Talk:Texas Revolution/Hardin

Hardin; Texan Iliad - 1994

p 6 many US cits came to Texas without permission b/c of the 1819 Panic and abundance of land they did not feel the same loyalty to Mexico

April 1830 Mexican congress passed a law saying no more US immigrants that did not stop the illegal immigration, just the legal variety

Santa Anna overthrew the govt and the Constitution; ordered all illegals ot go back to US and all other Texians to disarm

By 1835, when Austin got back to colony, "Santa Anna had annulled all constitutional restraints and assumed dictatorial powers"

in May 1835, Zacatecans (federalists) revolted; after Santa Anna crushed the revolt, he allowed his soldiers 2 days to rape and pillage - more than

2000 noncombatants killed in those 2 days

p 7 before Sept 1835, settlers in Green De Witt's colony were loyal to Mexico Sept 10, a Mexican soldier bludgened Jesse McCoy with butt of his Brown Bess rifle - thought to have had little or no justification

combined with reports from Zacatecas, hte colonists began to get worried then Col Domingo Ugartechea, the military commander at San Antonio, recalled the Gonzales cannon

"The cannon became a point of honor and an unlikely rallying symbol. Gonzales citizens had no intention of handing over the weapon at a time of growing tension"

they escorted the people who had been sent to get the cannon out of town

Col U was angry and sent 100 dragoons under Lt Francisco Castaneda to get the cannon - asked Cast. to avoid conflict if possible Late in Sept 1835 the troops left Bexar for Gonzales

They arrived Sep 29; 18 citizens were waiting for them. Texians had removed the ferry and all boats from the Guadalupe, and said that 1 Mexican soldier could swim across to deliver a message to the alcade

the current was too swift to allow everyone to cross

the leader of the Gonzales 18 was Captain Albert Martin; after he read the note he said that the alcade was out of town (alcade was Andrew Ponton); until he returned the army must stay on the other side of the river

p 8 after readingthe note, he also sent 3 men to secretly bury the gun they needed to stall to get more reinforcements

Cast. made camp 300 yds from the cross on the highest ground, DeWitt's Mound

Gonzales dr Launcelot Smither was in Bexar on personal business; he went to Col U. and told him to not take hostile action. Col u sent soldiers to escort Smither to Gonzales; he would take no bad action if Smither could convince the colonists to comply

messengers from Gonzales spread out among the Anglos; Fayette militia under Col John henry Moore came; so did a detachment from Columbus (couldn't choose a leader, so jointly led by Burleson, Robert M. Coleman, and Joseph Washington Elliot Wallace

the Texians considered that hte captain was a first among equals; they elected their leaders

when they all got to Gonzales, the newbies did not want to be commanded by Martin; they elected Moore as the captain, Wallace was a lt col, and Burleson as major

p 9 U. had asked for communications with the 3 Texians who had been scouting hte Mexican position, but they refused

when Smither got there, Cast. asked him to tell the Texians that they did not want conflict

smither approached Capt Matthew Caldwell, known as "Old Paint" to explain U's approach Caldwell told Smither to return to the camp, stay there overnight, and that the Mexicans would not be harmed hat night; the next morning U. should accompany Smither to the town

Moore called a war council, even though U. had not made any attempt to take the cannon by force they decided that they had ridden that far, so they might as well fight unsure whether they knew that Caldwell had told Cast that he would not be harmed if he came to talk

they dug up the cannon and mounted it on cart wheels no cannon balls, so they gathered meal scraps; also readied all of their guns Rev W.P. Smith delivered a sermon (Methodist minister), made lots of references to the American Revoluion

p 10 during this time, a Coushatta Indian went to the Mexicans to tell them that there were now 140 men there with more expected Cast and his men left their camp to look for another, less guarded place to cross By nightfall Oct 1 they were 7 miles upriver the Texans began to cross at the ferry at about 7 pm; 50 of the 180 men were mounted then they made their way towards the new Mexican camp; thick fog around midnight slowed them down

as they approached the camp around 3 am, a dog barked, alerting hte Mexicans, who began to fire; a horse threw a Texian, giving hima bloody nose and making him the first casualty of the war

p 11 Moore had his men hide in the trees until dawn; with the fog, the Mexicans did not know how many men there were.

p 107 in Bexar, Dr. james Grant wanted an immediate drive aainst Matamoros and wanted houston ousted as commander in chief most of volunteers wanted to go to Grant had owned rich estates in Coahuila but Mex had forced him out, hought he could get hif land back by force

H planned to combine Bowie's unit w/ne US co.s at Goliad and Refugio under Fannin; H would then begin the march Dec 25, H went to Was on Brazos for final planning; council instead named Johnson and Finnin both as commanders-troops didn't know who was in charge smith wanted H to go to Goliad and take over Jan 3, Johnson told Council that he had ordered volunteers to march south, leaving 100 men with Neill in SA (Cos had had 1000)

Neill moved garrison into Alamo, which had thick adobe walls

p 108 Grant and Johnson took everything - no provisions or clothing for Alamo men Jan 10, Johnson caled for "the extermination of the last vestige of despotism from the Mexican soil" smith incensed

p 109 Smith denounced expedition as idocy and said those who supported it either fools or traitors bitterly denounced the council members who had pushed for this Smith said Council dissolved, they impeached him and made Lt Gov James W Robinson acting governor neither Smith nor Council had right to depose the other; Neill wrote to both for help

Jan 14, H arrived in Goliad to find Grant calling himself acting commander in chief Bowie still there - hadn't gotten orders to march to Matamoros

p 110 Jan 17, Houston sent Bowie and volunteers to Bexar Bowie one of very few in Goliad willingto obey Houston, who had not participated in previous battles 9Grant had fought and been wounded at SA battle)

Houston joined Grant's army on march to Refugio (did not try to take command) worked to win over the men at Refugio discovered that Smith deposed, Houston fired, and Fannin in charge of march to Matamoros before leaving, Housotn gave a speech askin ghow they planned ot take a city of 12000 rode away Jan 28 and reported to Smith, who aske dhim to arrange treaty between Chief Bowles of Cherokee and Texiand and wanted Cherokee to remain neutral

p 111 after H's speech, volunteers had doubts - they were w/Grant anyway and Fannin now in charge; many left to go back to Goliad; <70 men stayed with Grant and Johnson in San Patricio

morale high in Bexar; Neill busily bolstering Alamo defenses Jan 19 Bowie rode in; impressed with Neill's improvements had 19 of Cos's best ccannon, incl one 18-lb most installed on walls in letter to houston, Jameson said that if Mexicans came back, Alamo defenders could "whip 10 to 1 with our artillery"

Bowie wrote to Smith, "I cannot eulogise the conduct and character of Col. Neill too highly. No other many in the army could have kept men at this post, under the neglect they have experienced." Neill had manned Come and Take it cannon

p 117 by Feb 2, Bowie wrote Smith that he and Neill had resolved to "die in these ditches"

