Unit 4: The Texas RevolutionChapter 10 Section 1

Why did the Mexican Army send more troops to Texas?

Mexican authorities became worried about men such as William B. Travis

General Cos planned to arrest Texas rebels and take them to Mexico City in chains

Texans formed committees of correspondence to keep colonists informed

General Martin Perfecto de Cos - Commander of Mexican forces in Coahuila y Texas and Brother-in-law of Santa Anna

What was the Battle of Gonzales?

October 2, 1835 – First battle of Texas Revolution

Colonel Ugartechea ordered city of Gonzales to give up a small cannon

160 Texans led by Colonel John H. Moore refused and decorated it with a flag “Come and Take it”

Mexican troops withdrew and no Texans were killed

Texans at Gonzales decorated their cannon with a white flag daring Mexican soldiers to “Come and Take it”

What happened at Goliad? October 9, 1835 – 100

men take the fort at Goliad, Texas.

Texans overconfident—believed Mexican troops could be defeated easily

Texans prepared to march against Cos in San Antonio—the Mexican stronghold of TX

La Bahia fort at Goliad

Why did the Texans lay siege at San Antonio?

Stephen F. Austin gathered 300 men at Gonzales to march to San Antonio – 100 join on the way.

This is the “Army of the People”

Texans began a siege at San Antonio. Trying to force Mexicans to surrender due to lack of supplies.

Siege of

San Antonio

What was the Consultation?

November 3, 1835 – During siege of San Antonio, others met at San Felipe.

The Peace Party proposed to declare loyalty to the Mexican Constitution of 1824

War Party wanted to declare independence from Mexico

How did Consultation delegates vote?

58 Delegates met from 14 towns and districts

14 voted for independence

33 voted against

11 no vote

Ad offering land in exchange for supporting rebellion against Santa Anna

“Declaration of the People of Texas in General Convention Assembled” Declared loyalty to

Mexico Pledged support to

Constitution of 1824 Opposed Santa Anna Urged Mexican

citizens to join them Offered land to those

that helped

What statement did the Consultation adopt?

What was the Provisional Government?

Created a Provisional/Temporary government

Powers were vague…leads to conflict

Created a regular army under Sam Houston

SFA sent to U.S. to plead for aid

General Sam Houston

Ch. 10, Sect. 2

Main Idea: Texans won a victory at San Antonio, but the provisional government failed.

What was the “Grass Fight”?

A skirmish over a Mexican mule train outside San Antonio (reported by Texas army scout Erastus “Deaf” Smith)

Texans thought they were intercepting money, but discovered that their cargo consisted only of grass for Cos’ horses!

Texas volunteers called off the siege in early December 1835 because, they were cold, hungry, restless, and running out of supplies

What was the Battle of San Antonio?

When the siege was ending, commander Edward Burleson got news that the Mexican army was weakened.

Ben Milam, an empresario who had helped capture Goliad, gathered 300 men to fight with him into San Antonio

“Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?”

How did the Texans attack San Antonio?

The Texas volunteers fought their way into San Antonio and pushed Mexican forces toward the center of town.

What happened to Ben Milam?

On Dec. 7, the third day of the siege, a sniper sitting in this tree shot and killed Ben Milam.

What advantage did the Texans have? Texans had an

advantage of fighting from house to house against a force trained to fight in open combat.

The Mexican soldiers retreated to an abandoned mission known as the Alamo.

How did the Battle of San Antonio end?

On December 9, General Cós surrendered. He promised to never again fight against the Texans or the Constitution of 1824

In return he andhis men wereallowed to returnto Mexico.

Texans believed that the war was over because they had defeated the Mexican army

Why did the Provisional Government fail?

Governor Henry Smith rejected a proposal to hold a convention of the people in March, but the council overrode his veto.

Disagreements resulted in a breakdown of government, leaving Texas unprepared to fight Santa Anna

Chapter 11 Section 1

13 Days that changed the fate of Texas and American History

What costly errors plagued the Texans?

