Jack, William H.He was a member of the Committee of Safety from Brazoria. During the revolution, Jack participated in the Grass Fight and the battle of San Jacinto. From April 2 to October 22, 1836, he was Secretary of State under President Burnet.
Jameson, Green B.Jameson served under Bowie as aide and chief engineer. At the Alamo he was responsible for strengthening the defenses and remounting the cannon. He was killed in the fall of the Alamo, March 6.
Johnson, Francis WhiteAt the beginning of the Revolution Johnson was appointed adjutant and Inspector General under Stephen F. Austin and Edward Burleson. He led one of the divisions into San Antonio during the siege of Bexar and was in command at the taking of the Alamo in December. In January, he ordered an expedition to Matamoros, in spite of opposition from Governor Smith and General Houston. OnFebruary 27, Johnson with a detachment of fifty men was surprised by Urrea at San Patricio. All but Johnson and four men were killed.
Karnes, Henry WaxKarnes fought in the battle of Concepcion and in the siege of Bexar. He organized a company of cavalry at Gonzales on March 20, 1836. Before the battle of San Jacinto, Karnes was sent on a spy mission with Erastus (Deaf) Smith to report on Mexican troop movements around Harrisburg. He and Juan N. Seguin followed the Mexican army’s retreat to protect Texan property.
Kimbro, WilliamKimbro raised a company of volunteers for the army in September 1835. This company fought under his command in the battle of San Jacinto.
King, Amon ButlerKings came to Texas in 1835 with the Paducah Volunteers, formed from Peyton S. Wyatt’s Huntsville Company. After reporting toSam Houston, he was sent to Refugio in January. In March, King and his company were ordered to Goliad. They returned to Refugio on March 10 to bring stranded families and supplies back to Goliad. The group was attacked byrancheros, but King succeeded in getting the families to Refugio mission on March 12. Surrounded by therancheros, King sent to James W. Fannin for relief. William Ward’s company was able to break up the siege on March 13. King, however, refused to return to Goliad with Ward, insisting instead on attacking therancheros. Ward remained at Refugio to await King. On March 14, King’s return to Refugio was blocked by Urrea’s company. After a day-long battle, King’s men attempted to make their way back to Goliad, but soaked their guns and powder in the river as they undertook a crossing. They were captured on March 15 by Captain Carlos de la Garza and returned to the mission, along with stragglers from Ward’s company. They were taken out to be shot, but German officers in the Mexican army heard some of the prisoners speaking German. The group of 33 were returned to Refugio, where the Germans and some others of the prisoners were released. King and the remaining prisoners were marched out on March 16 and shot. Their bodies were left unburied on the plain.
La BahiaThe settlement which grew up around the presidio of La Bahia also took the name “La Bahia.” On February 4, 1829, the Congress of Coahuila y Texas declared it a town and changed the name to Goliad. In correspondence and reports during the Texas revolution, the terms “La Bahia” and “Goliad” are used more or less interchangeably.
Lamar, Mirabeau BuonaparteLamar joined the Texas army as it retreated eastward after the fall of the Alamo. At San Jacinto, on April 20, Lamar’s quick action saved the lives of Thomas J. Rusk and Walter P. Lane when they were surrounded by the enemy. He was commissioned a colonel on the following day and assigned the command of the cavalry in the battle of San Jacinto.
LibertyFormerly theWilliam Robbins, theLibertywas purchased from McKinney and Williams. Its name was changed in January, 1836, when it began a cruise to seek out Mexican vessels ofwar. On March 3, it captured thePelicanoat Sisal, Yucatan.
LipantitlanMexican fort on the Nueces captured by the Texans under the command of Ira Westover on November 4, 1835.
Lockhart, ByrdLockhart commanded a company at the siege of Bexar. In March he was sent from the Alamo to get supplies and reinforcements. As a result, he survived the fall of the Alamo and later joined a spy company in the Texas Army.
Martin, WylieMartin was the political chief of Gonzales in 1835. Although he thought the Declaration of Independence premature, he raised a company and joined Houston at Columbus. He was sent to guard river crossings on the Brazos, but his force was unable to prevent the Mexican army’s crossing at Richmond. Martin returned to headquarters, surrendered his command, and went to aid families caught up in the Runaway Scrape.
MatagordaCaptured by Urrea on April 13, the town had been deserted, although some of its inhabitants could be seen on Culebra Island, south of Matagorda. Urrea took the supplies housed there and ordered the pier fortified.
