The Texas Revolution Continues…. The Battles of Goliad and San Jacinto

Other Battles While the Battle of the Alamo is going on in San Antonio… Another battalion of Mexican troops under General Urrea attacks San Patricio on Feb. 27 Urrea wins battles at San Patricio and Refugio and defeats another section of the Texan army near Victoria. Urrea moves toward Goliad to meet Colonel James Fannin

General Urrea’s Troop Movement REFUGIO

Fannin’s Mistake General Sam Houston orders Fannin to retreat from Goliad Houston does not think that the Texans are ready to fight Fannin originally decided to try to help at the Alamo and then returned to Goliad, delaying his retreat As he tries to fall back to Victoria, General Urrea’s troops catch up to Fannin’s army.

General Urrea has about 400 Troops Fannin has about 300 Fighting breaks out at Coleto Creek, just north of Goliad. General Urrea receives reinforcements overnight and Fannin is outnumbered. Fannin is forced to surrender Defeat at Coleto Creek Colonel James Fannin

Massacre at Goliad Urrea sends Fannin and his troops back to Goliad and asks Santa Anna what to do with the prisoners Santa Anna orders that prisoners were to be executed. Fannin is the last to be shot; around 350 Texan troops are murdered on March 27th. Texan soldiers are lined up and shot at Goliad massacre.

New Rally Cry “Remember the Alamo” has already been a rally cry Texans are now motivated by massacre at Goliad and “Remember Goliad” becomes another rally cry. Santa Anna has all the momentum and Texans feel like victory may be out of reach….

Houston’s Army retreats Houston has been strengthening his army near Gonzales. When he hears the Alamo has fallen, his army retreats toward Austin. He finds out that Fannin and his troops are massacres at Goliad and his 1,400 troops reach Austin. The Runaway Scrape- Texan families and troops retreat to Austin during heavy rains with little provisions (food/supplies) As the Mexican army marches toward Austin, General Houston is preparing his troops for another major battle….

The Battle of San Jacinto Santa Anna is trying to reach Texan ad-interim President David G. Burnett near Galveston. While Santa Anna’s army is resting near the San Jacinto River, General Houston’s troops arrive just ¾ of a mile away.

Houston orders the attack After meeting with his commanders, Houston calls for the attack of the Mexican camp around 3:30 in the afternoon. Mexican soldiers are resting after lunch and are unaware that the Texans were nearby. Deaf Smith cuts off the supply route and Mirabeau Lamar, a Texan soldier who has quickly risen through the ranks, cuts off the Mexican escape routes.

“Remember the Alamo Remember Goliad!” The Texans army shouts their rally cries as the Mexican soldiers are caught off guard. Texans use the “twin sisters,” two large cannons to pound the Mexican camps. Hand to hand combat again breaks out After 20 minutes, the Texans have won, although killing continues through the night.

Santa Anna Surrenders Santa Anna had fled when the Texans attacked and was found hiding in some tall grass just outside the battle site. He had dressed in a regular Mexican troop’s uniform to disguise himself. One of his own men point him out to the Texans. He had been wounded in the leg, and Houston had been shot in the ankle. Santa Anna surrenders to Sam Houston on May 14, 1836.

Treaties of Velasco After the fighting, ad-interim President David Burnett moves the Texas Capital to Velasco Santa Anna signs two peace treaties at Velasco, one public and one private. He promises to never again fight against the Texans and to withdraw all Mexican troops from Texas. In the private treaty, he promises to recognize Texan independence with the Rio Grande as the boundary.

TEXAN INDEPENDENCE After the Texas Revolution ended at San Jacinto, Texas gains its independence from Mexico. Sam Houston becomes first President of Texas and Mirabeau Lamar is Vice President Texas adopts the Constitution of 1836… TO BE CONTINUED…….