SMith then ordered Lt Col Travis to raise a company and go to Alamo; supposed to be 100 men, but could only get 30 to come with Travis told SMith, "I am willing, nay anxious, to go to the defense of Bexar, but sir, I am unwilling to risk my reputation (which is dear to a soldier) by going off into the enemy's country with such litttle means, so few men, and with them so badly equipped." Eventually decided to obey orders and reached there Feb 3; soon described it as "key to Texas" FEb 8, Crockett arrived

p 119 men threw an impromptu fandango in Crockett's honor; Crockett gave a speechm "I have come to aid you all that I can in your noble cause ... and all the honour that Idesire is that of defending as a high private .. the liberties of our common country"

Feb 14 Neill left, promising to return in 20 days; Neill left Travis (age 26) in charge b/c he had a regular commission and Bowie only an elected COl of volunteers many of the volunteers resented having a new commander

p 120 Feb 12 men held an election; regulars voted for Travis; volunteers for Bowie; that night Bowie celebrated, got drunk, and released felons Feb 13 Bowie woke with hangover and regret and proposed to Travis that they share command Seguiin's scouts reported that Santa Anna's vanguard had crossed Rio Grande; Tex did not take reports seriously, that the tejanos were lying (many tejanos were centralists) Cos arrived in Moncolva Jan 20 and SA told him that promises made to rebels meant nothing; gave them time to recuperate and then all would crush Texians Feb 16, SA crossed Rio Grande at Paso de Francia

he drove up Camino Real to approach San Antonio from west (Tex assumed he'd be coming from S via Laredo rd) Feb 17, Gen Jose Urrea forded Rio Grande at Matamoros

p 121 w/550 men, Urrea was to survey the coast, eventually retaking Goliad Travis though Mex could not arrive until mid March by Feb 20, however, many Bexar residents packed up and started leaving Feb 21, 15 of the Alamo Tejano volunteers resigned Feb 23, Travis put lookout in San Fernando bell tower almost imm., they said enemy troops were approaching on Presidio Rd Tex quickly fell back to Alamo w as much food and water as they could find; Travis dispatched courier to Gonzales = "The enemy in large force is in sight. We want men and provisions. Send them to us. We have 150 men and are determined to defend the Alamo to the last."

p 127 Mex. hoisted red flag of no quarter atop San Fernando church offered garrison an opportunity to surrender - "The Mexican army cannot come to terms under any conditions with rebellious foreigners to whom there is no other recourse left, if they wish to save their lives, than to place themselves immediately at the disposal of the Supreme Government from whom alone they may expect clemency after some considerations are taken up." Travis ordered a single shot fired from 18-lber

Mex. cannonneers began firing James had written to Houston, "The Alamo never was built by a military people for a fortress, tho' it is strong, there is not a redoubt tht will command the whole line of the fort, all is in the plain wall and intended to take advantage with a fewpieces of artillery"

p 128 Alamo lacked mutually supporting strong points, like demilunes, bastions, hornworks, raveline, etc fort had good water supply, but only enough food for 4 weeks Alamo had been designed to withstand attack by Indians (not artillery)

p 129 Travis and Bowie knew the walls would be breached; needed more men SA diod not want Tex to get reinforcements when SA heard that 200 men from Goliad were coming, he ordered Gen Ramirez y Sesma to incercept them w/cavalry and then sent Jiminez infantry battalion out too

SA described Alamo as "irregular fortification hardly worthy of the name" Mexican army had brought 40 light fieldpieces; heavy siege guns were on way not no arrive until March 7 or 8 Mex worked after dark (where Tex rifles not out) to dig entrenchments for cannon - ever night moved closer

on 2nd day of siege Bowie collapsed; Travis in sole command

p 130 in some places walls 12 ft hight; Tex marsmen killed Mex at ranges MEx weren't expecting

Travis assigned Crockett and a group of skilled riflemen to weakest link - low picket barricade between chapel and S wall; Mex began avoiding the area opposite that

Neill had found 21 annon, but not all had been mounted in time; probably 19 mounted the 18 lb cann at SW corner (opposite town) Travis in charge of batter of 9 lbers on N wall; 3 12-lb cannon covering area E of fort; one was a gunade ( aship's short range fun - 150 mi from coast)

p 131 fort too large for so few men; 3 acres in main plaze, so defensive perimeter about 1/4 mi long usually 6 men per cannon; Travis spared 3 men per cannon (could fire, but not as quickly)

no firing ports; Jameson constructed catwalks, but defenders' upper bodies exposed

men atop west wall more exposed cannon fired over breastworks, not through gum emplacements constructed by piling dirt on inside of walls, but artillery and artillerymen silhouetted against sky

2nd day of siege, Mex artillery dismounted 2 Tex cannont, incl 18 lb, but Tex had them remounted soon

Mex had almost constant fire on Alamo

Feb 24, Travis sent letter to Ppl of Teas and All Americans had not lost a man, mostly b/c Mex directing fire against the walls.

P 132 at first, Travis matched Mex fire, but stopped on day 4 to save powder and shot Crockett's men kept shooting, rarely missed so no waste didn't have enough men to rotate as sentries, so most slept at their posts blue norther dropped temp to 39 degrees some defenders went out to get firewood but came back in after encountering Mex skirmishers with Baker rifles with 170-yd range

according to sue, Crockett often played his fiddle to raise morale Bowie had his cot brought out and tried to encourage the men

Feb 24, Travis dispatched Capt. Albert Martin with that letter - rode all day and night to reach Gonzales, 70 mi away

p 133 he was 3rd messenger to arrive in Gonzales - John W. Smith and Dr. John Sutherland Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted volunteers

Feb 27 with 25 men (incl John W Smith) and 8 more joined on march; they knew that 1000 mex were there already reached Bexxar Feb 29 - SA was epexcting Fannin and so patrolling SE; they arrived from NE and snuck through MEx lines

just before 3 am, as neared fort, an Alamo sentry fired, wounding a Gonzales man in foot; rest shouted out and the doors were opened

p 134 in honor of new arrivals, travis had 2 cannons shot once each 1st ball crashed into Mil. Plaza 2nd into roof of adjoining house, which, unknown to them, was SA's HQ

p 135 March 3, courier Bonham arrived from Goliad with news that Fannin not coming in a letter to acting Gov Robinson after he returned Fannin said, "It is now obvious that the Enemy have entered Texas at two points, for the purpose of attacking Bexar and this place - The first has been attacked and we may expect the enemy here momentarily - Both places are importent [sic] - and at this time particularly so."

p 136 By Day 11, walls were weakening S.A. had a battery w/in musket shot of N wall - each shot crumbled pieces of the wall and some of it collapsed; Jameson had men work all night using odd pieces of timber to hold up the wall

March 5, SA called a meeting to discuss assault; officers wanted to wait for siege guns and for garrison's food supplies to dwindle so they'd surrender

SA said "an assault would infuse our soldiers with that enthusiasm of the first triumph that would make them superior in the future to those of the enemy"

