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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/AA/qfa1.html
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/RR/pfr1.html
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/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.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/qes4.html
back to list |
|