Matamoros ExpeditionFirst proposed by the Consultation on November 13, 1835, the Matamoros Expedition was a disrupting factor throughout the Revolution. James Bowie was ordered to lead an expedition on December 17; later, the General Council ordered Houston to undertake the mission. Houston declined the command; Bowie never received his orders. In January 1836, the General Council ordered both James W. Fannin and F. W. Johnson to command a Matamoros Expedition. Johnson, with James Grant, took troops to Goliad and Refugio. However, at Refugio, Sam Houston’s protests against the legality of the Expedition caused considerable desertion. The remaining men were attacked by Urrea’s army at San Patricio and at Agua Dulce. Fannin, meanwhile, marched to Goliad where he remained until March 19. He and his men were attacked at Coleto and defeated on March 20.
McKinney, Williams and CompanyThomas F. McKinney and Samuel May Williams provided much-needed supplies and moneyduring the revolution. The Texas government purchased theWilliam Robbins(which was renamed theLiberty) and theInvinciblefrom the firm. From the United States, Williams supplied arms and ammunition. The company provided some $99,000 worth of goods and services to Texas during the war. The government also authorized McKinney, Williams and Company to raise up to $100,000 on Texas lands for the war effort. Although Williams preferred fighting to support the Mexican Constitution of 1824, he came to accept the war for Texas independence. McKinney, on the other hand, continued to work for Texas but remained opposed to Texas independence for years after the war had ended.
Mexia, Jose AntonioIn November 1835, Mexia sailed from New Orleans for Tampico with a group of 150 men. Their attempt to capture the city failed, and, after remaining in the fort at Tampico for twelve days, he and most of his men retreated. They returned to Texas in December. He attempted to raise a Matamoros Expedition, but opposition by Governor Henry Smith and lack of funds prevented the project from materializing. Mexia declined orders to proceed with his troops to San Antonio, declaring that his services would be better used in recruiting. He returned to New Orleans where he spent the remainder of the war.
Milam, Benjamin RushMilam assisted in the capture of Goliad and was in charge of the officer prisoners sent to General Austin at Gonzales. Austin put Milam in charge of a scouting party to determine conditions at and best means of attack on San Antonio. When the main army arrived at San Antonio, Milam, James Bowie, and William B. Travis were sent on a scouting mission to the Rio Grande. Returning to San Antonio, Milam found the army about to fall back without making an attack on the city. He convinced some 300 volunteers to “follow old Ben Milam.” They began their attack on December 5. Milam’s command occupied the Veramendi house. One December 7, while crossing the courtyard, Milam was shot by a sniper.
Miller, Thomas R.One of eighteen men who delayed the Mexican troops sent to seize the cannon at Gonzales, Miller also represented Gonzales at the Consultation. He was a member of the Gonzales Volunteers who arrived at the Alamo on March 1. He was killed in the massacre on March 6.
Miller, Washington ParsonsMiller enlisted in the Texas Army in September 1835 and was appointed a major in the Regular Army on December 20. Miller and a body ofvolunteers from the United States were captured on March 2, 1836, when they landed at Copano Bay. They were marched to Goliad, but they were not among those massacred on March 27, since none of them had yet taken up arms against Mexico. He and his men were imprisoned at Matamoros.
Morton’s FerryNear the present site of Fort Bend or Richmond, the ferry was an important crossing on the Colorado River.
Navarro, Jose AntonioA delegate from Bexar to the Convention of 1836, Navarro was one of three native-born signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. He also served on the select committee to draft the Constitution of 1836.
Neill, James ClintonNeill joined the Texas army in September 1835. He was appointed a lieutenant colonel by the General Council on December 7. He commmanded an artillery company at the siege of Bexar.On December 21, Sam Houston ordered Neill to take charge of San Antonio and the Bexar district. He remained there until granted a furlough on February 14, when he left the Alamo because of illness in his family. Neill participated in the skirmish at San Jacinto on April 20 and was wounded in that engagement.
Old MillThe Old Mill was situated on the San Antonio River, about one-half mile north of San Antonio’s main plaza. It was headquarters for Stephen F. Austin’s army after the battle of Concepcion.
Organic LawThe Plan and Powers of the Provisional Government, a document hastily drawn up by the Consultation. Although the Organic Law set up a provisional government, there was no coherent separation of executive and legislative powers. The powers of the commander-in-chief extended over only the (as yet nonexistent) regular army. Volunteer soldiers already in the field refused to serve under the Organic Law’s provisions.
Padilla, Juan AntonioPadilla joined the Texas Army on October 22, 1835. He later served on the General Council.
