Date |
Battle Name |
Victor |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
May 11, 1835 |
|
Centralist |
|
|
|
October 2, 1835 |
|
Insurgent |
|
|
|
October 9, 1835 |
|
Insurgent |
|
|
|
Oct. 23- Dec. 4, 1835 |
|
Insurgent |
|
|
|
October 28, 1835 |
|
Insurgent |
|
|
|
November 4 & 5, 1835 |
|
Insurgent |
|
|
|
November 15, 1835 |
|
Centralist |
|
|
|
November 26, 1835 |
|
Insurgent |
|
|
|
Dec. 5-Dec. 9, 1835 |
|
Insurgent |
|
|
|
December 14, 1835 |
|
|
|
|
|
Feb. 23-March 6 |
|
Centralist |
|
|
|
February 27 |
|
Centralist |
|
|
|
March 2, 1836 |
|
Centralist |
|
|
|
March 12-15, 1836 |
|
Centralist |
|
|
|
March 19-20, 1836 |
|
Centralist |
|
|
|
March 27, 1836 |
|
|
|
|
|
April 20, 1836 |
|
Draw |
|
|
|
April 21, 1836 |
|
Insurgent |
|
|
|
Military Engagements Of The Texas
Revolution
Name: |
|
Date: |
May 11, 1835 |
Government: |
Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna
and 3,400 Centralist troops |
Insurgents: |
Francisco Garcia and 5,000 Zacatecan
state militia |
Scenario: |
The Mexican state of Zacatecas objected
to actions of the Centralist government of Santa Anna,
especially a law that called for all state militias to
be virtually eliminated. When Governor Francisco Garcia
refused to disband his state's militia, Santa Anna declared
Zacatecas to be in revolt and marched with an army to crush
the rebellion. In a brief battle outside the capital city,
Santa Anna and his chief lieutenant, Martín Perfecto
de Cos, routed the insurgent army. According to accounts
that followed, Santa Anna then allowed his soldiers
to sack the city to punish the rebels and to reward his
troops. |
Gov. Losses: |
approximately 100 |
Insurg. Lose: |
2,000 killed and 2,700 captured |
Outcome: |
The Centralists crushed the Federalist
revolt in Zacatecas. |
Significance: |
With the revolt in Zacatecs ended, the
Centralists turned their attention toward Coahuila y Tejas.
That summer Santa Anna ordered Cos to prepare for operations
against the insurgents in Texas. |
Reference: |
Donald S. Frazier, ed., The United
States and Mexico at War (NY: Macmilan, 1998), 489 . back to list |
| Name: |
Battle of Gonzales |
| Date: |
October 2, 1835 |
| Government: |
Lieutenant Francisco de Castañeda and 100 members
of the Presidial Company of Alamo de Parras |
| Insurgents: |
John Henry Moore and approximately 140 colonists |
| Scenario: |
Gen. Martín Perfecto de Cos, who would soon be arriving
in Texas with reinforcement to help reestablish Centralist
control, had ordered Col. Domingo de Ugartechea to arrest
several rebel ringleaders as well sieze weapons that could
be used by their supporters. Colonists at Gonzales resisted
the government's attempt to take back a small cannon issued
to them for protection against Indian raids. They flew a
homemade flag with the words "Come and Take It" painted on
it. Government troops withdrew after being fired upon by
the colonists. |
| Gov. Losses: |
Reportedly 1 Mexican soldier killed |
| Insurg. Losses: |
None |
| Outcome: |
The colonists retained the cannon. |
| Significance: |
Although really only a small skirmish, the engagement encouraged
the insurgents to expand the revolt. |
| References: |
|
| Name: |
Capture
of Goliad |
| Date: |
October 9, 1835 |
| Government: |
Capt. Manuel Sabriego and approximately 75 Centralist soldiers
and ranchers |
| Insurgents: |
George M. Collinsworth and approximately 120 colonists |
| Scenario: |
La Bahía, an old Spanish fort, occupied by a Centralist
garrison, controlled access to the ports along the coast.
