  The summer of 1835 was filled with unrest. In June the colonists had discovered that General Cos intended to use the military to force Texan compliance with government regulations. William B. Travis and a body of some 50 men responded to this threat in August by attacking and taking the fort at Anahuac. The action, although universally condemned by the Texans, strengthened Mexican determination to bring a military peace-keeping force to Texas. Texans feared that rights and liberties guaranteed by the Mexican Constitution of 1824 were threatened by this action and the increasing centralization of the government in Mexico. Mexican officials viewed Texan opposition as a direct attack on Mexican national honor, an insult to the government which had generously allowed the colonists to settle in Texas. The arrival of Mexican troops in Texas finally united the Texans in opposition to Santa Anna’s government. When Colonel Ugartechea demanded that a cannon at Gonzales be returned, the colonists refused. The first battle of the Revolution took place. The Mexican commander was forced to retreat. Gonzales fell on October 2; Goliad, on October 10. James Bowie and William Barrett Travis captured Espada and Concepcion Missions in October. Fort Lipantitlan surrendered in early November. Between December 5 and December 10, after a month-long siege, San Antonio was taken by the Texas Army and the Mexican troops remaining in Texas were forced to retreat to Mexico. At year’s end, no “foreign” troops remained on Texas soil. The battles of 1835 were fought mainly by Texas settlers, men who had a vested interest in defending Texas’ soil. By the end of the year, however, they believed the war was over, and they returned to their homes. The 1836 campaign would be conducted principally with volunteers from the United States, a weakness that would hamper the war effort throughout the rest of the Revolution. While the Texan army drove out the Mexican forces, a “Consultation” of delegates from each of the municipalities met to determine how best to proceed. On November 7, they issued a declaration of causes for taking up arms against Santa Anna. A vote of 33 to 15 favored the peace party: Texas would fight to restore the Constitution of 1824 and to achieve separate statehood for Texas within the Mexican confederation. A government of sorts was set up by the Consultation. It consisted of a governor, council, and lieutenant governor. None of the parties held sufficient executive or legislative powers. Furthermore, the The split between Smith and the council was caused by attempts to mount a Matamoros Expedition—an ill-favored plan to take the war outside of Texas and to keep U. S. volunteers occupied. Although the Matamoros Expedition never was organized, it drew off supplies and volunteers desperately needed in Texas, and it divided the political and military leaders at a time when unified action was essential. As winter held Texas in its grip, Santa Anna mounted a counterattack. Arriving in San Antonio on February 23, he laid siege to the Alamo, where 150 Texans attempted to buy time for Texas. Only 32 volunteers from Gonzales came to reinforce the men at the Alamo. All were killed shortly after dawn on March 6. While the Alamo was besieged, Texans met in Convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos. On March 2, the Convention declared Texas independence, and a Declaration to that effect was signed the following day. Before the meeting adjourned, a constitution was drafted and an interim government set up. Texan reverses in the field continued. Learning of the fall of the Alamo, Sam Houston and the undermanned and untrained Texas army began a hasty retreat eastward. F. W. Johnson was attacked at San Patricio on February 27, and only he and four men survived. James Grant and his men were surrounded and killed at Agua Dulce on March 2. Refugio was attacked and Amon King and the garrison were killed on March 16. William Ward, who had been sent to relieve King, was captured with his men on March 22. They were marched to Goliad where they were executed on March 27. Fannin, who had failed to respond to calls for help from the Alamo because he lacked transport for his arms and supplies, finally began a retreat on March 19. He and his men were caught outside Goliad at Coleto. After fighting off several attacks, Fannin was finally forced to surrender on the morning of the 20th. Returned to Goliad, Fannin and his men awaited a decision about their fate. Gen. Urrea favored treating them as prisoners of war; Santa Anna demanded that they be executed as pirates. Santa Anna prevailed. His orders were carried out on Palm Sunday, March 27. Throughout April, the remaining Texas troops fled to the east. While they retreated, panic seized the colonists. The Runaway Scrape saw hundreds of families take to the roads fleeing from the oncoming Finally, on April 20, the Mexican and Texan armies met at San Jacinto. A brief skirmish was fought on April 20. Then, as the afternoon shadows began to lengthen, on April 21 the Texan army advanced against Santa Anna’s troops. What took place then was a slaughter of the Mexican army, its men taken by surprise, cut off from escape. The Texan victory was completed the next day when a poorly-dressed soldier was brought in from the field. The prisoners’ reactions soon revealed that this was, indeed, President-General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. For all practical purposes, the war was at an end. |
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