Battles leading up to the Alamo Texas Revolution Battles leading up to the Alamo

October 2, 1835 Battle of Gonzales On the banks of the Guadalupe River just few miles outside of Gonzales.

Battle of Gonzales Colonel Domingo Urgartechea Lieutenant Francisco Castaneda vs. Colonel John Henry Moore Alcalde Andrew Ponton

Battle of Gonzales Backstory… In 1831, the Mexican government gave the Texas settlers a cannon to help protect themselves from frequent Indian raids. In June of 1835, Travis rebelled at Anahuac. Some communities supported Travis. Gonzalez declared their loyalty to President Santa Anna and his centralist government. In September, a Mexican soldier beat a Gonzalez resident, leading to outrage and public protests.

Battle of Gonzales Mexico was concerned that the cannon given to Texans to protect against Indian raids might get used on the Mexican Army, so they wanted it back. Urgartecha sent Castaneda and 100 troops to collect the cannon avoiding the use of force if possible.

Battle of Gonzales The alcalde, Andrew Ponton (a Mexican official who was the acting mayor of Gonzalez), ordered that the ferry and all boats be removed from the river bank while he buried the cannon. He refused to hand over the cannon. The delay allowed the Texans time to gather reinforcements.

Battle of Gonzales The Mexicans moved camp upriver. On the night of October 1, 1835, the Texans crossed the river and followed the Mexican Army. At 3:00 in the morning shots were fired by both sides.

Battle of Gonzales After the sun came up and the fog cleared, Colonel Moore met with Castaneda and invited him to join the revolution. (John Henry Moore and the settlers wanted the Mexican Government and Army to honor the Constitution of 1824. Castaneda revealed that he shared the same feelings but was duty bound to follow orders.) Castaneda refused and both men returned to their respective posts.

Battle of Gonzales When these requests were not met, the Texans fired on the Mexican Army raising the white “Come and Take It” flag. The Mexican retreated to San Antonio.

“Lexington” 1st Battle Texans Fired “Come And Take It” First Shot Press to see video Texans Fired First Shot “Come And Take It” Gonzales “Old Eighteen” (140) October 1835

October 10, 1835 La Bahia, Goliad, Texas

La Bahia George M. Collinsworth Ben Milam vs. General Martin Perfecto de Cos Lt. Col. Francisco Sandoval

La Bahia La Bahia had become the only Spanish fortress for the entire Gulf Coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande to the Mississippi River. This area was one of the three most important in Spanish Texas. La Bahia was one of the two major garrisons in Mexican Texas and lay 1/2way between San Antonio de Bexar (the political center of Texas) and Copano (the major port of Texas.)

La Bahia Texas heard General Cos had a military chest containing at least $50,000. The Texans to capture General Cos and seize the money. After they realized Cos had left for San Antonio with the chest, they knew they could easily take the fort and cut off Cos’ communication with Copano Bay where Mexico received supplies and reinforcements.

La Bahia About 125 Texans including Ben Milam and 30 Tejanos stormed the fort of La Bahia. Roughly 50 Mexican soldiers fired from their barracks hitting a freed slave in the shoulder. Within 30 minutes the Mexicans surrendered and the Texans had control of the fort and the leftover supplies (food, clothing, blankets).

La Bahia After the presidio was captured it was renamed Fort Defiance to raise Texas moral, create a symbol to be rallied around, and the more “American” name inspired the Anglo Texans.

TXNs win & rename it Fort Defiance Ben Milam & George Collinsworth MXN Supply house/ Communication Route TXNs win & rename it Fort Defiance Ben Milam & George Collinsworth Goliad (La Bahia) Gen Cos Lt Col. Sandoval October 9, 1835

Battle of Concepcion OCTOBER 28, 1835 MISSION PURISIMA CONCEPCION…about 2 miles from San Antonio de Bexar

Battle of Concepcion JIM BOWIE JAMES WALKER FANNIN vs. GENERAL MARTIN COS COL. DOMINGO DE URGARTECHEA LT. COL. JOSE MARIA MENDOZA

Battle of Concepcion JIM BOWIE AND JAMES FANNIN WERE SENT TO SCOUT FOR A BASE OF OPERATIONS IN SAN ANTONIO AND THEN WERE SUPPOSED TO RETURN TO STEPHEN F. AUSTIN’S ARMY AT MISSION ESPADA.

