Texas Revolution1835-1836

Gonzales

October 2, 1835 Commanders: Mexican: Colonel Ugartechea Texan: Colonel John H. Moore.

Ugartechea ordered the people of Gonzales to surrender the small brass cannon.

The Texans refused, buried the cannon in a peach orchard and waited for reinforcements.

The Texan forces dug up the canon and mounted it on the wagon.

They flew a white flag with the words “Come and Take It”

The Mexican forces arrived and faced 160 Texans

Fighting ensued and one Mexican soldier killed.

The Mexicans retreated. The war has begun!

Ben Milam and San Antonio Ben Milam led 300 men to attack

General Cos in San Antonio. Texans won and forced all Mexican

troops out of Texas.

Texans believed with this win the war was over. They thought they could form their own separate state within Mexico and under the Constitution of 1824.

BUT Santa Anna has other plans!!

The Battle of the Alamo Date: February 23, 1836 –March 6,

1836 Commanders: Mexican: Santa Anna Texan: Jim Bowie and William B.

Travis

The Mexican Army moves February 1836 Santa Anna led 6000

Mexican troops across the Rio Grande Wanting revenge against the rebellious

Texans, Santa Anna marched to San Antonio

General Jose Urrea led Mexican soilders across Matamoros towards Goliad

The Texas army was NOT prepared for the Mexican army.

Colonel James Neil had 100 troops in San Antonio.

Colonel James Fannin had 400 troops in Goliad.

General Sam Houston was VERY concerned! Texas army was UNPREPARED and UNORGANIZED!

Sam Houston“The Raven” Born in Virginia Veteran of the War of

1812 Elected to US Congress

and Governor of Tennessee

Moved to Texas in 1832 Took control of Texan

forces

Sam Houston recommended that the Alamo be destroyed and the artillery be removed.

James “Jim” Bowie disagreed. He thought the Alamo was too important.

Jim Bowie He was in command of a

volunteer force in San Antonio when William Travis arrived with regular army troops. The two men shared authority during much of the Siege of the Alamo, which caused some personal friction. But pneumonia disabled Bowie, and he was confined to his cot at the time of his death on March 6, 1836 at the Battle of the Alamo.

“The salvation of Texas depends in great measure on keeping Bexar [San Antonio] out of the hands of the enemy….Colonel Neil and myself have come to the solemn [serious] resolution that we will rather die in ditches than give them up to the enemy.”

James Bowie

Alamo Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=8Uu4iwCvVrE&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

And so it begins…. On February 23, 1836, the arrival of

General Antonio López de Santa Anna's army outside San Antonio nearly caught them by surprise. Undaunted, the Texans and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo together. The defenders held out for 13 days against Santa Anna's army.

Texas troops built up their defenses as the Mexican forces approached Texas.

As the Mexican troops marched into the city, the defenders, gathered food, ammunition, and other supplies from local citizens.

Santa Anna arrived and demanded surrender! The Texans replied with a cannon shot!

Santa Anna ordered a large blood-red flag be raised so the defenders within the Alamo could see it. This “no quarter flag” meant that Santa Anna would leave no survivors.

Slit throat- song of No Quarter, No Mercy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKD5TgHWyxM

William B. Travis, the commander of the Alamo sent forth couriers carrying pleas for help to communities in Texas. On the eighth day of the siege, a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, bringing the number of defenders to nearly two hundred.

William B. Travis Born in S.C. and moved with his

family to Alabama. He became an attorney and published a newspaper. In 1830 Travis left his family and headed for Texas. He got a land grant from SFA and set up a law practice. Travis became the commander at the Alamo. He was only 26 at the time of his death.

William B Travis

Commandancy of the Alamo Bexar, Feby 24th, 1836 To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World--

Fellow Citizens and CompatriotsI am besieged with a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison is to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly over the wall. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, of everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due his honor and that of his country.

VICTORY OR DEATH William Barret Travis

Lt. Col. Comd't P.S. The Lord is on our side -- when the enemy appeared in sight we had not three

bushels of corn -- We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.

Flag flying at Alamo- what does it mean?

Legend holds that with the possibility of additional help fading, Colonel Travis drew a line on the ground and asked any man willing to stay and fight to step over — all except one did.

As the defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the Alamo's garrison were Jim Bowie, renowned knife fighter, and David Crockett, famed frontiersman and former congressman from Tennessee.

The final assault came before daybreak on the morning of March 6, 1836, as columns of Mexican soldiers emerged from the predawn darkness and headed for the Alamo's walls. Cannon and small arms fire from inside the Alamo beat back several attacks.

Regrouping, the Mexicans scaled the walls and rushed into the compound. Once inside, they turned a captured cannon on the Long Barrack and church, blasting open the barricaded doors. The desperate struggle continued until the defenders were overwhelmed.

By sunrise, the battle had ended and Santa Anna entered the Alamo compound to survey the scene of his victory.

????????????? Some sources say there were no survivors. Some say 7 men including Davy Crockett

survived and were executed by Santa Anna.

