A Select Glossary of the Texas Revolution

Martin, WylieMartin was the political chief of Gonzales in 1835. Although he thought the Declaration of Independence premature, he raised a company and joined Houston at Columbus. He was sent to guard river crossings on the Brazos, but his force was unable to prevent the Mexican army’s crossing at Richmond. Martin returned to headquarters, surrendered his command, and went to aid families caught up in the Runaway Scrape.

MatagordaCaptured by Urrea on April 13, the town had been deserted, although some of its inhabitants could be seen on Culebra Island, south of Matagorda. Urrea took the supplies housed there and ordered the pier fortified.

Matamoros ExpeditionFirst proposed by the Consultation on November 13, 1835, the Matamoros Expedition was a disrupting factor throughout the Revolution. James Bowie was ordered to lead an expedition on December 17; later, the General Council ordered Houston to undertake the mission. Houston declined the command; Bowie never received his orders. In January 1836, the General Council ordered both James W. Fannin and F. W. Johnson to command a Matamoros Expedition. Johnson, with James Grant, took troops to Goliad and Refugio. However, at Refugio, Sam Houston’s protests against the legality of the Expedition caused considerable desertion. The remaining men were attacked by Urrea’s army at San Patricio and at Agua Dulce. Fannin, meanwhile, marched to Goliad where he remained until March 19. He and his men were attacked at Coleto and defeated on March 20.

McKinney, Williams and CompanyThomas F. McKinney and Samuel May Williams provided much-needed supplies and money during the revolution. The Texas government purchased the William Robbins (which was renamed the Liberty) and the Invincible from the firm. From the United States, Williams supplied arms and ammunition. The company provided some $99,000 worth of goods and services to Texas during the war. The government also authorized McKinney, Williams and Company to raise up to $100,000 on Texas lands for the war effort. Although Williams preferred fighting to support the Mexican Constitution of 1824, he came to accept the war for Texas independence. McKinney, on the other hand, continued to work for Texas but remained opposed to Texas independence for years after the war had ended.

Mexia, Jose AntonioIn November 1835, Mexia sailed from New Orleans for Tampico with a group of 150 men. Their attempt to capture the city failed, and, after remaining in the fort at Tampico for twelve days, he and most of his men retreated. They returned to Texas in December. He attempted to raise a Matamoros Expedition, but opposition by Governor Henry Smith and lack of funds prevented the project from materializing. Mexia declined orders to proceed with his troops to San Antonio, declaring that his services would be better used in recruiting. He returned to New Orleans where he spent the remainder of the war.

Milam, Benjamin RushMilam assisted in the capture of Goliad and was in charge of the officer prisoners sent to General Austin at Gonzales. Austin put Milam in charge of a scouting party to determine conditions at and best means of attack on San Antonio. When the main army arrived at San Antonio, Milam, James Bowie, and William B. Travis were sent on a scouting mission to the Rio Grande. Returning to San Antonio, Milam found the army about to fall back without making an attack on the city. He convinced some 300 volunteers to “follow old Ben Milam.” They began their attack on December 5. Milam’s command occupied the Veramendi house. One December 7, while crossing the courtyard, Milam was shot by a sniper.

Miller, Thomas R.One of eighteen men who delayed the Mexican troops sent to seize the cannon at Gonzales, Miller also represented Gonzales at the Consultation. He was a member of the Gonzales Volunteers who arrived at the Alamo on March 1. He was killed in the massacre on March 6.

Miller, Washington ParsonsMiller enlisted in the Texas Army in September 1835 and was appointed a major in the Regular Army on December 20. Miller and a body of volunteers from the United States were captured on March 2, 1836, when they landed at Copano Bay. They were marched to Goliad, but they were not among those massacred on March 27, since none of them had yet taken up arms against Mexico. He and his men were imprisoned at Matamoros.

Morton’s FerryNear the present site of Fort Bend or Richmond, the ferry was an important crossing on the Colorado River.

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