PelicanoMexican vessel captured by the Texas navy shipLibertyoutside Sisal, Yucatan, on March 3, 1836.
Permanent CouncilThe Permanent Council served as the governing body of Texas from October 11, 1835, to early November, when the Consultation achieved a quorum. It was made up of the Committee of Safety of San Felipe and representatives from the other Texas communities.
PocketAn American brig bound from New Orleans to Matamoros, thePocketwas captured by theInvincible. Taken to Galveston, the ship’s cargo was appropriated by the Texas authorities. A Texas court later condemned thePocketas a lawful prize on the grounds that it was sailing under false papers and was carrying supplies and messages for SantaAnna. To calm U. S. indignation over the brig’s capture, William Bryan, and Toby and Brothers Company paid $35,000 for the ship and $8,000 in damages.
Portilla, Jose Nicolas de laLieutenant colonel under Urrea, Portilla was put in charge of James W. Fannin and his men after the defeat at Coleto. On March 26, Portilla received orders from Santa Anna to execute all prisoners; he received orders from Urrea to treat the men as prisoners of war and to set them to rebuilding Goliad. Deciding that Santa Anna’s orders took precedence, Portilla, on March 27, took the prisoners out of Goliad in three columns and had them shot.
Potter, RobertPotter joined the Nacogdoches volunteers commanded by Thomas J. Rusk. Until November 21, 1835, he worked with Dr. Grant to arm and equip the siege of Bexar. On November 30, he was commissioned in the Texas Navy. Potter represented Nacogdoches in the Convention of 1836, and he was appointed interim secretary of the Navy. Burnet appointed him commander of the port of Galveston on April 20, 1836.
Provisional GovernmentSet up by the Consultation, the Provisional Government served fromNovember 15, 1835, to March 1, 1836. The body consisted of the governor, lieutenant governor, and General Council. From the beginning, the governor and the Council were at odds over their respective powers. By January 10, the governor had dismissed the Council, and the Council had impeached the governor, replacing him with the lieutenant governor. From January 17 on, the Council was unable to convene a quorum, and Texas remained without a functioning government until the Convention of 1836 met on March 1.
Ramirez y Sesma, JoaquinSesma commanded the brigade sent in advance of the main army under Santa Anna’s command. He joined forces with General Cos at Laredo, then merged with Santa Anna’s forces at the Rio Grande as it marched to Bexar. After the fall of the Alamo, Sesma was ordered to San Felipe, then to proceed to Anahuac by way of Harrisburg. On April 13, Sesma’s army crossed the Brazos at Thompson’s Ferry. He was camped on the east bank of theBrazos, near the Old Fort settlement on April 21.
Refugio, Battle ofWilliam Ward was sent to relieve Amon B. King and his men, surrounded by Urrea’s troops. Ward arrived at Refugio on March 13, but he and King immediately began arguing over the command. King and a body of men left the Mission, spent two days wandering in the vicinity before being captured and executed by the Mexican army. At Refugio mission, meanwhile, Ward was attacked on March 14. He and his men escaped from the mission that night, but they were captured at Victoria, marched to Goliad, and executed on March 27.
Robbins’ FerryIn operation since 1821, the ferry was located at Thomas Ford crossing of the Old San Antonio and La Bahia Roads over the Trinity River. It was named for Nathaniel Robbins.
Regular ArmyUnits, other than militia, authorized by any of the provisional governments, particularly those commanded by commissioned officers were considered part of the regular army. Volunteer units, on the other hand, elected their officers from their own ranks. Throughout much of the war, volunteer forces would refuse to serve under commissioned officers.
Robinson, James W.Robinson was a delegate from Nacogdoches to the Consultation in 1835. That body appointed him lieutenant governor of the General Council. As such, he took Governor Henry Smith’s place when the Council impeached Smith in January 1836. After the General Council resigned their office, Robinson left for the army, serving from March 12. He fought at San Jacinto as a private in William H. Smith’s cavalry company.
Ruiz, Jose FranciscoA native Texan, he was one of four representatives from Bexar to the Convention of 1836 where he signed the Declaration of Independence. As alcalde of San Antonio, he identified the bodies of William B. Travis, James Bowie, and David Crockett after the fall of the Alamo. He stopped the Mexican soldiers who were throwing the bodies into the San Antonio River, and gathered wood and ordered the bodies to be burned.