On the night of October 9, insurgents assaulted and captured
the fort and most of its garrison. |
| Gov. Losses: |
3 Mexican soldiers killed, 7 wounded, and 21 prisoners |
| Insurg. Losses: |
Several wounded but none killed |
| Outcome: |
The insurgents captured the Centralist presidio and a large
supply of weapons, ammunition, and other military supplies. |
| Significance: |
Although about 20 Mexican soldiers escaped to spread the
warning to other Centralist posts, the capture of a Bahía
placed the insurgents in control of one of the most strategic
locations in Texas. |
| Reference: |
|
| Name: |
Siege of Béxar |
| Date: |
Oct. 23- Dec. 4, 1835 |
| Mex. Army: |
Gen. Martín Perfecto de Cos and 650 Centralist troops |
| Insurgents: |
Stephen F. Austin/Edward Burleson and 400-600 colonists |
| Scenario: |
Encouraged by their success at the Battle of Gonzales,
the insurgents elected Austin commander of "The Army of the
People" and advanced on San Antonio de Béxar. The
Centralist garrison, commanded by Cos, controlled the town
as well as the fortified mission known as the
Alamo. Several engagements took place (see Battle of Concepción
and the Grass Fight) but the insurgents lacked agreement
over
assaulting the town. Insurgent numbers changed daily as they
debated whether not to attack. In mid-November, Austin (who
had been
appointed by the provisional government to go to the United
States to
obtain aid) left and was replaced by Burleson as commander. |
| Outcome: |
The siege used up most of Cos' supplies, leaving his army
without food for men or animals. |
| Significance: |
Cos, by being bottled up in San Antonio, was unable to
reestablish government control in the eastern settlements. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/BB/qeb1.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Battle of Concepción |
| Date: |
October 28, 1835 |
| Government: |
Col. Domingo de Ugartechea and 275 Centralist soldiers |
| Insurgents: |
James Bowie, James W. Fannin, and 90 colonists |
| Scenario: |
Austin had sent a small force, commanded by Bowie and Fannin,
to
secure the old mission known as Concepción. The insurgents
camped in the woods along a bend in the San Antonio
River. Cos sent a force to drive the insurgents away,
which encountered Bowie and Fannin early on the morning
of October 28. Hidden in the woods, the insurgents caught
the soldados in the open and inflicted heavy casualties on
them. Austin arrived with reinforcements too late to deliver
a decisive blow. |
| Gov. Losses: |
14 killed and 39 wounded |
| Insurg. Losses: |
1 killed and 1 wounded |
| Outcome: |
The Centralists retired to their fortifications in San
Antonio. |
| Significance: |
The Centralists were unable to break the siege. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/CC/qec2.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Capture
of Lipantitlan |
| Date: |
November 4, 1835 |
| Government: |
Capt. Nicolas Rodríguez and approximately 90 Centralist
soldiers |
| Insurgents: |
Capt. Ira J. Westover A Texas and approximately 70 colonists |
| Scenario: |
Following the capture of La Bahía, Westover was
sent to seize the garrison at Lipantitlan. His force captured
the fort on November 3
but was forced to abandon it the following day when the Centralists
received reinforcements. |
| Gov. Losses: |
28 killed |
| Insurg. Losses: |
1 wounded |
| Outcome: |
The insurgents gained a military victory but nothing of
lasting value. |
| Significance: |
The Centralists had been aided by Irish colonists, indicating
that the
revolt lacked support in the area between Goliad and Matamoros. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/LL/qfl3.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Battle of Tampico |
| Date: |
November 15, 1835 |
| Government: |
Gregorio Gómez and the Centralist garrison |
| Insurgents: |
Gen. José Antonio Mexía and 150 American
volunteers |
| Scenario: |
Several of Santa Anna's political opponents fled to New
Orleans
where they planned to resist the Centralist government. In
October
1835, an expedition was raised in New Orleans for the purpose
of
supporting Federalist opposition thought to be present in
the
Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The expedition arrived
at Tampico
and attempted to capture the important port city. Federalist
supporters had already been crushed by the Centralists
and the
attack failed. Mexía re-embarked his men and
sailed for Texas. |
| Gov. Losses: |
unknown |
| Insurg. Losses: |
31 prisoners, 3 of whom died of wounds and 28 were later
executed |
| Outcome: |
The expedition failed to stir Federalist support for a
revolt against the
Centralist government. |
| Significance: |
The failure of the expedition prevented the formation of
a united
front through which several Mexican states would fight
Santa Anna
together. Mexía's defeat convinced many Anglos that
Mexico's
Federalists would be no help, thereby causing hard feeling
to arise
between these potential allies. Furthermore, the Mexican
government declared that the expedition had been carried
out by
"pirates," executing the men Mexía left behind.