Travis also assembled his men; Louis Rose only one to have escaped

p 137 According to reliable Mex accts, a bexarena left fort after the meeting, telling SA that Tex morale low and defenses crumbling and proposed to surrender in exchange for life de la Pena speculated that SA wanted an assault - no honor for their surrender

p 138 5 units - 1 col for each wall and SA to command reserves fight set for 5 am March 6 silence fell mid0afternoon so that Mex troops could rest Travis posted a few men outside fort to watch and sent 16 yrd old Jim Allen as last courier, then they all rested

at midnight, MEx sergeants began waking up the men - silent all men had to wear proper footgear to be able to scale walls and weapons inspected 5:30 am SA gave order to move moved silently in massed columns - that way veternas could control new recruits Cos commanded head column toward NW corner Col Francisco Duque

p 139 commanded 2nd col, angling from NW to breach in N wall Col Jose Maria Romero came from behind for to east wall Col Juan Morales led toward low parapet by chapel lines of light infantry "fanned out several yards in advance of the columns; armed with Baker riles, it was their assignment to pick off any defenders who showed their heads"

Tex sentinels outside were caught sleeping and were killed quicky and silently finally, a soldier began yelling "Viva santa Anna" and others followed

woke up the Texians; Mex already in musket range as Travis ran to his post, shouted "Come on boys, the MExicans are upon us and we'll give them hell" no proper canister shot - used chopped up horseshoes, links of chain, nails, door hinges so that cannon doubled as giant shotguns shot straight into Mex lines, then used round shot (9lb iron balls)

p 146 "a single cannon volley did away with half the company of chasseurs from Toluca" per de la Pena

rebels had to show themselves to fire, but all MEx now in range; fort lit from within by gunfire, so men brought down easily

Travis one of the first to fall - Joe then took refuge in a room on the west wall some Mex soldiers tried to fall back but their officers and sergeants beat the men back with sticks and swords

SA had positioned lancers to cut of Tex retreat and that of his soldiers

formations regrouped; SA sent in reserves but kept himself out of range

Cos and Duque's men combined at base of N wall to avoide grapeshot fired from atop the chapel Romero's formation ended up mingled with them

p 147 once reached wall, had to climb over - concentrated on weakened N wall ladders didn't arrive - bearers either died or escaped lots of gaps and toeholds on makeshift wall; they started helping each other over Gen Juan Amador began the 12ft climb, challenging his men to follow located N wall postern and opened it, letting in other Mex soldiers Tex abandoned N wall - Alamo gunner turned cannon toward N wall rifles now a burden b/c slow to load when cannons turned, Morales' men rallied and charged over S wall - cannoneers killed quickly Crocket's men withdrew into chapel, others into long barracks

"barracks doors facing courtyard were buttressed by semicircular parapets of dirt secured with cowhides" shot through windows and loopholes

in their haste to fall back, did not strike their guns - Mex turn them around and started blastging in doors de la Pena said some tried to surrender

p 148 others who did not want to surrender shot Mex soldiers Mex fought room by room; no prisoners a few tex tried to escape over the east wall, but killed by lancers chapel last to fal - Mex used 18-lb cannon to blow away sandbags at entrance and then poured through Bonham and Dickinson fell by their cannon at rear of church Crockett and 6 of his men fought until overwhelmed Gen Manuel Fernandez Castrillon ordered his soldiers to stop the killing (captured Crockett) even shot a cat out of superstition SA eventually entered Alamo Castrillon brought forward Crockett and interceded on their behalf SA ordered their imm. executionl some officers refused order to kill helpless men staff officers who had not participated in the fighting hacked the men to pieces w/swords

p 149 De la Pena said the men died without complaining

Chapter 8

p 155 up to 600 Mex killed out wounded (1/3 of the force, which had SA's best men) Jose Juan Sanchez Navarro wrote that "With another such vistory, we will all go to the devil"

SA had not ordered a field hospital set up before the battle According to Ramon Cartinez CAro, SA's personal secretary, over 100 midly wounded soldiers died b/c of lack of proper medical attn he said "those who lingered in pain and suffering without the proper comfort or relief" envied those who died outright

p 156 SA claimed 600Tex died; Martinez Caro said he did not want to make a false report but did so on SA's orders several flags had flown over the Alamo; SA took down the blue N.O. Grey flag as trophy of war the NO grey presence "bolster[ed] the despot's belief that most of the problems in Texas were caused by Anglo-Americans who had entered Texas illegally"

majority of Texans who died had only recently arrived in Tex conventional wisdom says the Tex bought time for Houston to train an army - H actually in Wash on brazos; only army was with Fannin in Goliad

p 157 delay allowed creation of new Tex Govt and draft of const us banks not interested in lending money to a rebellious Mex state but would lend to an ind republic

SA saw his best united decimated slaughter "awakened the Texians to their perilous situation" SA sent Sue to tell that anyone who failed to submit would also fall - this gave the Tex a will to fight, finally

p 158 on Feb 7, Fannin had written to Robinson, "Out of more than four hundred men at or near this post, I doubt if twenty-five citizens of Texas can be mustered in ranks - nay, I am informed, whilst writing the above, that there is not half that number; does this fact bespeak an indifference, and criminal apathy?"

many of SA's officers urged him to quickly act against the settlement, but he in no hurry; though Tex would leave the province

...start with Grant still page 158 and continue until p 161

P 161 Const. Convention declared independence on March 2 and many eager to rush to the Alamo

p 162 March 4, Houston appointed commander in chief (he would not accept until he had authority over the militia and the volunteers too) 1st time we had one commander of all insurgent forces in Texas

March 6, delegate Robert Potter moved "the Convention do immediately adjourn, arm, and march to the relief of hte Alamo" H said no, they must create a gov't; H would lead a detachment to Alamo he left that day for Gonzales - Col Neill had a small group there ready to go back; sent courier to tell FAnin to join him at once Fannin's men did not want to leave; Brooks had rigged a device that let 68 muskets fire at once

p 163 H took 5 days instead of 2 to get from Wash on Brazos to Gonzalez; according to W.W. Thompson, Houston stayed at Burnham's Crossing on COl. River 1 day and 2 nights and said that the reports from the Alamo were lies - it was only schemes by Fannin and Travis to sustain popularity

on Mar 11, H arrived in Gonzalez; 2 vaqueros had arrived from Bexar to say that Alamo garrison all dead; Houston arrested them as spies to quell the panic and sent Deaf Smith to find out what happened

March 12, Smith returned with Joe, Sue and Angelina; over 20 Gonzales women widowed news of this triggered Runaway Scrape

p 164

Houston did not have enough troops at Gonzales to make a stand. Fannin had 400 men

Fannin dispatched Amon B. King and 28 men, plus most of the wagons to rEfugio to evacuate settlers got there March 12 "but wasted time punishing loyalist rancheros in the area" "fruitless punitive action"

King met up with Urrea's cavalry vanguard; took refuge in Mission Nuestra Senora del Rosario and sent to Fanning

Col Wm Ward with the Georgia Battalion got there about 3 pm, March 13 the small Mexican force there scattered

could have been ok if left immediately

instead, that evening, King went to a ranch to attach a camp of Tejanos he thought were spies; ambushed them, killed 8