Either way on March 7 there were no Texans alive at the Alamo.

Susanna Dickinson with the other women and children were allowed to leave the Alamo.

Santa Anna also spared a slave named Joe.

After the fall…. Santa Anna had all Alamo defenders’

bodies (182) burned in pyres. 600 Mexican casualties were buried Santa Anna believed the fall of the Alamo

would convince Texans to surrender.

He was wrong.

Remember the Alamo became a battle cry and symbol to Texans that they must fight on at any cost!

Susana Dickinson

Sole adult Anglo survivor of the Alamo.

Left with note from Santa Anna to Sam Houston.

Asked for and was denied $500 from new Texas government.

Was married 4 more times.

Juan Seguin Supported Texan’s rights to

influence local law. Volunteered for military service

during the Revolution. Served as a courier at the Alamo

and led a Tejano unit at San Jacinto.

Rumored to have buried the ashes of the Alamo defenders.

http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/adp/history/1836/the_compound/ashes.html

Two pyres were located in this area, one on either side of the "Alameda." Today the site is marked by a marble plaque, placed there by the De Zavala Chapter Texas Landmark Association.

Declaration activity

Texas Declares Independence The Convention of 1836 was held at

Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 1. 59 delegates including Sam Houston and

Lorenzo de Zavala They quickly declared independence on

March 2, 1836 in an unanimous vote! Some Tejanos disagreed with the call for

independence.

Declaration of Independence George Childress wrote most of the

declaration of independence. Used the US Declaration of Independence

as a guide Listed the complaints the settlers had

against Santa Anna’s government Mexico denied them many rights guaranteed

under the Constitution of 1824

George ChildressBorn and raised in Tennessee. In 1835 he volunteered for the Texas army. He called the convention of 1836 to order and wrote the Texas Declaration of Independence.

Lorenzo de ZavalaServed as a Mexican congressman and governor. In 1829 he received a land grant and settled 500 families in east Texas. He became involved in the Texas Independence movement in 1835. He played a key part in drafting the Constitution, was elected interim vice president and drafted the design for the first flag of Texas.

The Runaway Scrape Houston was given full command of the

army. He was short on troops, guns, ammunition, supplies and money!

Houston moved the army to Gonzales still not knowing of the Alamo. Upon hearing of the outcome and news that Santa Anna and 700 troops were on their way, Houston ordered a retreat.

Civilians packed their belongings as well and left.

Houston ordered the town of Gonzales burned so not to be used by the Mexican troops.

As word spread of the fate of the Alamo, many panicked and fled east.

They left their farms, homes and towns to avoid the Mexican army.

Heavy rains and flooding made the conditions worse.

Goliad Date: March 27 Commanders Mexican: General Urrea Texan: James Fannin

Goliad Colonel Fannin and his 400 troops were

surrounded by General Urrea outside Goliad.

Fannin surrendered. He was outnumbered. The Texans were held at Goliad for a week.

Urrea was ordered by Santa Anna to execute the 400 Texans on March 27.

The Massacre The Texans were not told of their fate. They

were marched unarmed into a field and then fired upon.

Some of the Texans escaped. The Angel of Goliad- Francita Alvarez

helped many escape.

James Fannin

San Jacinto Date: April 21, 1836 Commander Mexican: Santa Anna Texan: Sam Houston

San Jacinto Houston began to prepare his army now

almost 1200. He began retreating east toward the Brazos

River. MANY criticized him but he ignored them.

Houston trained and drilled his soldiers. They increased their weapons (many from the US)

The Battle The Mexican Army was exhausted from

marching and fighting. Houston led about 900 troops including Juan

Seguin’s Tejano unit. Yelling “Remember the Alamo!” “Remember

Goliad!” they attacked. The battle last 18 minutes. 9 Texans died but 630 Mexicans were dead.

Santa Anna disappeared but was later found hiding in the marsh dressed as a regular solider.

Houston would not allow Santa Anna to be killed.

WHY??? We needed him to recognize Texas

independence so the war and all future wars would be over!

University of North Texas Libraries

Battle Flag said to have been captured from Santa Anna at San Jacinto. 52.07cm x 120.65cm Star of the Republic Museum.

http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-31734

Primary Source Adventures:

The Battle ofSan Jacinto

The Battle Flag captured from Santa Anna

April 21, 1836 Texans won their independence from Mexico in one of the most decisive victories in History!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXgTB0MeVig

Primary Source Adventures:

The Battle ofSan Jacinto

“Santa Anna … announced his formal surrender in Spanish...

Major Bryan, then a youth of 19 and a

soldier in the Texas Army, acted as

interpreter.”

“Santa Anna … announced his formal surrender in Spanish...

Major Bryan, then a youth of 19 and a

soldier in the Texas Army, acted as

interpreter.”

Kittrell, Norman G. (Norman Goree), 1849-1927. The Battle-Field of San Jacinto : An Historical Sketch. Houston, Texas. The Portal to Texas History. http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth46833

University of North Texas Libraries