This policy of "no
quarter" was extended to the Texas situation in the
pronouncement
of the Tornel Decree. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/TT/qyt1.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Grass Fight |
| Date: |
November 26, 1835 |
| Government: |
Approximately 100 Centralist cavalry and pack train |
| Insurgents: |
James Bowie and approximately 100 colonists |
| Scenario: |
The insurgents believed that a column discovered by scouts
approaching San Antonio from the west was Col. Domingo de
Ugartechea with reinforcements for Cos. Burleson sent Bowie
to intercept the column. The two forces met near Alazan Creek.
The Centralist troops were forced to abandon their pack train. |
| Gov. Losses: |
3 killed and 14 wounded |
| Insurg. Losses: |
4 wounded |
| Outcome: |
The insurgents, who believed that the packs contained a
Mexian
payroll for Cos' garrison, found that they instead contained
hay for
his livestock. |
| Significance: |
The interception of the hay added to Cos' growing problem
of dwindling supplies. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/GG/qfg1.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Battle
of Béxar |
| Date: |
Dec. 5 - Dec. 9, 1835 |
| Government: |
Gen. Martín Perfecto de Cos and 1250 Centralist
soliders and presidials |
| Insurgents: |
Gen. Edward Burleson and 700 Texans and American volunteers |
| Scenario: |
The insurgent force under Burleson was undecided over what
course to pursue. The fact that winter was near convinced
many that the siege should be lifted and the army retire
east until spring. The recent arrival of two companies
of American volunteers (New Orleans Greys) bolstered
the faction that called for an immediate assault on the town.
On December 4, Benjamin R. Milam stepped forward and asked
for volunteers who were willing to attack Cos. His call forced
Burleson to take action when more than 300 men lined up beside Milam.
The commanding general organized the attackers into two columns,
one led by Milam and the other led by Francis W. Johnson.
Burleson organized the other insurgents into a reserve that agreed
to support the attack from outside town. James C. Neill commanded
an insurgent artillery battery that fired on Centralist forces
stationed at the Alamo. On the morning of December 5, the two
insurgent columns entered the town from the north using two
separate streets that led to the central plaza. The ensuing
battle lasted for five days, with fierce fighting taking
place from house to house. On December 7, Milam was
killed and was replaced by Robert C. Morris. On December
8, Col. Domingo de Ugartechea returned to assist Cos,
bringing 650 reinforcements. These men were of
little use to Cos as most of them were untrained
recruits whose arrival doubled the demand on his already
inadequate food supply. On December 9, insurgent
gains around the central plaza and the defection of
several companies of presidial troops convinced Cos
to end the battle and open talks for the surrender of
the town. The capitulation was formalized on December
10 in a brief meeting where both commanders signed the
surrender document. |
| Gov. Losses: |
approximately 100 killed, wounded or missing |
| Insurg. Losses: |
approximately 5 or 6 killed and 25 to 30 wounded |
| Outcome: |
Cos was forced to capitulate and pledge that neither he
nor his troops would have any further role in the government's
effort to suppress the effort to restore the Federal Constitution
of 1824. Furthermore, the insurgents allowed Cos and his
army to leave Texas. |
| Significance: |
The insurgent victory not only gained for them the important
political center of San Antonio and its public property,
it effectively cleared Texas of all Centralist troops. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/BB/qeb1.html
Alwyn Barr, Texas in Revolt (Austin: University
of Texas Press, 1990), 57-58.
