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Texas Declares Independence. While the Texians fought at the Alamo… Delegates met on March 1, 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos They voted unanimously to declare Independence on March 2 nd , 1836. They based it heavily on the U.S. Declaration. Replica of building at Washington-on-the-Brazos.
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Texas Declares Independence While the Texians fought at the Alamo… Delegates met on March 1, 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos They voted unanimously to declare Independence on March 2nd, 1836. They based it heavily on the U.S. Declaration. Replica of building at Washington-on-the-Brazos
Texas Declaration of Independence The document: Listed complaints against Santa Anna and Mexico Stated Texans were denied rights contained in Constitution of 1824 Declared Texas an independent country “The Republic of Texas” The Author of the Texas Declaration was George C. Childress
James Walker Fannin was in charge of around 400 Volunteer Texian soldiers at Goliad on the Texas coast. Like the Alamo the Texians converted a former Spanish mission named La Bahia into a fort they called Fort Defiance. James Walker Fannin
Fannin was supposed to march his Texian soldiers to the Alamo to help out the defenders there but do to problems and poor leadership was never able to leave Goliad. • On March 2nd the Texians learned that the other half of the Mexican Army led by General Urrea was heading their way. • After fighting with the Mexicans near Refugio on the Texas coast, General Sam Houston ordered James Fannin to retreat east away from the Mexicans. • Houston didn’t want to Fannin and his men surrounded like the defenders of the Alamo had been. General Urrea. One of the best soldiers Mexico had
Fannin took his time leaving Goliad and by the time he did leave on March 19th, 8 days after being told to do so, the Mexican cavalry was already near by with the rest of the Mexican army closing in. • Fannin also ignored Houston’s orders to leave or get rid of his cannons and brought them with him which slowed the army tremendously.
Battle of Coleto • The Texians led by Fannin reached a creek called Coleto before the Mexican cavalry had closed in on them and cut off his road east. • To defend themselves Fannin formed his Texians up in a giant square and prepared for a fight. • The battle of Coleto lasted until after sunset on March 19. The Texans fought off the Mexicans using their bayonets, muskets, and nine cannons and their square remained unbroken. The Texians lost seven men and sixty wounded (forty severely), Fannin among them.
Surrender of the Texians • When the sun rose, after a terrible night on the battlefield the Texians were still surrounded. After a few cannon shots into the Texians lines, Fanninwas forced to surrender. • The Mexican army marched the Texians back to Goliad were they were held as prisoners.
The Texians were held for a week. To URREA. 26 Mar 1836. From the Commandant at Goliad to General Urrea. In compliance with the definitive orders of his Excellency the general-in-chief, which I received direct, at four o'clock tomorrow morning the prisoners sent by you to this fortress will be shot.
The Goliad Massacre • On March 27th the Texians were marched out of Goliad in three large groups and shot. At selected spots on each of the three roads…the three groups were halted. The guard on the right of the column of prisoners then countermarched and formed with the guard on the left. At a prearranged moment, or upon a given signal, the guards fired upon the prisoners at a range too close to miss. Nearly all were killed at the first fire. Those not killed were pursued and slaughtered by gunfire or bayonet. Fannin and some forty (another estimated eighty or ninety) wounded Texians unable to march were put to death within the presidio …
342 of the Texians were executed at Goliad on March 27, 1836. Only twenty-eight escaped the firing squads, and twenty more were spared by Francisca Alavez, the wife of a Mexican army officer who thought the executions were wrong. She convinced her husband to spare the Texians and became known as the “Angel of Goliad.”
Monument to the Texians killed at Goliad Is the Texas Revolution going well for the Texians?