The 2 ½ months after the Texan victory at San Antonio was wasted time for the Texas rebels

Texans had little leadership, and many of the volunteers went home

By the end of 1835, many Texans refused to recognize Sam Houston as the military leader

Texas forces were spread out and unable to communicate General Sam Houston

How were Texas troops divided?

100 men remained in San Antonio under Colonel James Neill

50 men with Col. Frank W. Johnson and 50 under Dr. James Grant at San Patricio

450 men with Col. James Fannin at Goliad

Colonel James Walker Fannin

What was Santa Anna’s mission?

Determined to rid Mexico of the Anglo rebels and punish the defiant Tejanos

Quickly gathered troops to make a march from Northern Mexico to San Antonio

Forced to gather many untrained troops

Divided troops into two forces

General Santa Anna

How did the Texans Underestimate Santa Anna?

Texans did not believe Santa Anna would march his troops during the winter.

They expected to have until the Spring to prepare.

Santa Anna led 4-6K soldiers to San Antonio while General Jose Urrea led 2K up the Texas Gulf Coast towards Goliad

Who led the volunteers at the Alamo in early 1836?

Col. James Neill and his 100 men at San Antonio occupied the Alamo in the winter of 1836.

They requested reinforcements and supplies

January 17: Sam Houston sent Col. James Bowie and 25 Texan volunteers to San Antonio to survey the Alamo, and abandon/destroy it if necessary.

Bowie decides the Alamo is too important and decides to stay Colonel James Bowie

Who led the regulars at the Alamo in early 1836?

February 3, 1836: Lt. Col. William B. Travis and 30 regulars from San Felipe arrive at San Antonio.

Col. Neill returns home due to a family illness and leaves Travis in charge.

Travis and Bowie will argue over who will lead the Alamo defenders. Lt. Colonel William B.

Travis

The Alamo in 1836

N

PLAZA

18 lb. Cannon

ChurchGap in north wall

palisad

e

Who arrived from Tennessee to help defend the Alamo?

Feb. 8, 1836: David Crockett and 12 volunteers from Tennessee arrive at San Antonio

The Tennessee Volunteers were expert marksmen (rifle shooters)

They would eventually be given the duty of defending the weakest part of the Alamo defenses—the Palisade.

David Crockett

Who led the Tejano defenders at the Alamo?

Tejanos – People of Mexican heritage living in Texas

At least 9 Tejanos helped defend the Alamo

Cpt. Juan N. Seguin was at the Alamo but rode out to plead for more volunteers before the battle

Captain Juan N. Seguin

What critical error did the Texans make in regards to Santa Anna?

Travis did not expect Santa Anna’s army until late March, April or May

Reports that they had crossed the Rio Grande in early February were ignored

Travis was convinced he had more time to prepare and receive volunteers—he was wrong!

Feb. 23: Santa Anna arrives and lays siege to San Antonio; forces everyone there into the Alamo.

Chapter 11 Section 2

13 Days that forever changed Texas and American History

How did Texans respond to Santa Anna’s arrival?

On February 23, Alamo defenders were shocked to see the beginning of the Mexican force arriving in San Antonio

Texans barely made it into the Alamo before the Mexican cavalry arrived in the city.

Mexican forces quietly occupy San Antonio and begin surrounding the Alamo.

What was the weakness of the Alamo as a defense post?

Bowie estimated that 1,000 troops would be needed to defend the Alamo. They had less than 200 men.

They believed that holding the Alamo at any cost was vital to the future of Texas

The mission walls were incomplete, hampering the defense.

What did the Red Flag symbolize?

At his headquarters in San Fernando Church, Santa Anna flew the red“no quarter” flag, meaning that he would take no prisoners.

The song they played,“El Deguello” was the song of death, and let the defenders know they would all die if they fought

Mexican buglers played throughout the night to keep the Alamo defenders unnerved.

Why did Travis’s calls for help go mostly unanswered?

Travis wrote several messages to the people of Texas and to the United States asking for assistance…signed “Victory or Death!”