back to list |
| Name: |
Siege
and Battle of the Alamo |
| Date: |
Feb. 23 - March 6, 1836 |
| Government: |
Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna and 2,500 Centralist
troops |
| Insurgents: |
Lieut. Col. Wm. B. Travis and 200-250 colonists and American
volunteers |
| Scenario: |
Santa Anna entered San Antonio de Béxar on February
23, 1836, causing the insurgent forces to withdraw inside
a fortified mission just east of the town known as the
Alamo. At that point the insurgents, who reportedly
numbered around 150 colonists and American volunteers,
faced approximately 1,600 Centralists troops. Included in
this number was Gen. Martín Perfecto de Cos and his
command who had returned to Béxar in violation
of their terms of parole. The insurgents began the siege
under "co-commanders" William B. Travis and James Bowie
but illness forced Bowie to his sickbed. Letters calling
for help were repeatedly sent out of the fort by Travis. Responding
to his appeal, a company of 32 men from the town of Gonzales
arrived on March 1 to reinforce the garrison.
Santa Anna also received reinforcement March 3 when
approximately 1000 more Centralists troops arrived.
Santa Anna used the days leading up to the final assault
to encircle the Alamo, thereby cutting off reinforcements
to the insurgents as well as making a breakout attempt
more difficult. He ordered a predawn assault on the
Alamo for the morning of March 6. The fighting lasted
approximately 90 minutes and ended with the fort being
carried by Centralist forces. |
| Gov. Losses: |
Estimates vary but possibly as many as 600 killed or wounded |
| Insurg. Losses: |
All combatants 200-250 were killed |
| Outcome: |
With the fall of the Alamo on March 6, Santa Anna reestablished
Centralist control of the political center of San Antonio
de Béxar. By putting all known insurgent combatants
to the sword, he was enforcing his government's decree declaring
that there would be "no quarter" for men he and his supporters
considered "land pirates." He meant the battle to be not
just a military victory but warning to all to cease their
resistance to the Centralist government. |
| Significance: |
One of the most common misconceptions surrounding the battle
is that by their stubborn defense that the men of the Alamo
were able to buy Sam Houston time to build his army. This
is untrue as Houston did not begin to build his army until
after the Alamo's fall. It can be said, however, that Santa
Anna's concentration on San Antonio de Béxar prevented
the general from making an advance directly into the Anglo
settlements. Furthermore, by putting the garrison to the
sword, Santa Anna provided the insurgents with a powerful
rallying cry. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/AA/qea2.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Battle
of San Patricio |
| Date: |
February 27 |
| Government: |
Gen. José de Urrea and 400 Centralist troops |
| Insurgents: |
Francis W. Johnson and 34 members of the Matamoros Expedition |
| Scenario: |
Members of the Matamoros Expedition under James Grant and
Francis W. Johnson had fanned out across the area south of
Goliad in search of horses and supplies. The scattered detachments,
operating in an region of Centralist support, were at risk
of being defeated in detail once government forces returned.
