The Convention of 1836The Battle of Coleto Creek and Goliad Massacre

The Road to San JacintoThe Battle of San Jacinto and Texas Independence

Unit 4.3 Power Notes

While some Texans were besieged by Santa Anna’s forces at the Alamo in February 1836, other Texas leaders met at Washington-on-the-Brazos for a convention. 59 delegates began work on March 1, 1836. 2 were native Texans, while most were from the Southern U.S. Delegates elected Richard Ellis as chairman (or person in charge) and asked that a committee be formed to write a Declaration of Independence. George Childress was elected as chairman of the committee and is considered the primary author of the document. The document declared the Mexican government deprived Texans of certain rights—it was adopted on March 2, 1836 by unanimous vote.

The Convention of 1836

SAN ANTONIO de BEXAR

The delegates spent the next 2 weeks writing a constitution for a new republic. Both documents (Declaration and Constitution) were modeled after the U.S. The constitution provided a government with 3 branches: executive, legislative, and judicial; and contained a bill of rights. It also made slavery a legal institution.

The Convention of 1836

Lastly, the Texans set up an ad interim government (where people are selected to serve as leaders until elections can be held): David G. Burnet—President, Lorenzo de Zavala—Vice President, Sam Houston—Commander of Regular and Volunteer armies. The meeting adjourned on March 17 as panic ensues when word reaches delegates that the Alamo had fallen.

The Convention of 1836

While the Alamo battle raged, the second unit of the Mexican army, under General Jose Urrea, advanced throughout South Texas. He defeated and killed Texan soldiers in San Patricio, Refugio, and Victoria. Colonel James Fannin, the commander of Texas forces at Goliad, was ordered by Houston to retreat from Goliad and head towards Victoria. He delayed his retreat which hurt the Texas cause.

Coleto Creek/Goliad Massacre

Colonel James Walker Fannin

West Point drop-out

Brave, IntelligentLoyal Weakness was that he could be indecisive

On March 19, while Fannin and his men rested in an open field near Coleto Creek, 500 of Urrea’s troops surrounded them. At first, Fannin’s troops of 300 men fight back and have success. But Mexican reinforcements arrive and force Fannin to surrender. Urrea assured the Texans that they would be treated fairly, although the surrender agreement made no such promises. The Texans were marched back to Goliad and imprisoned in the old presidio.

Coleto Creek/Goliad Massacre

Where is Coleto Creek?

Now on private propertyDispute as to exact location

Presidio La Bahia was renamed Goliad

MexicansTexans

Key

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 the rebellion. Urrea wrote in his diary his regret for killing the men, calling it a “cruel necessity”. On Palm Sunday March 27, 350 prisoners were taken out to a field and shot. A few men survived by pretending to be dead. Senora Francita Alavez, the wife of a Mexican army officer, set aside politics and helped the wounded. The Texans called her the “Angel of Goliad”.

Coleto Creek/Goliad Massacre

A few survivors28 men escaped from the three massacre sites

3 Fought in Battle of San Jacinto

17 men's lives were spared. (they had skills useful to Mexican army)

It is from the accounts of the men who escaped and were spared that we know what happened at Presidio La Bahia.

Francita Alavez, the Angel of Goliad saved of the lives of many soldiers.

Wife of Colonel Telesforo Alavez, an officer in General Urrea's army.

As did the wife of General Urrea

At the Alamo and Goliad Texas forces fought bravely; but a lack of cooperation among Texas leaders was revealed. Sam Houston was convinced not to let his forces separate into small groups. The Alamo and Goliad became a point of inspiration at the Battle of San Jacinto—“Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!”.

Coleto Creek/Goliad Massacre

Goliad Memorial

The defeats at the Alamo and in South Texas allowed Santa Anna to move east into Texas. Houston arrived at Gonzales on March 11 and found nearly 400 men ready to join the fight. On March 13 he then retreated east toward the Colorado River, picking up additional men as the army grew to nearly 1,000 volunteers. He hoped to meet up with Fannin’s men at Goliad—but soon learned of their fate. Houston’s soldiers became resentful because their homes were being destroyed and they wanted to fight! Houston believed his forces were too weak and needed more time to train.

The Road to San Jacinto

Fearing the Mexican army would move in and harm them, hundreds of Texas families moved east. Heavy rains and sickness made the journey miserable—the movement became known as the “Runaway Scrape”. On March 28, Houston’s army reached the Brazos River and moved north to Groce’s Plantation. There, he trained his army for 2 weeks. Hendrick Arnold, an African-American scout, posed as a runaway slave and moved through the Mexican army camps gathering information for Houston.

The Road to San Jacinto

The Runaway Scrape

Heavy rains and sickness made the journey miserable

Texas civilians and families feared Santa Anna’s movement eastward

As Houston continued eastward, he received a gift from the people of Cincinnati, Ohio—two cannons called the “Twin Sisters”. Instead of heading east into Louisiana like his soldiers and Santa Anna believed, Houston turned south and headed towards the San Jacinto River and prepared to fight the Mexican Army.

The Road to San Jacinto

Twin Sisters

Houston received a gift from the people of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Two cannons called the “Twin Sisters”Having lost the Texas artillery at the Alamo,

Goliad and during the runaway scrape, this could not have come at a better time

On April 20, 1836, Texan troops camped on the banks of Buffalo Bayou. Santa Anna’s army moved to the edge of a prairie opposite the Texans. Santa Anna was in a poor position but believed the Texans would not attack. Juan Seguin commanded 20-30 Tejanos; they wore a piece of cardboard in their hats to distinguish them from Mexican troops. Houston had over 1,000 men. Santa Anna had 850 troops and 540 more joined them.

San Jacinto & Texas Independence

Juan SeguinCaptain in Sam Houston’s

armyVeteran of Battle of San

AntonioLearns of deaths of

Tejanos at the AlamoLeads Tejanos at Battle of

San Jacinto

Houston ordered Erastus “Deaf” Smith and Henry Karnes to destroy the bridge across Vince’s Bayou to cut off a retreat for both armies. Houston called his officers to a council of war, but they disagreed over whether to attack directly or set up a defensive position. On the afternoon of April 21, Houston ordered the Texas army to advance on the Mexican troops who were resting. The Texans seized the Mexican artillery and their camp was in total confusion as soldiers tried to fight and flee. The battle lasted 18 minutes!

San Jacinto & Texas Independence

San Jacinto Battlefield – April 21, 1836

The Mexican army suffered heavy losses at San Jacinto. As estimated 650 Mexicans were killed and 730 were taken prisoner, including Santa Anna, who later surrendered. Santa Anna signed 2 treaties at Velasco—one public and one secret. The public treaty—Santa Anna promises that Mexican forces would never fight against Texans again and ordered all Mexican forces out of Texas. The secret treaty—Santa Anna promises to work for Mexican recognition of Texas independence in exchange for his release.

San Jacinto & Texas Independence

Santa Anna Surrenders to Sam Houston

Many Texans wanted to hang Santa Anna. Burnet, determined to honor the treaty, placed Santa Anna on a ship returned to Mexico. News of the victory spread throughout Texas and soldiers from both sides returned to their homes. The Mexican army left in defeat. Volunteers from the U.S. arrived in Texas too late—the Texans had already won the war. Texans were now citizens of a NEW Republic of Texas!

San Jacinto & Texas Independence

The San Jacinto Monument