Urrea had sent Capt Rafael Pretalia with cavalry to pin them down while the rest of the army and the artillery moved in

at dawn, Urrea arrived with rest of the troops

Two of Ward's companies left in the night, but came back after the Mexican troops opened fire on the Texans who were left

Ward's men repulsed 3 attacks

King arrived back in mid-afternoon - smack into rear of Urrea's army

King and his men got to natural cover - a grove of trees along Mission River Urrea's soldiers inflicted heavy casualties

p 165

"the Battle of Refugio continued the pattern established at Concepcion, Nueces Crossing, and the Alamo" -> long rifles of the Texans inflicted heavy damage

in this case, unlike the others, the men didn't have sufficient ammo, by night, Texans running very low

Texans were unfamiliar with the terrain in the area and were on foot. Still, they tried to escape after dark

When daylight hit, Urrea sent locals to track them down

King's men had crossed the river and their powder was wet, so couldn't fight back when discovered

Tories dragged them back to Refugio, they were executed Mar 16

Ward's men went SE along Copano road; the Mexican patrols were going N toward Goliad where they thought Ward's men would go

little food, little ammo, enemy territory

Fannin was supposed to meet Houston, but he didn't want to abandon them - plus, Ward and King had all the wagons

Fannin waited for them on Mar 15 and 16. His couriers, looking for them, were captured by the Mexicans

Mar 17, 4 pm, a courier returned with news that Ward and King were defeated

Fannin didn't leave yet

p 166

Mar 18, Mex scouts roving around the fort Capt Albert C. Horton took his cavalry to engage them, but the Tejanos were much more experienced on horseback than Horton's men per one of the volunteers: "They kept alternately chasing and being chased until dusk when the Mexicans left"

all they had done was exhaust the horses

Fannin wanted to retreat after dark, but "too murky", so retreat postponed for daylight

Houston had said to sink all the guns in the river so they could march quickly Fanning wanted to bring 9 cannons and 500 extra muskets

not enough draft horses, so had to use oxen to haul. oxen are slow, and were even slower because oxen hadn't been fed on the 18th men also carried "an overabundance of personal belongings"

daybreak very foggy could have been used to cloak them, but Fannin wasn't ready to go

ordered his men to burn nearby houses and everything left behind

8 am, they finally left

the smoke showed the loyalists that Fannin was getting ready to go, so they ran to Urrea to let him know

Horton's men went ahead as scouts - they said there were no Mexican soldiers around

after 4 miles, the oxen stopped to graze

p 167

Some of the wagons were abandoned, some were broken up teams hitched to the other carts

by mid-morning, they abandoned the equipment

no one packed food - the stores were burned when they left

general attitude was good - not somber, not desperate. They thought they got away

after 6 miles, Fannin ordered a halt. Capt. Shackleford said no, don't stop in middle of a field

5 miles to Coleto creek, which had lots of trees and would be good defensive position

p 168

Fannin said that the Mexicans would not attack a force as big as theirs Fannin had fought the Mexicans at Battle of concepcion (his only experience). Bowie had made the tactical decisions there

per Hardin, "often the roots of a costly defeat can be found in an easy victory, and such seemed to have been the case with Fannin" at Concepcion, the men had adequate cover, and although Texans were outnumbered, the enemy commander not as good as Urrea Fannin had lots of contempt for the Mex army

rested for 1 hour, then began marching at 12:45 they got almost 4 miles away and saw Mexican cavalry 2 miles behind them

Mex cavalry split into 2 groups - they learned from the battle of refugio that they did not want to let the Texans reach the cover half the Mexicans went to be between Fannin's force and the timber 1.5 miles away; other half blocked way to Coleto Creek

Fannin had the cannon fired several times, but didn't do anything

Mex infantry taking position in the woods

most officers wanted to keep going Fannin ordered a hollow square, artillery at the corners

Mexicans now took advantage of the timber, with Texans in the middle - Urrea had learned to adapt to the terrain

p 169

Mex prepared to attack

1 pm, "dragoons dismounted and advanced on foot"

1/4 mile away, they shot a volley -- too far away

Fannin told his men to hold their fire until the enemy was "point blank" range

after second Mex volley, Shackelford ordered his men to sit down, and so did other companies

3rd round of shots drew blood

Fannin was in the front; his rifle was struck twice

only when Mexican soldiers within 100 yds did Fannin give order to fire

Horton's men were still ahead; they heard the gunfire and turned back

they saw that Fannin was hopelessly outnumbered and turned toward Victoria, hoping to get reinforcements

Fannin thought Horton was coming to reinforce them - they were angry when they saw otherwise, because the horses could have helped move the wounded and helped them escape

Hardin says that the Mexican lancers likely would have prevented Horton from reaching Fannin's men - lancers were good and there were lots of them

Mexican dragoons remounted; driven off by the rifle and cannon fire

Mexican sharpshooters concentrated on the Texan artillery gunners and killed most of them Mexican troops also targeted the Texan oxen - no way to transport the baggage and wounded

p 170

Mexican troops took cover in the grass around Fannin (very high), only popped up to fire

Texas soldiers were packed closely together, so easier to be hit; they had to stay that way or the cavalry would overrun them

Fannin was hit in the thigh but refused to leave the front impressed his men with his courage

Texans drove off the cavalry, and Urrea changed tactics and told dragoons to dismount again

lack of water for Texans. guns were hot and no water to sponge them many shared the last of the water with the wounded so they wouldn't die of dehydration

p 171

sunset brought a temporary cease-fire

of the Texans, 9 killed and 51 wounded

Mexicans had 50 killed and 140 wounded almost no food and water, ammunition low oxen dead, so seriously wounded could not be moved

sporadic fire through the night - Texans were surrounded

it rained a bit overnight, which helped the wounded who were feverish, but not good for the rifles

Fannin let the men decide whether the able-bodied should retreat and leave the wounded unanimous not to abandon the wounded

Texans dug a ditch, 3-4 ft deep put the carts and bodies of the animals on top, now they had a bit of protection

Mexican buglers played all night

overnight, Mex troops got reinforcements - 100 infantry, and 1 howitzer and 2 four-pounder cannons

p 172

as dawn broke, Mex artillery fired a few times, but then stopped. Urrea just wanted them to know he now had these artillery

Tex agreed to surrender if Urrea granted them terms, otherwise they would fight to the death

Fannin flew a white flag and limped out

Urrea said "If you gentlemen wish to surrender at discretion, the matter is ended, otherwise I shall return to my camp and renew the attack"

Fannin said that Urrea had agreed to spare their lives he may have misunderstood, or he may have deliberately misled them

they put down their guns and were marched under guard back to Goliad

Mar 21, Urrea took possession of Victoria Horton's men had already left

Ward's men still wandering around, trying to find Fannin before the Mexican army found them headed to Victoria, bc he know Fannin was going there

they got there on the 21st, and Urrea already had the town many of Ward's men were captured or killed; others fled to the woods along the Guadalupe River

many deserted

10 managed to escape

night of Mar 21, Ward led the remaining men to Dimitt's Landing, 20 mi east on the coast

stopped 2 miles from there to kill a cow and scout

p 173

cavalry found them and they surrendered. Were taken back to Goliad and held with Fannin's men

they thought they'd be sent back to New Orleans as soon as a ship could be found

"Fannin even traveled to Copano with Lieutenant Colonel Juan Holsinger, a German in Mexican service, to book passage on a vessel thought to be there, but it had sailed."

