Texans and the Mexicans.
After delaying his decision, Houston finally gives the orders to attack at 3:30, catching the resting Mex by surprise!
Chaos by the Mex resulted in only an 18 min. resistance.
Mexican losses: 630 killed, 730 prisoners including Santa Anna
Fewer than 10 Texans were killed or fatally wounded; 30 others were injured (including Houston).
The capture of Santa Anna resulted in:
prevented him from rejoining his other troops in Texas and continuing the war
he signed an order instructing all Mexican troops to withdraw south to Mexico
Treaty of Velasco
PUBLIC TREATY
Santa Anna would never fight against TX
Mexican army would retreat south of Rio Grande
All Texan prisoners released
Same number of Mexican prisoners released
Private Treaty of Velasco
PRIVATE TREATY
Santa Anna pledged to work for Mexican
Recognition of TX independence
Santa Anna released to return to MX
Boundary set at Rio Grande
Who signed the treaties
President Burnet and Santa Anna