Battle of Concepcion Battle of Concepcion TO KEEP THE TEXANS FROM SEEING MEXICAN DEFENSIVE MEASURES, MEXICAN TROOPS TRIED TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO AND FROM THE CITY. STILL, SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOME AND JOIN THE TEXAN TROOPS MARCHING THEIR WAY. Battle of Concepcion

Battle of Concepcion INSTEAD OF RETURNING AS ORDERED, BOWIE CAMPED AT MISSION CONCEPCION FOR THE NIGHT. GENERAL COS LEARNED THE ARMY WAS SPLIT, SO HE DECIDED TO ATTACK BOWIE AND HIS MEN.

Battle of Concepcion BOWIE HAD 92 MEN, THE MEXICAN ARMY NUMBERED CLOSE TO 400 AND TWO CANNONS. AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING THE MEXICAN INFANTRY ADVANCED BEHIND THE CANNONS, GUNS A BLAZING. THE TEXANS USING THE LONG RIFLE WERE ABLE TO KILL AT OVER 200 YARDS.

Battle of Concepcion TEXAN SHARPSHOOTERS KILLED 3 PEOPLE TRYING TO FIRE THE CANNON, THE LAST ONE WITH A LIGHT MATCH STILL IN HIS HAND. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF FIGHTING, AND NOBODY WILLING TO FIRE THE CANNON, THE MEXICANS RETREATED.

Battle of Concepcion Battle of Concepcion THE TEXAN FORCES QUICKLY CAPTURED THE CANNON AND TURNED IT ON THE FLEEING MEXICAN SOLDIERS. Battle of Concepcion

Battle of Concepcion OVER 70 MEXICANS WERE KILLED AND AS MANY WERE WOUNDED. ONLY ONE TEXAN WAS KILLED IN THE FIGHT. THIS WAS THE LAST OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE TEXANS THAT COS WOULD ORDER.

Bowie and Fannin argued Jim Bowie & James Fannin Long Guns Battle of Concepcion Gen Cos Lt Col Mendoza 28,

The Grass Fight

Grass Fight November 26 Jim Bowie & 40 men Near San Antonio TXNs attack a MXN caravan thinking it was carrying soldier’s pay. It was only grass for the horses. Gen. Cos & 100 soldiers

Siege and Battle of San Antonio December 5-9, 1835 Siege 7 weeks prior

Siege and Battle of San Antonio Stephen F. Austin Edward Burleson Ben Milam Vs. General Cos

Siege and Battle of San Antonio The Texans realized that if they could take control of San Antonio, they could have control over most of Texas. Austin’s army of 600 Texans surrounded San Antonio in a siege. The attempt was to starve out the Mexican Army by not allowing food or supplies into town. After 7 weeks of surrounding the town, many soldiers returned to their homes.

Siege and Battle of San Antonio On December 5, 1835, Ben Milam led 300 of the remaining 500 in an attack on San Antonio. The soldiers broke into homes inside the town for safety. Cos placed sharpshooters in trees where they had a clear view of the plaza. Ben Milam was shot in the head and killed.

Siege and Battle of San Antonio Over the next few days the Texans slowly gained ground forcing Cos to seek refuge inside the walls of the Alamo. The Mexicans surrendered on December 9, and agreed to leave Texas and to not return.

TXNS forced Cos and MXCNS out of San Antonio SFA Ben Milam Edward Burleson MX - sharpshooters TX – house to house Battle of San Antonio Gen Cos Lt Col Mendoza December 5-9,