Santa Anna had said that all foreigners to be considered pirates

Urrea wrote that he 'wished to elude those orders as far as possible without compromising my personal responsibility'

Urrea tried to convince Santa Anna that the men, and especially Fannin, be spared. Santa Anna said absolutely not

Palm Sunday, Mar 27, the men put in 4 groups and told they were going to Matamoros

went in different directions ordered to stop, and Mexican infantry gunned them down

lancers to chase down those who tried to run

infantry had bayonets to get the wounded

among those who died were Ira Westover and John Sowers Brooks

Fannin was told he would be killed. He asked that his watch go to his family, that he be shot in the chest, and that he get a burial

could not stand because of his wound. He tied a blindfold over his own eyes

p 174

the officer in charge took the watch, he was shot in the face, and his body burned on a pyre with the others

estimated 342 Texans died; 28 escaped two doctors - Shackelford and Barnard - were spared because the Mexicans needed their help

"The so-called Goliad Massacre is traditionally depicted as an example of Mexican perfidy because the volunteers had believed they would be treated as prisoners of war. It also represented, however, a lost opportunity for Santa Anna. He might have reaped important dividends if he had dumped an army of defeated and demoralized volunteers on U.S. shores." would have likely discouraged others from coming to Texas to volunteer

instead, he was thought a barbarian and people wanted to get vengenance for Fannin and his men

Santa Anna was convinced the war was over

Chapter 9 - Runaway Scrape

p 177

Some of the volunteers were people still enlisted in the US army

Us officially neutral, so the men were called deserters but likely had some form of approval

many of them went back to the US army after serving in Texas, with no punishment

some still in US army uniforms

summer 1836, a US soldier came to Nac to retrieve soldiers who hadn't reported back for duty; 200 US regular soldiers there, most wouldn't go home

p 179

Houston wanted to go beyond the Colorado River and then stop and defend

Mar 13-15, 20 men left the army - Houston thought there would be more (after Dickenson's news)

Houston had Gonzales burned and began withdrawing to the Colorado Houston knew the troops needed to be trained

he also didn't want to have a fixed position - Alamo had shown him that govt could not provide men or provisions to a fort

p 180

Many angry that Houston retreating

some volunteers just boys - as young as 13

p 181

Mar 17, Houston's army reached Burnham's ferry on Colorado River 374 volunteers from Gonzales, but it almost doubled by the 17th

Houston waited for Fannin, convinced they'd then have the number to take a stand and halt Santa Anna's army expected to enroll almost 3k men in Texas. Thought he needed about 1500

p 182 after getting there, realized they wouldn't be able to hold Burnham's b/c Urrea could cross downriver and go straight to Texas settlement

Houston destroyed the ferry and marched on east bank until Mar 19, arrived at Beason's Crossing

as news of the Alamo defeat spread, people flocked to Houston's army; now about 1400 men

heavy spring rains made it difficult to slog down the roads but also made it impossible for Mexicans to cross the Colorado

Houston put guards at the three river crossings

began drilling the soldiers

Henry Karnes brought them a Mexican prisoner who said Santa Anna had divided army into 3: Gaona at Bastrop and to go up Old San Antonio Road to Nax Ramirez y Sesma (600-800 men) headed for Beason's Crossing Texans were excited, they wanted to fight the army headed for them

Mar 21, Ramirez y sesma and his men arrived at Beason's Crossing and camped on south bank

Tex wanted Houston to attack, and Lt Col Sidney Sherman one of the more vocal - he wanted 400 men to cross the river and attack Houston said no, he wanted a good defensive ground, idiotic to cross a flooded river where the enemy could pick them off

for 6 days, they just watched each other

Sesma had 2 cannon, Texans had none

p 183

Sesma had entrenched his camp, so that + artillery meant the Texans' larger numbers didn't really count anymore

Tex morale high

Houston planned to attack on March 26

March 23 they learned that Fannin had been captured and Houston realized his army was it, the last hope for Texas

Mar 26 he ordered a retreat to San Felipe

200-300 men left the Tex army; some got official furlough to move their families, others just left in disgust rumblings that Houston should be replaced by someone who wasn't afraid

Houston "was the first Texas commander with the ability to plan beyond the next battle." Cost of winning at Beason's Crossing would have been high and wouldn't have helped much in the long run

p 184

Houston concerned that Urrea would cross the Colorado at Wharton (40 mi below the Texans) and attack on the left. Gaonoa could cross at Bastrop (60 mi above Texans). Texans would be in trouble

he thought his army had only one real fight in it

so he ordered retreat toward San Felipe and the Brazos

held no councils of war and he took all responsibility for the decision to retreat

Santa Anna still in Bexar. Didn't know where Houston was, so sent out smaller forces

heavy rains really slowed the Mexicans

Mar 22, Gen Eugenio Tolsa joined Sesma's column

gaona now had Bastrop, but high water kept him there

Urrea at the mouth of the Brazos near Matagorda

thanks to Urrea, the only port left to the Texans was Galveston

p 185 Texas navy was tiny - Invincible, Brutus, and Independence

navy had already intercepted Mexican merchant vessels and made it harder for Santa Anna to get supplies

without ports to land at though, the navy slowed

tExans could get supplies overland from US, but that was slow

all 3 ships now defending Galveston

Santa Anna's drive to Bexar was"a wasteful digression". It was the political center, but strategically not that important

Bexar on extreme western frontier

if Santa Anna had gone u p the coast like Urrea, he could have easily taken Gonzales after Goliad had falled. This would have isolated the Alamo - couldn't have gotten supplies or reinforcements, and Mex army divisions could have been stationed to get the Texans when they were finally forced to retreat

Santa Anna left Bexar end of March reached Tolsa and Sesma's troops on Apr 4 April 5th the Mexican army crossed the Colorado and advanced 13 mi north, to San Bernardo Creek

p 186

2 am April 7, Santa Anna led 200 infantry and 80 cavalry to San Felipe it was burned to grown

Texan army reached San Felipe Mar 28 and spnt the night Mar 29 Houston ordered a retreat to Jared Groce's plantation 20 mi north much rancor - San Felipe was the first of STA's towns and had been the center of the American settlements

Many thought it the most important place in Texas Capt Moseley Baker and Wylie Martin refused to retreat beyond the Brzos. Houston allowed Baker to stay and guard San Felipe crossing and Martin to go 25 mi downriver to defend Fort Bend crossing

Houston's army now about 500 men

Tex morale very low more rain, chilly, even Houston didn't have a winter coat

Tex believed Houston was indecisive or cowardly

p 187

Santa Anna had 2 fieldpieces with him; when Mex army got to San Felipe they shelled Baker's troops; snipers killed 1 Texian

Mexicans got a boat, but couldnt launch it because under fire by Baker's men

they did capture one of Baker's pickets; he told them that Houston leading the army to Groce's plantation.

