1. Road to the Alamo: 1836

2. The Beginnings of Revolution In what ways were the Texas Revolution and the American Revolution alike? Why is the Battle of Gonzales known as the “Lexington” of the Texas Revolution?

3. American RevolutionTexas Revolution Great Britain originally left the colonists alone. Mexico originally left the settlers alone The colonists began to develop the colonies largely on their own. The settlers began to develop Texas largely on their own. Great Britain feared losing control over the colonies and cracked down. Mexico feared losing control over Texas and cracked down. The goals of the colonists changed over time. The goals of the settlers changed over time. King George III denied the colonists their rights. Santa Anna denied the settlers their rights.

4. The Battle of Gonzales Mexican leaders in San Antonio lent a small cannon to the Texans in nearby Gonzales. The cannon was to be used to fight Comanches. After an Anglo uprising at Anahuac, Colonel Domingo de Ugartechea decided to reclaim the cannon. He did not want it to be used against the Mexicans. The alcalde of Gonzales, Andrew Ponton, hid the cannon. His men captured the Mexicans sent to retrieve it. Alcalde - a Mexican official, much like a mayor In response, Ugartechea sent 100 troops to Gonzales. He ordered them to avoid a fight, if possible.

5. The Battle of Gonzales and the Old Eighteen Eighteen armed Texans held off the Mexican troops sent to retrieve the cannon from Gonzales. They were known as the “Old Eighteen.” The following day, more Texans arrived to assist them, including Jim Bowie and William Travis. The Texans dug up the cannon and dared the Mexicans to come and take it. They used the cannon to attack the Mexican troops in several small skirmishes. The Mexicans retreated. The Battle of Gonzales is known as the “Lexington” of the Texas Revolution. Just as the Battle of Lexington was the first battle of the American Revolution, the Battle of Gonzales was the initial battle of the Texas Revolution.

6. The Capture of Goliad Mexican General Cós left his army’s supplies at Presidio La Bahía at Goliad while he gathered more troops. Texan colonists, led by George W. Collinsworth, marched on Goliad. In a 30-minute battle, 120 Texans took over Presidio La Bahía. Samuel McCulloch, a free African American, became the first Texan casualty of the Texas Revolution.

7. Establishing a Government The Permanent Council The Permanent Council set up a postal system and sent soldiers and supplies to the army in South Texas. The Permanent Council disbanded when the Consultation began. Not all Anglo Texans supported the revolution. Instead they wanted reforms in the Mexican system.

8. The Consultation’s Work Delegates disagreed about the purpose of the war. They had to come up with a compromise. Texans were fighting for the Constitution of 1824. They wanted Mexico to return to a federal system. The Consultation set up a temporary government for Texas called the Provisional Government. The Consultation decided to raise a regular army, a force of full-time soldiers who serve for a set period of time. Sam Houston was put in charge. The army was made of cavalry and infantry.

9. The Siege of San Antonio General Cós sent 400 soldiers to protect the Alamo. Stephen F. Austin led the Texas army in a siege of San Antonio. In a siege, an army surrounds a town or fort and waits for the enemy to give up. The Consultation sent Austin to the United States for help. Groups of well-equipped volunteers arrived from several southern states. Texas soldiers defeated Mexican troops heading for San Antonio. The Mexican troops had gathered grass for their starving horses. Texans call this battle “The Grass Fight.”

10. The Capture of SanAntonio After three months, the Texans decided to give up the siege. But a Mexican escaping from the Alamo told them that the Mexican army’s morale was low and that they could easily seize San Antonio. Ben Milam led the Texans in an attack on December 5. On December 10, General Cós surrendered the town, the Alamo, and his army. The troops were set free when Cós pledged they would never return to Texas.

12. Problems in Texas Government Disorganized Armies Smith wanted the three other leaders to report to Houston. They wanted Houston to turn against Smith and side with the council. The Government Falls Apart Henry Smith is the first American born Governor of the Mexican territory of Texas James Grant wanted the Texans to attack Matamoros. Governor Smith and General Houston rejected the plan. However, members of the General Council gave it the go-ahead. Governor Smith tried and failed to take control of the army away from the council. In anger, he disbanded the council. In return, the council ordered Smith removed as governor. Smith refused to leave; the government fell apart. The government’s problems split the army into four factions.

13. The Alamo and Its Defenders The Alamo’s commander, J. C. Neill, asked General Houston for reinforcements. Houston sent Jim Bowie to assess the situation at the Alamo. Bowie would decide whether the Texans should defend the fort or destroy it. Governor Smith sent a small force led by William Travis. David Crockett, a former congressman from Tennessee, arrived with a dozen riflemen. There were about 150 men to defend the Alamo.