José de Urrea, an aggressive general, had been placed
in charge of a column tasked with regaining control
of the Goliad region. Early on the morning of February
27, he arrived unexpectedly at San Patricio and his men defeated
and captured members of Johnson's command quartered in and
around the town. Johnson and a few of his men escaped to
warn Col. James W. Fannin at Goliad of the disaster. |
| Gov. Losses: |
light to none |
| Insurg. Losses: |
8 killed and 13 prisoners |
| Outcome: |
The Matamoros Expedition, which was already stalled, was
dealt a deathblow. |
| Significance: |
Urrea's victory at San Patricio signaled the arrival of
a serious Centralist threat to the insurgent forces in the
Goliad area. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/qfs3.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Battle
of Agua Dulce Creek |
| Date: |
March 2, 1836 |
| Government: |
Gen. José de Urrea and 400 Centralist troops |
| Insurgents: |
Dr. James Grant and 26 members of the Matamoros Expedition |
| Scenario: |
Members of the Matamoros Expedition under Dr. James Grant
had been scouring the countryside south of Goliad searching
for horses. On March 2, Centralists troops under José de
Urrea surprised and killed Grant and most of his men. A few
escaped and fled to Goliad. |
| Gov. Losses: |
light to none |
| Insurg. Losses: |
14 killed and 6 prisoners |
| Outcome: |
By eliminating both detachments commanded by Johnson and
Grant, Urrea effectively smashed the Matamoros Expedition. |
| Significance: |
Following on the heels of Johnson's defeat and the plight
of the Alamo, news of Grant's defeat and death caused near
panic and confusion to break out among the garrison at Goliad. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/AA/qfa1.html
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/qfs3.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Battle of Refugio |
| Date: |
March 12-15, 1836 |
| Government: |
Gen. José Urrea and 1500 Centralist soldiers, presidials,
and ranchers |
| Insurgents: |
Amon B. King and 28 American volunteers Lt. Col. William
Ward and approximately 120 American volunteers |
| Scenario: |
Fannin and his men had improved the fortifications at the
old presidio
La Bahía and renamed it Fort Defiance. News of the
fate of Johnson's and Grant's men created confusion rather
than stirring the volunteers gather at Goliad into action.
To make matters worse, Fannin learned that some colonists
who supported the revolt were in danger from Urrea's advance.
On March 10, he sent Amon B. King and a small force with
wagons to collect the families and escort them back to Goliad.
King found that the Centralist force in the area was greater
than imagined and asked Fannin to send help while he took
refuge in the old mission at Refugio. Fannin dispatched William
Ward, commander of the Georgia Battalion, to assist King.
The arrival of Ward at Refugio initiated a conflict over
command
between the two insurgent officers. The squabbling caused
the insurgents to break into several smaller detachments,
each which was subsequently defeated and its survivors captured
by Urrea's troops. |
| Gov. Losses: |
light to none |
| Insurg. Losses: |
The majority of insurgents were killed in the series of
skirmishes that occurred following King's and Ward's rift
or captured and later executed. |
| Outcome: |
The insurgents in the Goliad region suffered another serious
blow. |
| Significance: |
Fannin had received orders from Gen. Houston while King
and Ward were away that directed him to evacuated Goliad
and retire to Victoria as soon as possible. Reluctant
to leaving before these detachments returned, Fannin failed
to leave Goliad ahead of Urrea's advance. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/RR/qer1.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Battle
of Coleto Creek |
| Date: |
March 19-20, 1836 |
| Government: |
Gen. José de Urrea and 440 Centralist troops |
| Insurgents: |
Col. James W. Fannin and approximately 300 American volunteers |
| Scenario: |
On March 18, 1836, Fannin finally resolved to comply with
Houston's order to evacuate Goliad and he and his men prepared
to leave. The appearance of the vanguard of Urrea's forces,
however, drew their attention as a light skirmish took place
outside the fort. Fannin and his men left Fort Defiance on
March 19 and marched in the direction of Victoria. Against
the advise of his officers, Fannin ordered his command to
halt and rest on the open prairie just several hundred
yards short of the safety offered by the woods along Coleto Creek.
Gen. Urrea and his men, who had been following close behind,
were able to reach the creek and thereby keep Fannin
from gaining the valuable cover. Upon seeing Urrea,
Fannin formed his command into a square and prepared
for battle. Urrea, whose main column had not yet arrived,
fought a holding action throughout the afternoon intended
to keep the insurgents from leaving the field of battle.
