The Texas Revolution was a unique conflict. It was a conflict with a long and fascinating lead-up that included only two major victories for the winning side and led to a splintering of a nation. The Texas Revolution began with a single man, Moses Austin, who in 1820 negotiated a deal with the government of New Spain to emigrate from the United States, along with 300 families, to settle in the land of Texas/Tejas. Shortly after the negotiations concluded in 1821, Moses Austin passed. His son, Stephen F. Austin took up the mission of his father. That same year, the government of New Spain, too fell, as the signing of the treaty of Cordoba ended the eleven year fight for Mexican independence; a conflict that began with the uprisings of Miguel Hidalgo ended with Augustin de Iturbide’s short-lived empire.
Iturbide led the last of the Mexican revolts and finally expunged the Spanish empire from the land. Two years after, Iturbide established an empire that only lasted… two years. In that short time, however, Iturbide’s government passed the Imperial Colonization Law of 1823, which sought to invite Catholic immigrants to settle in the new nation. Stephen F. Austin, with his original deal dead with Spain, realized this was his best chance to get into Texas. He reached a deal with Iturbide’s government to settle Texas with three hundred “Catholic” families (they were all protestant). Another provision of the new Mexican government was the abolition of slavery, which, Austin and his families weren’t keen to leave in the States, so they brought them too, and just figured “what the Mexican government doesn’t know won’t hurt them”. In 1824, Iturbide’s centralist government would be abolished, and Mexico would pursue a new structure, one based on federalism, and they would sign that into law through the Constitution of 1824.This posed a problem for Austin and “the old three hundred” because this new government structure voided the original agreement he had under imperial Mexico. Luckily, Mexico’s new government decided to honor the deal with Austin, (the only one approved from that law), and granted lands to Austin and his “old three hundred”.
Everything seemed to be coming together for Austin and his families. The change in governmental structure provided an opportunity for greater autonomy in the states and as such, Texas would operate to increase its influence as much as possible in the coming years. Provided by the government, the states of Texas and Coahuila were both too small in population to be their own states and so were combined, but should Texas increase its population to a sufficient size, it could become its own state. This resulted in the state passing the Colonization Act of 1825 prompting a Texas land rush, mostly from slave owning American immigrants. Consequently, this greatly increased the Anglo-American population in the state and a rift was beginning to appear between the state of Texas and the federal government. The first standoff came in 1826, named the Fredonian Rebellion, in which two brothers Haden and Benjamin Edwards took up their issues with the Mexican government and attempted to gain independence for the “Republic of Fredonia”. The Mexicans were wont to give any hope to a rebellious cause and sent an overwhelming force to quash the rebellion.
Rebellions already in the infant nation? Mexico needed to get an idea of the situation and so sent Manuel de Mier y Teran on a boundary expedition to east Texas. What he found was an abundance of Anglos compared to Mexicans, and they enjoyed operating independently. When Mier y Teran issued his report about the situation in Texas, the Mexican government took immediate measures to prevent any more descents into separation. On April 6, 1830 a new law was passed to limit the influx of Anglo immigrants into the state of Tejas y Coahuila. Despite this being put in place, it did not stop the flow of immigrants, rather, it only slowed them while simultaneously infuriating the immigrants.
Mexico had reasonable apprehensions toward the colonists from America. For years, Americans held the belief that the land of Texas was theirs resulting from the Louisiana Purchase made by Thomas Jefferson in 1803. The government of New Spain, the government preceding the Mexican government, maintained that the claims of the Louisiana purchase ended at the Sabine river which still serves as the border between Louisiana and Texas today. For many years, American filibusters (illegal military expeditions) had made their way into Texas, perhaps the most well-known was the Gutierrez-Magee expedition. This expedition in 1812-13 was a byproduct of independent leanings in Mexico. Jose Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara petitioned the US government in Washington to support anti-royalist movements in Spanish Texas. When they failed, they approached the governor of Louisiana, William C.C. Claiborne. Claiborne would connect Gutierrez with William Shaler who would then enlist Lt. Augustus W. Magee to lead an expedition into the region. A conflict that would include several battles and hundreds of casualties took place over a year with battles in La Bahia (present day Goliad), Nacogdoches, and finally in Medina where the royalists routed the filibusters. Many fled back to Louisiana, but 327 were executed (by shooting).
The rumblings of more instability from Texas brought on much apprehension for those in Mexico City. The Law of April 6, 1830 brought on more resentment in the Anglos which at times erupted into violence in Velasco, Nacogdoches, and the abandonment of Fort Tenoxtitlan in San Antonio by the Mexicans.
