The Battles of the Texas
Revolution
December 1835-April 1836
Refugio, Coleto, Goliad, Runaway
Scrape, San Jacinto
General Urrea Marches North
• As Santa Anna was attacking the Alamo,
General Urrea marched the Mexican army
north.
• The Mexican forces engaged in several
battles along the way, which the Mexicans
army won.
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Refugio
• Colonel James Fannin was in command of 300
revolutionaries at Goliad.
• At William B. Travis’s request, he set out to
reinforce the fighters at the Alamo.
• ….But his wagon broke down.
• He sent Colonel William Ward to Refugio to
escort some civilians to safety.
• They were intercepted by Urrea’s forces. Those
who weren’t killed were sent to Goliad.
Urrea, Fannin and Travis
Coleto
• On March 14, Fannin received orders from
General Sam Houston to retreat to Victoria.
• His hope was to delay further battles until his
troops could become better organized.
• Fannin waited until March 19 to leave-he had
been hoping to hear from Ward and King.
• Urrea’s men surrounded Fannin and his men as
they traveled.
• The next day, Fannin was forced to surrender,
and his troops were taken captive.
Remember Goliad!
• Although Fannin and his men surrendered and were
promised they would not be executed, Santa Anna
decided otherwise.
• The prisoners were marched back to Goliad, where they
were marched out into an open compound in three
columns.
• They thought they were being released, but instead they
were shot and killed.
• A few escaped.
• The massacre at Goliad transformed the Texas
Revolution because the Texan’s became more
determined to defeat Mexico.
Goliad
Sam Houston Assumes Command
• Houston was named commander of the Texas forces during
the first Consultation.
• He reappointed a second time at the second Consultation.
• He signed a peace treaty with the Cherokee’s so that the
Texan’s wouldn’t have to fight the Mexicans and Native
Americans at the same time, and Houston promised the
Cherokees land titles to their land under Texas’s new
government.
• At this time, he was unaware of what had happened at the
Alamo
• He arrived with several hundred men at Gonzales on March
11.
• One of the Alamo survivors, Susanna Dickinson, related that
all of the men at the Alamo had been killed.
Sam Houston
Revenge!!!
• Upon hearing that news, Texas troops
understandably wanted revenge.
• Houston had a plan in mind, however. He
realized that the troops were not yet ready
to fight he Mexican army.
• He led them to a plantation for training,
rest and food, then continued his retreat to
the east.
“Let’s Flight…”
• The families living in Gonzales became
afraid when they heard Santa Anna and
his troops were headed their way.
• They gathered their belongings and
headed east.
• This flight is known as the Runaway
Scrape.
Santa Anna’s Mistakes
• After the victory at the Alamo, Santa Anna
moved his troops out to search for any
remaining Texas forces.
• He had suffered great losses at the Alamo,
and he was running low on supplies.
• Sam Houston had wisely burned fields and
houses as he moved east. Any supplies
the Mexican troops might have used were
destroyed.
Houston’s Strategy Pays Off
• By this time, the Mexican army was short
on food and ammunition.
• Santa Anna moved ahead of the main
group with a force of about 700 men.
• On his return, he met Houston’s forces at
San Jacinto
Sam Houston’s Speech…
• “We view ourselves on the eve of battle.
We are nerved for the contest, and must
conquer or perish. It is vain to look for
present aid: none is at hand. We must now
act or abandon all hope!...Be men, be free
men, that your children may bless their
father’s name.”
The Battle of San Jacinto
(Revolution Era)
• On April 20, 1836, a skirmish developed.
• The major battle took place on the
afternoon of April 21.
• At first the Texas troops outnumbered the
Mexican forces, but during the night, more
Mexican troops arrived. The troop count
was 1300 Mexicans to 800 Texans.
• Houston’s superior tactics would play a
major role in the battle’s outcome.
The Victory!
Remember the Alamo! Remember
Goliad!!
• The Mexicans were unprepared for the attack.
• Houston ordered a bridge burned that would
keep Santa Anna and his troops from retreating.
• The battle lasted for about 18 minutes.
• The Texans won the battle.
• Two Texans dies, and about 30 were wounded.
• 630 Mexicans were killed and 730 were
captured.
A Coward Is Revealed
• During the battle, Santa Anna disguised
himself in order to escape capture and/or
death.
• He was captured and brought before Sam
Houston, who had been wounded in the
leg during battle.
• Santa Anna surrendered.
Surrender at San Jacinto
Put these events in order:
•
•
•
•
Fall of the Alamo
Battle of San Jacinto
Goliad Massacre
Battle of Gonzales