Travis received little response to his pleas for aid because the Texas forces were poorly organized. Fannin lacked enough wagons to move

supplies from Goliad

On March 1, only 32 reinforcements arrived at the Alamo from Gonzales.

Why did Travis draw a line in the sand with his sword?

On March 5, Travis explained to his troops that remaining at the Alamo meant certain death.

According to legend, he drew a line on the ground with his sword and invited those who wished to stay to cross the line.

Almost 200 men decided to stay and fight for their beliefs.

How and when did the battle begin?

The final assault began on the morning of March 6, 1836 at 5:30 A.M.

Santa Anna had stopped the cannon fire the night before to allow the Texans to sleep, then interrupted their slumber with an early morning attack

An estimated 1,800 Mexican troops took part, attacking at four different points.

What happened to Travis and Bowie?

The North wall fell first, where William B. Travis was killed early in the fighting

The men retreated to the long barracks where the bloodiest of the fighting took place.

Bowie was killed in his cot too sick to take part in the battle

How did the battle end?

The Mexican army turned the Texan cannons on the Texans and forced them toward the chapel.

The chapel was the last area to fall. By that time (around 8 AM) all but a few defenders were killed.

According to Mexican sources about 7 men survived the fighting, including Davy Crockett.

What were the casualties? Who survived?

All but a few of the 200 defenders of the Alamo are killed in battle. The remaining prisoners are executed.

Santa Anna reports 70 of his men killed, while reports claim as many as 600 men killed and 300 injured.

How did the Texans react to the Alamo battle?

The battle of the Alamo delayed Santa Anna for two weeks, to the advantage of Texans.

Some people believe that Texas would not have won independence without the battle of the Alamo.

The battle and the courage of the Texans at the Alamo made Texans more determined to win independence.

Overall, it inspired Texans as Sam Houston’s army adopted the battle cry “Remember the Alamo” when they later fought at San Jacinto.

Chapter 11 Section 3

Urrea Sweeps Northward to Refugio

• During the Alamo siege, the second unit of the Mexican army, under General José Urrea, advanced through South Texas.

Houston orders Fannin to retreat

• General Houston had ordered Fannin and his men to retreat from Goliad to the city of Victoria to meet with his army.

• Fannin was indecisive on when or if to leave and waited too long before beginning the march to Victoria.

Houston orders Fannin to retreat• As a result Fannin

was delayed. This delay hurt the Texan cause.

• Once Fannin’s army began moving, the retreat was very slow. They were moving heavy cannons and wagons were breaking down.

• After only travelling a few miles from the fort, Fannin allowed the men to rest and eat.

Fannin Delays His Departure

On March 19, while Fannin and his men rested in a field near Coleto Creek, Urrea’s troops surrounded them.

Texans Surrender at Coleto Creek On March 20,

Fannin and his officers decided to surrender to General Urrea.

Under the surrender General Fannin thought the men would be treated fairly.

Texans Surrender at Coleto Creek

The Texans are marched back to the fort at Goliad and imprisoned there.

Santa Anna’s “Cruel Necessity”

• Urrea wrote to Santa Anna, asking that he be allowed to spare the prisoners’ lives.

• Santa Anna ordered their immediate execution, fearing that if he let the Texans go they would join others in rebellion.

Santa Anna’s “Cruel Necessity”

• On Palm Sunday, March 27, the prisoners were marched out of the fort and shot.

• Many thought they were being taken out to work in the fields, or perhaps being released.

• Some Mexican soldiers did not agree with Santa Anna’s decision and fired over the heads of the Texans, allowing them to escape .

Santa Anna’s “Cruel Necessity”

• After the execution of the men at Goliad, Urrea writes in his journal:

“I used my influence with the general-in-chief to save them, if possible, from being butchered, particularly Fannin. I obtained from His Excellency only a severe reply, repeating his previous order, doubtlessly dictated by cruel necessity.”

Lessons from the Alamo and Goliad

Texans fought bravely but managed their affairs poorly.

The fighting revealed a lack of cooperation among Texas forces.

Houston became convinced not to let his forces separate into small groups.