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Remember the Alamo!!. Santa Anna Heads to Texas. In December 1835 Texans held another convention to talk about a plan for Texas and its relationship with Mexico.
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Santa Anna Heads to Texas • In December 1835 Texans held another convention to talk about a plan for Texas and its relationship with Mexico. • After the defeat of Mexican General Cos and his army at the Battle of Gonzales, Mexican president Santa Anna decided to head to Texas and defeat the Texans himself. • So in 1836 Santa Anna headed from Mexico City to San Antonio.
Santa Anna Heads to Texas • As Santa Anna moved to Texas with this army of Mexican soldiers, the Texans realized that San Antonio was a very important location to protect in order to stop Santa Anna from moving northward. • So, the Texas set up fort in an old Mission called the Alamo.
William Travis and the Alamo • The Texans in San Antonio picked William Travis to lead the defense of the Alamo. • The problem with the Alamo was that although it was a good spot for the Texas troops because they had food and water and supplies, Travis only had about 200 men to fight with him against Santa Anna’s army of thousands. • However, William Travis was determined to defend the Alamo. Travis wrote many letters asking for help but the amount of help they needed did not arrived in time.
The Alamo • The Mexican army surrounded the Alamo and it became clear that Travis had no chance of victory. • On March 5, 1836 Travis explained to his troops that staying in the Alamo was “certain death.” • According to legend, Travis took his sword and drew a line in the dirt. He told his men, “all those willing to fight and die, cross the line.” All but one man crossed.
The Alamo • On March 5, 1836, Santa Anna’s army of Mexican soldiers stormed the walls of the Alamo. • At the end of the hour long battle there were many casualties of both the Texas and Mexican armies. Outnumbered by the Mexican army, the Texas lost the battle.
Goliad • Meanwhile, another Mexican officer by the name of Jose Urrea was headed to the city of Goliad. • Texas General James Fannin did not think he had enough supplies to fight the Mexican army headed his way so he and his troop of about 300 men withdrew from the city of Goliad.
Battle of Coleto • As the Texans were resting in a nearby field, General Jose Urrea and his men surrounded the Texas soldiers and ordered them to surrender. • The Texans fought back but eventually gave up and surrendered. • General Fannin signed an agreement of surrender with General Urrea and the actual Battle of Coleto was over.
Prisoners at Goliad • Considering Fannin and his men surrendered, General Urrea promised to treat the Texans fairly as prisoners of war. • The Texas soldiers were taken to the presidio at Goliad. • General Urrea wrote to President Santa Anna asking if he can free the men but Santa Anna said, “No they all must be executed.”
Massacre at Goliad • So on March 27 the Mexican soldiers divided the Texan prisoners into 3 groups and marched them out into the a field where the Mexican soldiers shot and killed them. Only a few men escaped.
Cruel Necessity • General Urrea was very sad about killing the Texas prisoners because he had promised to treat them fairly • In his diary he wrote that President Santa Anna ordered him to execute the prisoners because it was a cruel necessity.