Sam Houston takes control • After the disasters at the Alamo and Goliad, Sam Houston took control of the Texas Army. • He ordered Gonzales burned and the people and his troops to evacuate to the east away from the Mexican army. • By running east he would gain valuable time to raise a proper army. Sam Houston Commander of the Texian Army
The Runaway Scrape • After the fall of the Alamo and Goliad, Santa Anna and Urrea began moving east into the Texian colonies. • The settlers panicked. They gathered a few personal possessions, abandoned their homes, and headed east under the most difficult conditions. This period of time is known as the Runaway Scrape. • Rain and cold weather during the period slowed the settler's eastward progress along the muddy roads and trails. If the Texians crossed the Sabine they would be safe in the United States
Texas settler Frances Sutherland to her sister in Tennessee.: We thought prudent to stay at home and did so until the General thought proper to retreat. We, being on the frontier, were compelled to go. We went to the Colorado , 40 miles, but after some time, the general thought proper to retreat farther and of course we had to go, too. We proceeded to the Brazos River . There stopped a few days, but dread and fear caused another start; there Mr. Sutherland quit us and joined the army…with a good many more of our citizens, however, we went on for several miles and again stopped, hoping we would not have to go farther, but someone over there that week brought in the early news the Mexican army was crossing the Brazos not more than 40 miles behind us. Again we started and traveled two days then heard the army was 20 miles behind. (I wish you could know how the people did as they kept going about trying to get somewhere, but no person knew where they were trying to get to.) Several weeks passed on without any certain account from the army. All this time you could hardly guess my feelings. My poor William gone in the army, me with my three little daughters and my poor Thomas wandering about, not knowing what to do or where to go. You will guess my feelings were dreadful, but ever the Lord supported me, and was on our side…
As Houston went east his army grew. More and more volunteers from the Texians settlers and U.S. joined him. • As his army fled they also burned crops and cities so the Mexican army couldn’t use them. • As they fled more and more people wanted him to fight. But Houston wanted to wait for the perfect opportunity.
Battle of San Jacinto • That perfect opportunity would come in late April of 1836. Santa Anna split from his main army (which was slowing him down) so he could catch up with the Texians. • Santa Anna encountered Houston’s near modern day Houston, Texas near the San Jacinto River and the Buffalo Bayou.
The next day, April 20th, Houston camped his men in the woods nearby and decided the time was right to fight: This morning we are in preparation to meet Santa Anna. It is the only chance of saving Texas. From time to time I have looked for reinforcements in vain. We will only have about 700 to march with. We go to conquer. It is wisdom growing out of necessity to meet and fight the enemy now. The troops are in fine spirits, and now is the time for action. We will use our best efforts to fight the enemy to such advantage, as will ensure victory, tho’ the odds is greatly against us. I leave the result in the hands of a wise God and rely upon his Providence. My country will do justice to those who serve her. The rights for which we fight will be secured, and Texas Free. Sam Houston Commander in Chief
Santa Anna’s Mexican forces were reinforced by Mexican General Cos the night of April 20th to about 1,400. Sam Houston only had around 700 Texian soldiers.
On the morning of the 21st Houston and the Texians did not come out of the woods and attack which led Santa Anna to believe that the Texians were scared and would not attack that day. • Cos’soldiers were tired after marching all night so he decided to let his soldiers rest. Santa Anna planned to attack the Texians the next day
The Texians shouted “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad”
The Mexican troops were caught totally off guard. • The Texians overran the Mexican lines and the battle lasted about 18 minutes.
The battle quickly became a slaughter. • Most of the Mexican soldiers ran within the first few minutes of the battle and were hunted down by the Texians • Around 600 or more Mexicans were killed and 700 captured. • 9 Texians lost their lives. • Texas won its independence at San Jacinto! It was the decisive battle of the war! Decisive: The deciding factor producing a result
Account of San Jacinto by Moses Bryan (Nephew of Stephen F. Austin) The most awful slaughter I ever saw was when the Texans pursued the retreating Mexicans, killing on all sides, even the wounded… I came upon a young Mexican drummer boy lying on his face. One of the volunteers pricked him with his bayonet. The boy (whose legs were broken) grasped the man around his legs and called in Spanish, “Hail Mary most pure, for God’s sake, save my life!” I begged with the man to spare him. The man looked at me and put his hand on his pistol, so I passed on. Just as I did, he blew out the boy’s brains.
Santa Anna Captured! • Santa Anna slipped away during the battle but was spotted among the captured soldiers in a regular uniform when his soldiers started saluting him. • He was brought before Houston where most soldiers wanted him hung or shot. • Houston spared his life knowing he was more useful alive. Santa Anna could give Texas Independence as President of Mexico. Santa Anna was forced to sign the treaties of Velasco. He ordered all Mexican soldiers to leave Texas and the treaty said that Texas was an independent nation, the Republic of Texas.
JUST THE FACTS Who fought? Republic of Texas vs The Republic of Mexico Strength of forces Mexican Army: 1400 Texan Army: Around 700 Leadership Texas: Sam Houston Mexico: Santa Anna Outcome Texas Victory. Deciding battle of the Texas Revolution Loses Texas: 9 Mexico: 600 killed and the remaining captured