14. The Siege of the Alamo Santa Anna demanded the troops defending the Alamo surrender. Travis refused. For 12 days, Santa Anna’s forces fired cannons at the Alamo. Travis sent a request for help. He had fewer than 200 men to cover the entire fort. When it became clear that help would not arrive, Travis allowed each man to choose whether or not to leave the Alamo. Only one man chose to leave.

15. The Fall of the Alamo A total of 1,800 Mexican soldiers marched toward the Alamo, carrying bayonets (long blades attached to the end of rifles) and ladders. The defenders drove the Mexicans back two times, even though they were low on ammunition. On the third attack, Mexican soldiers scrambled over the wall and into the fort. The defenders took cover in the barracks (the buildings in which soldiers live) and the chapel. Santa Anna stormed the buildings and took control of the fort. The Mexicans executed all surviving defenders of the battle.

16. The Importance of the Alamo Santa Anna spared the lives of the wives and children of the defenders. He hoped that the defeat of the Alamo would frighten the rebels so badly that they would leave Texas. But what happened at the Alamo made Texans even more determined to have their own country. “Remember the Alamo” became the rally cry of the Texas Revolution.

17. After the Alamo When he heard Santa Anna was approaching, Houston ordered a tactical retreat. A tactical retreat is an organized pullback of troops in order to gain an advantage. Houston instructed Fannin to destroy Presidio La Bahía at Goliad and join him. Houston destroyed the town of Gonzales so it would be of no use to Santa Anna. Houston and his men marched northeast, gathering volunteers as they traveled. Fannin sent word that he would not help Houston.

18. The Goliad Massacre Texans Francis Johnson, James Grant, and Colonel James Fannin were defeated at San Patricio, Refugio, and Coleto Creek by Mexican General Urrea. Under the terms of surrender, the Texans were to be expelled from Texas. Instead, Mexican soldiers opened fire on the prisoners. They massacred more than 300 men. The “Angel of Goliad,” Francita Alavez, helped many men escape and hide. Texans considered this massacre an atrocity, a cruel and brutal act. People in the United States were furious at the cruelty. Many of them pledged their support for the Texas Revolution.

19. The Runaway Scrape News of Houston’s retreat and the Goliad Massacre turned Texans’ fear of Santa Anna into panic. They fled the approach of his army. This mass movement of people was known as the “Runaway Scrape.”

20. Houston’s Retreat Santa Anna’s army reached the Brazos river on April 7, 1836. Four days later, Sam Houston’s army received a gift of two six pounder cannons “The Twin Sisters” from the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. He now had artillery pieces again after having to abandon his during the retreat. During Houston’s march, he trained his men and made ammunition. Houston would turn south toward Harrisburg on the 17 th.

21. Battle of San Jacinto On April 18, Deaf Smith reported seeing the Mexican Army moving toward the San Jacinto River. He also reported that they crossed a bridge into Vince’s Bayou and would have to cross the same bridge to leave. On April 19, Sam Houston set up his forces’ camp in an oak grove near Buffalo Bayou. This position would shield his army from the view of the Mexican forces. A small skirmish between Texas cavalry and Mexican forces took place on April 20 th.

22. San Jacinto General Cos arrived to reinforce Santa Anna’s army with 540 more soldiers on the morning of the 21 st. However, his men were all very tired and hungry from the long march. Santa Anna did not believe that there would be a battle until the next day. As a result, he and many of his officers were taking a siesta and sleeping in the hot, humid afternoon. Houston ordered Deaf Smith to burn the bridge that the Mexican and Texan forces used to enter the area to prevent any other Mexican reinforcements from showing up or Mexican forces from retreating.

23. San Jacinto At 3:30 in the afternoon, Sam Houston formed his troops for battle. A group of Kentucky volunteers were on the far left of the rest of Houston’s infantry. The cannons were placed in the middle of the Texas forces. The cavalry, led by Mirabeau Lamar, was on the far right and it was there job to prevent any Mexican forces from escaping. Santa Anna’s army did not notice the attack because he did not put any sentries (guards) out, thinking the battle would not start until the next day. The Texans attacked yelling “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!” They attacked and overwhelmed the Mexicans who were not ready for the battle. In total, it lasted 18 minutes with very few Texas casualties. The Mexican forces suffered 630 killed in action and over 700 captured as prisoners.

24. Treaty of Velasco After the battle, Santa Anna was captured wearing the uniform of a regular soldier. He agreed to surrender and turn himself in as a prisoner of war. At the city of Velasco, Santa Anna agreed to two treaties with Texas. The first was made public and stated that he would never fight Texas again and would pull his forces out. The second, which was kept private, was an agreement that said that he would convince the rest of the Mexican government to recognize Texas as an independent country.