Apr 9 Santa Anna left Sesma with 800 men in San Felipe (to deal with Baker) Santa Anna took the rest to Thompson's ferry above Fort Bend; arrived morning Apr 12 they saw a black ferryman on other side of the river Mex soldiers hid Almote, in perfect English, hailed the ferryman, who likely thought he was a Texian left behind

Mex troops grabbed him and his ferry - bloodless crossing of the Brazos

Martin and his men were 12 mi downriver and didn't see them

Martin retreated, and so did Baker

unclear who ordered San Felip eot be burned Houston said the citizens did it. Baker said Houston ordered it

p 188 if the Texans hadn't burned it, the Mexicans would have

at Ft Bend, Anglos told Santa Anna that the govt had left Wash on the Brazos and was now in Harrisburg, 30 mi from San Felipe

Santa Anna didn't think Houston was a threat - that army kept retreating thought if he captured the Texan govt, there would be nothing left for the Texans to fight for

also, along the Brazos was lots of woods, and likely Houston's troops with their sharpshooting could hold hte position and cause a great deal of damage to the Mexican troops

Harrisburg would also let him capture Galveston

Santa Anna "underestimated Texian resilience"

Texans got to rest at Groce's plantation - exhausted after all the marching about 900 Texans when they got there - more recruits to replace those who deserted

Groce was one of the wealthiest men in Texas. He fed the army, and his blacksmith shop repaired their weapons he also had lead pipes that were melted down for rifle balls his plantation home became the hospital for the surgeons

lots of Texan soldiers were ill;

p 189

1/10 men had measles others had flue, whooping cough, pink eye, mumps, diarrhea, and colds

spent 2 weeks at Groce's he rained the men in "rudiments of linear combat" may of the ill started to recover

govt able to send supplies and reinforcements now that people knew where to expect the army to be

Apr 11 the Twin Sisters cannons arrived

govt unhappy with Houston too - Burnett sent a letter to Houston: "The enemy are laughing you to scorn. You must fight them. You must retreat no further. The country expects you to fight. The salvation of the country depends on your doing so."

Rusk, the Sec of War, authorized to take over the war if Houston refused to fight

Rusk listened to Houston, concluded he had acted correctly, and supported him

Rusk stayed with the army to become a part of it

mid-April, Lamar arrived; he had come to Texas on Apr 6th. He was a private, but a natural leader

Lamar advocated using the Yellowstone ("a Brazos River steamboat that had docked at Groce's Landing") to raid the Mexicans

p 190

Houston posted a notice that anyone doing unauthorized stuff would be shot as a mutineer Lamar backed down

April 12, the Texans left used the Yellowstone and an old "yawl" to cross the Brazos. Took days to get all the men and supplies over

army marched eastward but Houston wasn't sharing the destination - to Louisiana or to the Mexican army?

Apr 15, Baker and Martin's companies rejoined the army both men still very unhappy with Houston and really vocal about it worried that this would furhter disrupt the army, Houston assigned Martin to help the "swelling herd of civilian refugees following the army"

Apr 14, Santa Anna and 700 troops left Ft Bend to go to Harrisburg - slow going with rain and mud some mules drowned at one ccreek men marched even in the dark

noon Apr 15, the Mexicans reached William Stafford's plantation. They rested and took the supplies then Santa Anna ordered the buildings burned and they kept going

Mexican vanguard reached Harrisburg just befor emidnight Apr 15

p 191

only ppl left in Harrisburg were 3 printers. They said that Burnet and the cabinet had left a few hours earlier, headed to New Washington

Almonte and 50 dragoons sent after them

there, Santa Anna also learned that Houston's men had left Groce'sm but he assumed they were still retreating Filisola at Ft Bend had already been told to send Cos and 500 infantry to reinforce Santa Anna's men

Apr 18, Santa Anna's men burned Harrisburg

Burnet and his party shoved off in a rowboat minutes before the dragoons got there still within range, but Almonte did not want to hit the women and refused to allow the men to fire

Santa Anna pleased that the Tex govt now off of the Tex mainland - no communications with its army.

Now only to block Houston's retreat and the rebellion was over

Almonte's scouts heard that Houston headed for Lynchburg on Buffalo Bayou, then would cross and go to the Trinity River. From there, they could find a ship and join the govt on Galveston

Santa Anna decided to seize Lynchburg Crossing before Houston got there

Apr 19, he sent dragoons to Lynchburg

p 192

some of Houston's officers said that on Apr 15 Houston still wanted to retreat across the Sabine and recruit 5000 volunteers in the US before coming back Apr 16 they came to a crossroads - north road led to Nac other went to Harrisbug

retreat vs fight

the army headed down the Harrisburg road without any order from Houston - he was silent

p 193

after the army took that turn, Mrs Pamela Mann insisted on getting her oxen back - she had loaned them to the army to pull the cannon thinking they were going to Nacogdoches he refused to give them back, she took out a Bowie knife, cut the traces, and led them away

cannon now bogging down constantly; men, even Houston, helped unstick them and drag the forward

no hot food

covered 55 miles of boggy road in 2.5 days

April 18 Tex army entered Harrisburg

Chapter 10 - San Jac

p 199

April 18, scouts Henry Karnes and Deaf Smith brought a captured Mexican courier with them

he had letters addressed to Santa Anna, carried in saddlebags marked "William Barrett Travis"

Lorenzo de Zavala jr (a Major) translated the letters

now they knew that Santa Anna personally leading a small force in New Washington and that he was isolated from bulk of the army

"intelligence was vital"

army left Harrsiburg on Apr 19, leaving behind 248 sick men with the baggage

needed to be fast before Santa Anna reinforced

p 200

Houston gave a speech, telling his men to remember the Alamo!

soldiers took up the refrain, adding Remember Goliad!

log raft and a leaky boat all they had to cross Buffalo Bayou took most of the day to get to the east bank

then Houston ordered a march along the east bank to Lynchburg

about midnight they stopped to rest, no supper - too tired

daybreak they were roused and told to continue marching, food could wait

after 2 hours, they stopped for breakfast; slaughtered 3 cows

just as the steaks were cooking, Texan scouts came with news that Mexicans were marching toward Lunch's ferry

now a race to the ferry - first army got the best ground

broke ground immediately; soldiers gnawing on half-cooked meat

"Such ready obedience to unpopular orders may have shown that the training and discipline at Groce's plantation had been effective. More likely, it demonstrated merely that vengeful rebels hungered more for blood than breakfast."