In the midst of all the unrest in Texas, turmoil had also made a home in the capital. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna had made his move and removed President Anastacio Bustamante from office in a coup. For the first few years of his administration, Santa Anna chose to maintain the ideals of Federalism and uphold the Constitution of 1824, much to the delight of the Texans and Mexicans.
The Texans were not without their grievances, however, as they all convened to draft two proposals, the conventions of 1832 and 1833, to propose to the government of Mexico all of their issues with the laws being dealt to them. The law of April 6, 1830 was still in effect after the ousting of Bustamante. Stephen F. Austin, who was well versed in the politics and bureaucracy of Mexico took up the task of filtering the petitions through to the top. After a lengthy amount of time working its way through congress, the proposals finally came in front of Santa Anna and his vice president Valentin Gomez Farias. The administration granted many of the requests including allowing trials in Texas by jury, holding the tariffs in abeyance, as well as repealing immigration restrictions, however, the apex issue, Texas statehood, was not granted. Despite making gains in many of Texas’ grievances, the failure in securing statehood greatly bothered Austin. He would dispatch a letter to the municipal government in San Antonio suggesting that Texas declare separation from Coahuila without the approval of the federal government. This letter would find its way back into the hands of Gomez Farias and would result in Austin’s arrest and imprisonment from 1834-1835.
The reforms made by Santa Anna’s government in regard to Texas put the region at ease and by the end of 1834 showed no signs of revolution. In 1835, things would change. First, Santa Anna decided to change his tune on federalist governments and moved to oust the constitution of 1824; replacing it with Siete Leyes, a centralist government, putting all the power in the executive, somewhat reminiscent of the government of New Spain prior to the Mexican Independence. This transition of governmental structure dissolved the state legislatures (replaced by military departments), replaced all federalist politicians with centralist sympathizers in the federal government, and greatly reduced all local militias.
This greatly angered a lot of Mexicans throughout the country. Zacatecas went into full revolt, to which Santa Anna brutally crushed. The Yucatan equally opposed the new regime, and they split from Mexico until 1846. Along with these and a few other states, Texas also greatly resented the new regime. By June 1835, Texas received word that Gen. Martin Perfecto de Cos would be resupplying and reinforcing the standing garrison at San Antonio. William B. Travis and Antonio Tenorio amassed a force of volunteers and took the San Antonio post without a fight. As tension continued to build, Travis and his fellow Texans reassured de Cos of their allegiance to Mexico. Santa Anna appeared to be hellbent on subduing Texas through military occupation, and Martin de Cos shared his president’s aspirations wishing to drive “those ungrateful strangers” out of Texas. When de Cos landed with 500 men at Copano Bay roughly 28 miles northeast of Corpus Christi, the Texans were outraged. Austin’s words perhaps sum it up best, “WAR is our only resource”. At this point, Texas was committed to armed resistance against Santa Anna’s regime.
The first encounter between the two, would be at the small town of Gonzalez. There de Cos and his men would encounter the Texians (the Anglo residents of Texas) near the Guadeloupe River. The Mexican forces were dispatched by Col. Ugartechea to repossess a cannon loaned to the town for defense against Comanche attacks. When Ugartechea sent Francisco de Castaneda with 100 dragoons to retake the cannon. Ugartechea gave Castaneda strict instructions not to engage in open hostilities so as not to ignite the tinderbox between the Texans and the centralist government. When Castaneda met eighteen militiamen on the other side of the river outside the town, he announced to the men that he had a dispatch for the town’s alcalde (similar to mayor) Andrew Ponton. Ponton was out of town, however, and Castaneda was forced to wait for his return. As he camped along the river, the Texians of Gonzalez amassed more forces. With Texians growing to more than 140, Castaneda moved his forces a few miles upriver to make his cross “without any embarrassment”. While Castaneda made his move, so too did the Texians. They crossed the river and came up behind the Mexican dragoons, surprising them in a preemptive attack causing Castaneda and his men to fall back.
After negotiating a parley with the Texian leader, John Henry Moore, Castaneda found that the unprovoked attack was due to the Texians resenting the loss of the Constitution of 1824 and instead fought to uphold the old law of which Castaneda was a sympathizer himself. Castaneda remaining the good soldier that he was, however, understood that he had to follow orders and from there negotiations collapsed and fighting continued. The Texians fighting under the famous banner of “come and take it” with the image of the cannon on it, pushed the dragoons back and won the skirmish, the first shots of the Texas Revolution.