Surrounded and with casualties mounting, Fannin and his men hastily
dug breastworks and fought from behind supply wagons.That
night, the trapped men debated whether or not to try to break
out. The majority, however, voted to stay and fight
instead of abandoning their wounded comrades who would have
had to be left behind. On the morning of March 20, Urrea
received reinforcements with several cannon. Fannin called
for a truce while a message was relayed to Urrea asking
under what terms he and his men could surrender. Urrea
replied that he could not guarantee their safety but would
try to intercede on their behalf. The insurgents took this
as a pledge to treat them as prisoners of war and they
laid down their arms, were taken captive, and were marched
back to La Bahía. |
| Gov. Losses: |
light |
| Insurg. Losses: |
10 killed, numerous wounded, and the command captured |
| Outcome: |
Fannin's defeat and capture deprived the insurgents of
its largest organized force at the very time when it was
needed the most. It also was the prelude to the March
27 execution of Fannin's command known as the Goliad
Massacre. |
| Significance: |
Urrea's string of victories, which culminated at Coleto
Creek, placed the Goliad area under Centralist control and
set up for a drive deep into the Anglo settlements. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/CC/qec1.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Goliad Massacre |
| Date: |
March 27, 1836 |
| Government: |
Col. José Nicolas de la Portilla and the Centralist
garrison at La Bahía |
| Insurgents: |
Col. James W. Fannin and approximately 400 American volunteers |
| Scenario: |
After receiving a direct order from Santa Anna to enforce
the Tornel Decree, Portilla divided the men of Fannin's command
into three groups and marched them out of La Bahía,
telling them that they were going to the coast where they
would be freed. Instead of being released, however, guards
escorting the prisoners halted them shortly after leaving
the fort and began to shoot down the unarmed men. A handful
of prisoners escaped the carnage by fleeing to the safety
of the nearby San Antonio River. Fannin and others who had
been wounded at the Battle of Coleto Creek and were unable
to march out with the rest of the command were killed inside
the presidio. Insurgents who had been befriended by Mexican
officers or who had useful skills (doctors, carpenters, blacksmiths)
were pulled aside and spared. Approximately 80 volunteers
were spared
because they had been captured unarmed and were saved
by a technicality in the Tornel Decree. |
| Gov. Losses: |
None |
| Insurg. Losses: |
342 killed |
| Outcome: |
Fannin's command was virtually eliminated. |
| Significance: |
The execution of Fannin's command spread terror and further
convinced the insurgents that its was truly a struggle
that would end in "Victory or Death!" |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/GG/qeg2.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Runaway Scrape |
| Date: |
March 13-April 19, 1836 |
| Government: |
Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna |
| Insurgents: |
Gen. Sam Houston |
| Scenario: |
Fresh from the Convention at Washinton-on-the-Brazos, Houston
arrived at Gonzales on March 11 to arrange relief for
the Alamo garrison. He found more than 300 men already gathered
there, ready to march to San Antonio. That same day, however,
word reached Goliad that Santa Anna had already stormed and
captured the Alamo and killed its garrison. Believing his
force too small to confront the inevitable Centralist
advance, Houston decided on a course of action that
proved to be unpopular--he would retreat. His retreat
exposed the settlements to Centralist columns who followed in
his wake, spreading panic as families abandoned their homes
and fled to escape Santa Anna's wrath. On
March 11, Houston ordered Fannin to evacuate Goliad
and withdraw to Victoria. On March 13, Houston burned
Gonzales and marched eastward, panic raced
through the settlements as families abandoned their homes
and fled to
escape the Centralist advance.On March 17, Houston crossed
the
Colorado River; officials abandoned Washington-on-the-Brazos.