Texans got there first, about mid-morning chose "a thick grove of oaks that ran along the elevated bank of Buffalo Bayou, perfect cover for rifleman" also captured a flatboat loaded with Mexican provisions scouts said the Mexican army miles away

Texans rested and got breakfast from the Mexican army stores

Santa Anna left New Washington at 8 am

p 201

he had learned that Houston's army was coming toward his rear, not headed to Nac Santa Anna jumped on a horse, cantered down (knocking down 2 soldiers_) and yelling that "The enemy are coming!"

morale tanked - men were scared to see Santa Anna like that

arrived at Buffalo Bayou and San Jac River at 2 pm on Apr 20

on open grasslands, Mexican horseman had the advantage

trees helped the Texan long rifles keep the other army away

terrain north of the Colorado better for the Exans - more trees few Tejanos because not as suited to Spanish ranching style

for Mexican soldiers, they were now dealing with an area of American settlers - different culture and language

p 202

Houston had retreated into the Texian areas - his lines of communication getting shorter, while Santa Anna's getting longer

dense forrests and marshy bottomlands not good for Mexican cavalry

Lynch's Ferry had thick oak groves around Buffalo Bayou and marshes along the San Jac River

this was land familiar to the recruits from LA, Mississippi and Alabama - like what they had at home. alien terrain to the MExicans

Houston had lured Santa Anna "onto ground that Texians had made their own"

Santa Anna told his men to make camp; some of his officers stunned - bulnerable campsite

Santa Anna could not see the rebels; scouts saw the artillery near the oak grove

he knew the Texians likely in the woods and sent out a probe hoped to draw them from hiding and onto the open field where the dragoons could get them

Neill's artillery stopped the skirmishes

Col Delgado brought the 1 Mexican fieldpiece upl a brass 12-pounder named the Golden standard

now the three cannons all firing

p 202

Capt Urizza injured by Tx cannone 2 Mexican mules kiiled, a caisson shattered, ammo boxes scattered

several Texan artillerymen wounded by grapshot

Delgado withdrew to the woods, afraid the Twin Sisters would damage the only Mexican cannon

"The rebels had won the first roung."

Houston's men encouraged by the cnanon's retreat they wanted to attack - esp Sidney Sherman, who got into a shouting match with Houston Sherman wanted to seize the Mexican cannon

Houston said no, those are trained cavalry

in a compromise, Sherman allowed to recnnoiter with his horsemen but was not to start a big battle

Sherman had 61 mounted rifleman (incl Rusk) as soon as he saw the enemy, ordered a charge. After they fired, they had to dismount to reload

half of them on foot, the dragoons countercharged "Enough Texian rifles were loaded to allow them to fire a point-blank volley. The Mexicans veered off, regrouped, and bore down again"

"a wild melee ensued"

Rusk was surrounded and would have been killed if Lamar had not charged in, knocking aside smaller MExican mount so Rusk could ride off

p 204

Sherman requested infantry support

Houston said no

some officers disagreed

Cpt Jesse Billingsley was determine dto help

he led out the first company of the 1st regiment

others were inspired, and the entire regiment, under Burleson, started to ride out.

they had to ride past Houston, who told them to go back

they laughed and kept going they helped drive the Mexicans back, and Sherman told his men to fall back

Lamar and Karnes rescued a Texian who had been injured and thrown from his horse just before he was speared. Mexican dragoons "reportedly applauded as the three Texians rode for timber"

Lamar turned toward the Mexicans and bowed

p 205

Houston was VERY angry

Sherman had disobeyed orders and so had the infantry - but how to discipline all of them

"The encounter demonstrated that the Mexican cavalry was still formidable"

of the Texians, 2 men were wounded and several horses dead

most knew they had been lucky to survive

Mexicans had won round 2

Santa Anna did not know how many men Houston had, but assumed they outnumbered his

he knew that Cos was coming

all night, the Mexicans worked to fortify their camp - piled up anything, including saddles, to be a breastwork number of Mexican sentries doubled

in Houston's camp, men debating whether Houston was a good leader - convinced that if the full infantry had come, they would have won

p 206

Houston pretty much ignored them and stayed up very late planning the attack for the next day

Texas reveille sounded at 4 am on Thursday, April 21

Houston had left orders not to be disturbed and slept "this was the first time in days that he had been out of the saddle for more than a few hours" and he had been up late

9 am, Cos arrived with 540 reinforcements now Santa Anna had 1200 Houston had 910

Houston later said he knew Cos was nearby and didn't want two battles just one. Hardin said this "may or may not be true"

Houston sent Deaf Smith (at Smith's suggestion) to destroy Vince's Bridge, which Cos had crossed that morning; make sure the rest of the Mexican army didn't show up Houston said first recoonnoiter and let me know how many Mexican troops there really were

Smith and Walter P Lane rode up to 300 yds from the Mexican camp, where Smith got out a telescope and started counting Mexican tents

Mexicans saw them and sent out infantry

p 207 Smith was actually deaf and didn't seem to notice the musket balls

under fire for 20 minutes, Smith still oblivious

when dragoons charges, he stopped counting, turned to the other dude, and said "Lane, I think them fellows are shooting at us; let's git."

reported back to Houston and then left to destroy the bridge; 6 volunteers accompanied him; was 5 mi away this bridge being out wouldn't stop Santa Anna from retreating, but would slow Filisola down if he came from Ft Bend

almost noon, and Texans mad - they wanted to fight

8 officers demanded a council of war, and Rusk took part meeting from noon until 2 accounts differ some say that Houston wanted to retreat across Buffalo Bayou and the officers said they weren't going others said Houston was fully committed to the attack

p 208 some say Houston called the council of war

beteween 3-4 pm, Houston called for a battle 2 parallel lines of men, with the two six-pounder cannons in the middle and mounted rifleman behind an oak grove on left of the Mexican army Lamar, who was a private the day before, was now in charge of the cavalry. Sherman demoted back to his band of infantry

they advanced in an area where high grass on a slight rise concealed them

500 yds between the 2 camps

Smith arrived with news that the bridge was down as the Texans were marching now there was no line of retreat for the Texans either

p 209 no consistency in what the Texans wore/looked like, but all mudstained and unshaven

Juan Seguin led 19 Tejanos they had been excused from duty, Houston was afraid the Anglos in his army wouldn't make the distinction between them and the Mexican army

they had been ordered to stay in Harrisburg Seguin reminded Houston that some of his men had died at the Alamo, that all of his men were from Bexar and they could not go home as long as Santa Anna andhis army were here

he said they had more reasons than anyone else there to hate the centralists Houston insisted they place a piece of cardboard in their hatbands to identify them

Santa Anna had expected Houston to attack during the night or in the morning

Cos's men were new recruits, all exhausted and hunggry

Santa Anna relaxed hhis vigilance when late afternoon came - assumed the window of assault for the texans was over

his troops hadnt gotten any sleep the night before (even Cos's had marched through the night), and they needed to rest

p 210

some of Santa Anna's officers disagreed but nothing they could do

at 200 yds from the Mexican breastworks, at 4:30 pm, Twin Sisters fired

p 211 Lamar led the cavalry to left flank of Mexican army

a 4-piece band of Texans started playing a ballad, "Will You Come to the Bower"

Houston, astride a stallion named Saracen, was near the front. He told the infantry to hold their fire. Finally, he gave the word

Wanted them to hold the line, reload, and have another volley, but "Rusk rode onto the field shouting 'If we stop, we are cut to pieces! Don't stop - go ahead - give them Hell'

line fell apart ainto open skirmish

Houston had no control at this point

men didn't even bother to reload, just jumped over the barricades, swinging rifles as clubs, they had pistols and Bowie knives

"The surprise was complete"

<Mexican officers were giving differing orders. Almonte, Castrillon, and Santa Anna all yelling orders

Mexicans began running in small groups, trying to hide behind trees; most didn't want to fight - they were "a bewildered and panic-stricken herd" according to Delgado

commanders on both sides lost control

Hardin says that if Houston had had his way - a "more formal battle in which racks would advance, fire, reload, and continue. Had the Texians proceeded in such a manner, however, the Mexicans may well have had time to form behind their barricades and return effective musket fire."