Following the first shots at Gonzalez, the Texians took their momentum and continued pushing forward capturing Goliad and making their way toward de Cos’ stronghold at San Antonio. Stephen Austin, along with James Bowie and James Fannin kept marching against the Mexicans winning at the battles of Concepcion and the Grass Fight, tallying 76 kills while only suffering 3 casualties.
On December 5, the siege of Bexar would take place, and with Benjamin Milam leading the Texians, although perishing in the combat, and Juan Seguin leading the Tejanos (Mexican born Texans), brought about the victory. The surrender of de Cos and the fall of San Antonio pushed the Mexican commander and his forces beyond the Rio Grande and was a major victory for the Texan militia.
Soon after feeling the elation of victory, things for the Texan militia quickly took a turn for the worst. Morale began to dissipate, the army was falling apart, the government in Texas was in shambles, not knowing what they were trying to accomplish: independence or a reinstitution of the constitution of 1824.
Worse yet, the president, el Generalissimo Santa Anna had turned his attention and his military toward Texas. Similar to his suppression of the open opposition in Zacatecas, Santa Anna was going to meet the Texans with force. Amassing an army of nearly 8,000 men by the time, he reached the Rio Grande, Santa Anna was hellbent on teaching the Texans a lesson. By February 23, Santa Anna’s forces had begun their preparations to besiege San Antonio. William Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davey Crockett, stood to defend the Alamo, along with about 185-257 men.
Staring a force of about 1,800 Mexicans in the face, Travis sent a plea out to his fellow countrymen, “the People of Texas and All Americans in the world… I shall never surrender or retreat… VICTORY or DEATH!” He and his fellows were met with death on the battlefield, as all of the defenders perished in the defense of the Alamo. Only a few noncombatants were spared the carnage. Santa Anna’s victory was not without its costs, however, as he lost nearly 600 men in the assault, severely crippling his attacking force for a city that held little strategic value. This decision was made by Santa Anna to make an example of the Texan insurgents, but the bigger and more important fight would have been at La Bahia (modern day Goliad). In that town was the bulk of the insurgents totaling around 400 men and was more strategically important to the Texans.
Following the fall of the Alamo, Santa Anna’s forceful display continued with the Runaway Scrape, and the fall/execution of James Fannin’s garrison at La Bahia (Goliad). The Texans were incensed at this point. Santa Anna’s order to execute Fannin and his 350+ men on March 27,1836 was grossly overstepping especially since his subordinate, Gen. Jose de Urrea, promised the garrison to be treated respectfully as prisoners of war.
Amidst these horrifying events the political congregation chose to vote, both Texians and Tejanos, voted for independence on March 2, 1836. With the loss of Fannin’s garrison both the Texan government and what was left of their small military were in retreat. Santa Anna dispatched his generals throughout east Texas divvying up his army of now 6,000 to smaller garrisons. He would send Gen. Joaquin Ramirez y Sesma after Houston and Gen. Urrea behind to take the right flank and entrap the Texan militia. As Houston continued in retreat, Santa Anna would hear of another opportunity to end the war: the rebel Texas government had left Washington-on-the-Brazos and were headed for Harrisburg.
Here Santa Anna made a critical mistake, he lost sight of the main objective, capturing Sam Houston and his military. Although he came close to capturing the rebel government, the leaders remained out of his grasp and he sent his colonel, Juan Almonte ahead, while he circled back to track down Houston, but he found that Houston was now coming for him.
Taking the offensive and chanting “Remember the Alamo, remember Goliad” to his men, Sam Houston and his around 900 soldiers took on Santa Anna’s 1,300 head on. Santa Anna assuming the smaller Texan force was on the defensive allowed his soldiers to retire and rest in preparation for an offensive the next day. This would be a fatal mistake as Houston and his men charged in and overwhelmed the Mexican force. The battle was lasted a mere 18 minutes but feeling the fires of revenge burn hot in their bellies, the Texans took their vengeance and slaughtered many into the night. In the end, 630 were dead, 730 captured, and 280 were wounded on the Mexican side. Texas lost only 9, yes only 9, and had 34 wounded. Santa Anna would be tracked down and captured the following day. Presumably in a trade for his life, Santa Anna agreed to Houston’s (and by extension Texas’) favorable terms, withdrawing all forces beyond the Rio Grande and recognizing Texas independence.
Signed on May 14, 1836, the treaty of Velasco properly ended the war between Texas and Mexico. Although, the treaty was violated on both sides and Mexico did not fully recognize Texas until they signed the treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ending the Mexican American war and Texas became part of the United States.
Image Credit: The Battle of San Jacinto (painting) by Henry Arthur McArdle