On March 20, Houston camped near Columbia. March 28, Houston
passed through San Felipe de Austin. March 30, Houston camped
at
Groce's Plantation on the Brazos River. April 11, Santa Anna
crossed
the Brazos River near Fort Bend in pursuit of ad interim
government. April 15, Santa Anna passed through Harrisburg
and burned the town. April 17, Houston marched toward
Harrisburg. April 18, Houston camped at White Oak Bayou
and learned Santa Anna was near. On April 19, Santa
Anna arrived at Morgan's Point; Houston crossed Buffalo
Bayou |
| Outcome: |
Although Houston's supporters claimed his retreat was a
strategic masterpiece, exposing the settlements to the
Centralist advance caused untold hardship of the civilian
population. |
| Significance: |
Houston's retreat caused Santa Anna to overextend his forces
as he tried to catch the insurgent army and its leaders. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/RR/pfr1.html
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/qes4.html |
| Name: |
Skirmish
near San Jacinto |
| Date: |
April 20, 1836 |
| Government: |
Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna and 700 Centralist
troops |
| Insurgents: |
Col. Sidney Sherman and a wing of the Texan Army |
| Scenario: |
After weeks of avoiding a fight with Centralist forces,
Houston's men found themselves camped in the same area as
Santa Anna. One of Houston's officers, Col. Sidney Sherman
asked the general to allow him to demonstrate against the
enemy. Houston consented but warned him not to bring on a
general battle. In the skirmish that followed Thomas Rusk,
the secretary of war for the recently formed Republic of
Texas, narrowly missed death or capture at the hands of the
Centralist cavalry only through the bravery of Mirabeau B.
Lamar, who rode forward and snatched him from their path.
Neither side fully committed their entire force, thereby,
preventing the skirmish from becoming a full scale battle. |
| Gov. Losses: |
unreported |
| Insurg. Losses: |
1 killed and 1 wounded |
| Outcome: |
Lamar was promoted from private to commander of the Texas
cavalry with the rank of colonel for his courageous act. |
| Significance: |
Santa Anna sent word for reinforcements to join him as
soon as possible. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/qes4.html
back to list |
| Name: |
Battle of
San Jacinto |
| Date: |
April 21, 1836 |
| Government: |
Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna and 1240 Centralist
troops |
| Insurgents: |
Gen. San Houston and approximately 1000 Republic of Texas
troops |
| Scenario: |
The reinforcements Santa Anna had sent for (Gen. Martín
Perfecto de Cos and 540 men) arrived after making a forced
march through the night. Upon learning of their arrival,
Houston ordered Vince's Bridge destroyed, cutting off the
only possible escape from the horseshoe bend occupied by
both his and Santa Anna's armies. Santa Anna allowed Cos'
column to rest from their previous night's march. Late in
the afternoon, Houston formed his army and attacked the Centralists
camp. Santa Anna's men were caught unaware.
Within twenty minutes of launching the attack, Houston's
men had driven the Centralists from a stack of equipment
that had formed a breastwork and were in pursuit of the fleeing
soldiers. The anger over Mexico's "no quarter"
policy poured out as the cries "Remember the Alamo!" and
"Remember Goliad!" rang out. Hundreds of Centralist soldiers
were killed by Texans who refused
to take them prisoner due to the outrage created by the enforcement
of the Tornel Decree. On the following day (April 22), Santa
Anna, who had fled during the attack, was captured and turned
over to Houston. The two generals agreed on an armistice
until more official arrangements could be worked out. |
| Gov. Losses: |
630 killed and 730 prisoners |
| Insurg. Losses: |
9 killed and 30 wounded |
| Outcome: |
The vanguard of the Centralist army had been smashed. |
| Significance: |
Although there were still at least 4,000 Centralist troops
operating in Texas, Santa Anna's defeat and capture coupled
with onset of spring rains dealt the Centralists a blow that
effectively ended their campaign to reestablish their control
over Texas. The failure of the campaign made the existence
of the Republic of Texas a reality. |
| Reference: |
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/qes4.html
back to list |
|