Texians into small groups so Mexican had no single body to volley against

with open skirnish, Texans could aim individually, and they were pretty accurate

Castrillon took charge of the gun crew of the Golden standard. texan rifles killed most of the Mexican artillerymen those who were left started running, and called out for Castrillon to come with them

p 213

He refused, answring "I have been in forty battles and never showed my back. I am too old to do it now."

Rusk saw this and rode along the lines shouting not to shoot Castrillon, even knocking aside rifles aimed at him

others rode past Rusk and killed Castrillon

actual battle only 18 minute "but the slaughter continued much longer"

"atrocities at least as beastly as those the Mexicans had committed" at the Alamo and Goliad

one Texian killed a child, a Mexican drummer boy with 2 broken legs who was begging for mercy

A Mexican officer knew Antonio Menchaca and asked him to inntercede for his life as a "brother Mexican". Menchaco responded that "No, damn you, I'm no Mexican - I'm an American" and then instructed the Anglos with him to shoot the man

many Mexicans abandoned their weapons and jumped into Peggy Lake rifleman on the bank shot at them

Almonte swimming in the lake with his right hand holding his sword above the water

"'greatest carnage'" at the lake; the waters red

p 214

a Texan dr shouted at some Anglos not to shoot an officer, Col Batres of Bexar, who was stuck in the mud near the lake. Said he had taken the Mexican prisoner. an Anglo killed him at point-blank range. Dr. Labadie said this was not even the worst of the acts of cruelty he saw

several Mexican corpses on the battlefield were scalped

Houston's ankle was smashed and he was on 3rd horse of the day tried to stop the killing finally yelled "Gentlemen, I applaud your bravery, but damn your manners"

Houston told them to take prisoners but no one listened

Col Wharton tried to stop them. Actually pulled one Mexican officer up on his horse with him as a prisoner, and Jimmy Curtis shot the officer right off the horse - avenging his son-in-law (whom he hated), Wash Cottle, who had died at the Alamo

p 215

Wharton kept trying

many Mexicans yelling "Me no Alamo, me no Goliad", but Texans cont to fire whenever the men came up for a breath

Wharton told them to cease fire. J.H.T. Dixon responded that "if Jesus Christ were to come down from Heaven and order me to quit shooting Yellowbellies, I wouldn't do it, sir!"

Dixon then turned a gun on Wharton, daring him to enforce the orders. Wharton turned away

Texans "killed until they wre too exhausted to kill anymore"

650 Mexicans killed 700 escaped and were rounded up later over 300 captured that evening and the rest over the next 2 days

one rifleman drew a gun on a fellow Anglo who was trying to kill a soldadera

Santa Anna was not a prisoner and his body could not be found; he actually spent the night in the marsh and was captured on Apr 22nd

p 216

Texians did not defeat the Mexican army at San Jacinto. "The contingent that was decimated along the banks of Buffalo Bayou was but a small pportion of the total Mexican army in Texas"

Filisola and Urrea still had large armies and were a threat

When Santa Anna came before Houston, he reminded him that Filisola was still a threat and said he would give orders for the man to leave Texas

the soldiers wanted to hang Santa Anna immediately, but Houston know the was a useful diplomatic card

Santa Anna then ordered Filisola, the immediate subordinate, to go to Bexar and await instructions Urrea and others were angry that Filisola did so when he knew th orders were given under duress

Filisola said he had no choice - his supplies almost out, soldiers had dysentery, rains made movement difficult

supply lines broken down Filisola said the Mexican army defeated not by Texans but by "'the inclemency of the season in a country totally unpopulated and barren, made still more unattractive by the rigor of the climate and the character of the land."

He withdrew all the way to the Rio Grande

p 217

Before April 21, most thought the revolt pretty much over

Houston able to surprise the army only because Santa Anna made a mistake - neglected camp security, moved army off the prairies and into wooded marshlands

"San Jacinto was not so much a battle that Houston won, but rather one that Santa Anna squandered"

p 245

Texans "were fully aware that the Mexicans still outnumbered them and could scarcely believe that enemy troops, the majority of whom had never known defeat in Texas, would complacently obey the orders of a captured commander."

Mexicans also flabbergasted

Urrea argued that they needed to continue the campaign 0 he had won all of his battles and ceertain he could do so again

"Santa Anna had presented Mexico with on emilitary disaster; Filisola did not wish to risk another."

p 246

hearing of the victory, American volunteers flocked to Texas

Filisola knew he wouldn't be getting more troops, ammo, or food

Filisola's army was "exhausted and demoralized" but at least it was intact

they expected there to be a second ampaign in which they would be victorious

lack of funds and political turmoil meant no sustained force to come back in the next decade

Mexico never recognized Republic of Texas

Mexicans surrendered their claim on Texas in 1848 as part of Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

"For those U.s. citizens favoring annexation, the Texian revolt became a symbol of national greatness"

French visitor Frederic Gaillardet called this the Texian Iliad, comparing to mythic heroes of ancient Greece

p 247

"The Texians were products of the North American militia tradition. The Mexicans were influenced by more traditional /Napoleonic tactics. Texas battlefields tested both of these tactical modes, and both were found wanting."

immigrants who came to Texas after the victory from the US saw Houston as indispensible, the one who gave Texas independence many of those there said Houston exaggerated his contributions to pursue politics

p 248

during the Republic, Texas soldiers adopted Spanish saddle and spurs, as well as the riata and the bandana - had learned from the revolution that the Mexicans were the better horsemen.

also adopted the Hsipanic perespective of the prairies - light cavalry rather than heavy

"This cultural borrowing transformed the Texas Rangers". rangers formed in 1823

p 249

they became a unique force because of the adaptation observed that Rangers could "shoot like a Tennessean, ride like a Mexican, and fight like the Devil" - after 1835

Juan Seguin and Placido Benavides were instructors to teach Anglos how to ride like Mexicans, at least for rangers

"bitter feelings south of th eRio Grande" - Mexico had only been a country for 15 years and now had lost part of the country "love-hate relationship with their northern neighbors" from now on; felt betrayed by a country they had once admired

most Mexicans wanted to recapture Texas

p 250

San Jacinto did not secure the peace or end the conflict

"the battle provided the time needed for the new Republic of Texas to develop a genuine government"

constant danger of invasion for next 12 years

Tex Revolution "left a legacy of valor that has inspired Texan soldiers on battlefields all over the world"

Urrea "the most competent general of the ar"

"bitterness and resentment" took hold in Texas and still lingers