Battle for Independence

1. Battle for Independence

2. Battle of Gonzales Date: October 2, 1835 Cause: Mexican army tries to take back the cannon from the town of Gonzales. Texans refused to give it back.

3. Texan Leader: Col. John H Moore Mexican Leader: Lt. Francisco Castaneda

4. Outcome: Mexicans withdraw. Texans WIN the battle!! Significance: Texas Revolution Begins

5. Mexican officers order settlers at Gonzales to hand over a brass cannon, U.S. settlers refuse • Settlers burry the cannon and send for reinforcements • Settlers also remove ferry to prevent Mexican soldiers from taking the cannon • Settlers force grows to at least 140 men who attack Mexican soldiers (approx. 100) • Rebel settlers dug up canon and mount it on a wagon • Settlers make a flag that says COME AND TAKE IT • Settlers attack, fight was brief • Mexican soldiers withdrew to San Antonio • No turning back, a war had begun

9. Capture of Goliad Date: October 9, 1835 Cause: Texans wanted to capture guns and ammunition at Goliad.

10. Texan Leader: George Collinsworth Mexican Leader: None

11. Outcome: Mexicans surrender! Texans WIN AGAIN!! Significance: Texas Army gains confidence, guns and ammunition were captured, and the supply route from San Antonio to Mexico was cut off.

12. Settlers living near Matagorda and Victoria for a volunteer army • They attack the Mexican garrison at Goliad – brief fight • Garrison is outnumbered and surrounded • The Garrison is surrendered • Victory causes more volunteers to join rebel army • Capturing Goliad cuts off the Mexican army’s supply route

13. Mission at La Bahia (Goliad)

15. Grass Fight Date: November 26, 1835 Cause: Texans wanted to capture Mexican army payroll. Thought bags of silver were on the horses.

16. Texan Leader: Edward Burleson Mexican Leader: Unknown

17. Outcome: Mexican saddlebags that were captured contained grass for feed of horses. Significance: Texas Army was disapointed, but gained more confidence.

18. A siege (a military action where an enemy’s routes for supplies and reinforcements are cut off) • Erastus “Deaf” Smith is a scout that reports more then 100 Mexican soldiers with pack animals are headed to San Antonio • Rumor spreads that the Mexican soldiers are carrying silver to pay the troops • The Texas cavalry and infantry ambush Mexicans capturing horses, mules and cargo. Hoping to find silver the troops open the bags and find grass feed for animals (Grass Fight) • * Mexican forces needed feed for starving animals

19. Deaf Smith

20. The Alamo Date: February 23, 1836- March 6, 1836 Cause: Santa Anna and the Mexican Army want to recapture San Antonio and Santa Anna wants revenge for the defeat of General Cos.

21. Texan Leader: William B. Travis Mexican Leader: General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

22. Outcome: Alamo falls and all Texan soldiers are killed in battle. Significance: Makes Texans more determined to defeat Santa Anna.

23. Santa Anna’s army approaches the Alamo • Defenders, their families and local resident get inside the walls of the mission • Expecting a siege, defenders gather food, ammunition and supplies • General Santa Anna demands surrender Feb. 24th • Texas rebels respond by firing a cannon • Santa Anna orders a blood-red flag to be flown meaning he would leave no survivors • Fighting begins • Rebels request help, but get very little • Mexican army takes The Alamo on March 6th, almost every defender was killed • Santa Anna believes this will convince Texans to surrender • Instead, Alamo becomes a symbol for many Texans to fight at any cost