Texas Almanac, 1968-1969 Page: 58
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58 TEXAS ALMANAC-1968-1969
attempt of some colonists to perfect their
land titles. Several colonists, including Wil-
liam Barret Travis, were arrested by Brad-
burn, and a small force of Texans attacked
Bradburn, July 13, 1832. After a short skir-
mish he promised to release the prisoners.
He did not do so, but the Texans decided
to await reinforcements. In the meantime in
their camp on Turtle Bayou they adopted the
Turtle Bayou Resolutions declaring that they
were not in revolt against Mexico but fight-
ing for Gen. Lopez de Santa Anna who was
then leading a revolution against President
Bustamente. Santa Anna then was posing as
a liberal in opposition to the dictatorial meth-
ods of Bustamente. Before the attack could
be resumed. Colonel Piedras arrived from
Nacogdoches and released the prisoners.
Battle of Velasco
Only a few shots were fired at Anahuac
but it was the first actual engagement in the
growing Texan-Mexican controversy. A de-
tachment bringing two cannons from
Brazoria to Anahuac via the Brazos was re-
fused passage by the Mexican commander at
Velasco. In the brief Battle of Velasco, June
26, the Texans captured Col. Domingo de
Ugartechea and his command.
San Felipe Convention
A convention was held at San Felipe de
Austin Oct. 1, 1832. Stephen F. Austin was
elected chairman and a memorial addressed
to both federal and state governments was
adopted, asking repeal of the Law of 1830,
urging settlement of certain land titles in
East Texas, seeking the right to use the Eng-
lish language in public business, the priv-
ilege of organizing a militia, separation of
Texas from the State of Coahuila and cer-
tain other things.
Austin Imprisoned
When Santa Anna became president in
1833 the Second Convention at San Felipe
was called, meeting April 1. This convention
adopted resolutions similar to those of the
first assembly and, in addition, drew up a
proposed State Constitution which was draft-
ed by a committee headed by Sam Houston.
Stephen F. Austin headed a commission
elected to carry the new Constitution and
petition for reforms to Mexico City for ap-
proval.
After several months of waiting in Mexico
City, Austin received some promises from
President Santa Anna and started home.
However, he was arrested and imprisoned
when a letter he had previously written fell
into Mexican hands. Impatient over his long
stay in Mexico City, he had advised Texans
to go ahead with organization of a state sep-
arate from Coahuila.
Early in 1835, Santa Anna sent a company
of soldiers to Anahuac to assist in'the collec-
tion of duties. A force of colonists under Wi l-
liam Barret Travis marched on the town
and forced the Mexicans to surrender and
leave for San Antonio. As a result, Gen. Mar-
tin Prefect de Cos, brother-in-law of Santa
Anna and commander of northern Mexico,
ordered the arrest of Travis and others. It
was at this juncture that Austin returned
from Mexico and announced that he had be-
come convinced that war was Texas' only
recourse.
A military force was established over
Texas-Coahuila by President Santa Anna, un-
der command of Col. Domingo de Ugartechea
at San Antonio.Gonzales, First Battle
Ugartechea sent a company to Gonzales
to take possession of a cannon, but the Mexi-
cans were attacked by the Texans and de-
feated, Oct. 2, 1835. The news of this battle
spread and volunteers poured into Gonzales.
exans used the famous flag bearing the
words, "Come and Take It," referring to the
cannon which the Mexicans had demanded.
Although there had been prior skirmishes,
the Battle of Gonzales is usually considered
the first battle of the Texas Revolution.
It was decided to march from Gonzales
against San Antonio. Stephen F. Austin was
elected commander-in-chief. A detachment of
Austin's army had a light engagement with
Mexican cavalry at Mission Concepcion, Oct.
28. On Nov. 26 the so-called "grass fight"
occurred south of San Antonio. This skirmish
was occasioned by the rumor that an ap-
proaching burro train carried silver for the
pay of the Mexican garrison at San Antonio,
but when captured the burros' burden proved
to be hay destined for consumption by
Ugartechea's cavalry horses. A gathering
force of Texans besieged San Antonio.
Provisional Government Formed
A provisional Texas government was
formed by a gathering at San Felipe be-
ginning Nov. 3, 1835. They did not declare
Texas independent of Mexico, but declared
for the Constitution of 1824, which Santa
Anna had set aside.
Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer and
William H. Wharton were chosen to go to
Washington tp ask aid of the United States.
This Widfw Austin from command of the
army which was besieging San Antonio. Gen.
Edward Burleson was placed in command
there by an election. Henry Smith was elect-
ed provisional governor of Texas and a coun-
cil was organized. While Burleson had been
chosen to lead the army at San Antonio,
Gen. Sam Houston was named by the gather-
ing at San Felipe as commander-in-chief to
succeed Austin.
Capture of San Antonio
At San Antonio the siege dragged and
preparations were being made to abandon
it. Col. Ben Milam asked for volunteers to
attack the fort, organized about 300 men
and, after fighting from Dec. 5 to Dec. 9,
1835, forced General Cos, who had arrived
from Mexico and taken command, to sur-
render. Agreement was that he was to re-
turn with his entire force to Mexico. Milam
was one of the two Texans killed.
Battle of the Alamo
The defeat of Cos alarmed President
Santa Anna, absolute dictator of Mexico. In
command of the Mexican Army, he marched
north, arriving at San Antonio, Feb. 23, 1836.
The Texas forces had dwindled to about 157
men under command of Col. William Barret
Travis.
Travis appealed for aid, but the provision-
al government was at odds with itself, the
council being arrayed against the governor.
Little provision had been made for meeting
the oncoming enemy.
About 30 men from Gonzales under the
command of Capt. Albert Martin broke
through Santa Anna's lines March 1, raising
the force at the Alamo to approximately 187.
This little band held the Alamo against over-
whelming odds for five more days in one
of the most heroic struggles to be found in
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Texas Almanac, 1968-1969, book, 1967; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113809/m1/60/?q=%221964~%22: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas State Historical Association.