Runaway ScrapeTexans fled from their homes before the advancing Mexican army. The pace of the refugee traffic increased as news of the fall of the Alamo, Houston’s retreat, and the massacre at Goliad circulated. Washington-on-the-Brazos, Richmond, and settlements on both sides of the Brazos were abandoned. Settlements between theColorado and the Brazos followed, and then Nacogdoches and San Augustine. The panic was increased by reports of Mexican-inspired Indian uprisings. The panic ended only after the news of the battle of San Jacinto became widespread.
Rusk, Thomas JeffersonRusk organized a company of volunteers in the fall of 1835 at Nacogdoches and joined the army at San Antonio. He left before the siege of Bexar, appointed a contractor for the army. He was Inspector General of the army from December 14, 1835, until February 26, 1836. A delegate to the Convention of 1836, he was elected Secretary of War on March 17. He left to join the army on April 1 and remained with the regular forces under Houston’s command, participating in the Battle of San Jacinto.
San AntonioCaptured by the Texan army after active fighting from December 5 to 10, the town was retaken by Santa Anna on February 23. It remainedin Mexican hands until after the battle of San Jacinto.
San FelipeThe Consultation met in San Felipe, November 1835, making San Felipe one of the first capitals of the Republic (until the Convention of 1836 met at Washington-on-the-Brazos). It was burned on March 29, 1836, when retreating Texan soldiers were unable to prevent the Mexican army’s crossing the Brazos.
Jacinto, Battle ofOn April 17 Sam Houston led his army south to Harrisburg, finally abandoning his retreat eastward. On April 19, learning that Santa Anna and his army had crossed Vince’s Bridge to the west bank of the San Jacinto River, Houston and his men crossed Buffalo Bayou. On April 20, the Texans encamped. That afternoon, Sidney Sherman with a small detachment of cavalry fought a brief skirmish with the Mexican infantry in an attempt to capture the Mexican cannon. Santa Anna was joined in his camp, three-quarters of a mile from the Texan army, by a 540-man unit commanded by Martin Perfecto de Cos on the evening of April 20. On Thursday morning, Houston ordered Erastus (Deaf) Smith to destroy Vince’s Bridge secretly so that no further reinforcement could cross nor could either army retreat. The Texansformed their battle line about 3:30 in the afternoon. Surging over the battlefield shouting “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!”, the Texans caught the Mexican army unawares. The battle ended with a decisive victory eighteen minutes after it began. Sam Houston was seriously wounded in the battle. General Santa Anna was captured the next day.
San Patricio, Battle ofFrancis W. Johnson and James Grant used San Patricio as their headquarters during the Goliad Campaign of 1836. There Johnson and his men were attacked by Urrea’s army on February 27, 1836. Only Johnson and three or four men survived.
Santa Anna, Antonio Lopez dePresident Santa Anna was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Mexican Army of Operations in November 1835 by President pro-tem Miguel Barragan. In December he joined Vicente Filisola at San Luis Potosi and began to organize the army for the Texas Campaign. On January 2, 1836, he began his march for Texas, crossing the Rio Grande on February 16. On February 23, his army joined the force commanded by Ramirez y Sesma, and by the afternoon, Santa Anna occupied San Antonio and had begun besieging the Texanarmy in the Alamo. At dawn on March 6, he began the assault of the fortress, which was subdued by 8 a.m. On March 31, he left San Antonio for San Felipe de Austin. A surprise attack on April 7 failed to reduce the town. On April 9 he left San Felipe and began a forced march for the river crossing at Marion, hoping to surprise the Texan army. His army did cross the river at Marion, but failed to capture any Texans. From there, his army was transported to Thompson’s Crossing on a captured flat boat. Santa Anna reached Harrisburg on the night of April 15, only to find it deserted. On the following day, after burning Harrisburg, his army marched on to Lynchburg. Waiting for reinforcements commanded by Cos, aware of the nearness of the Texan army, Santa Anna decided to make camp on the west bank of the San Jacinto River. There, on April 20, the army fought a skirmish with Sidney Sherman’s cavalry detachment, but full battle was not engaged until the following day. Captured by Texan soldiers on April 22, Santa Anna ordered General Filisola to begin a retreat across the Rio Grande. On May 14, he signed the treaties of Velasco and prepared to be returned to Mexico. But on June 1, Texans under the leadership of Thomas J. Green interfered, threatening to capture or to kill the Mexican leader. Finally, at the end of November, President Houston sent him under guard toWashington, D.C., to meet with President Andrew Jackson.
Seguin, Juan NepumocenoSeguin and his recruits joined Austin near San Antonio in October 1835. He participated in the capture of Concepcion Mission, the siege of Bexar, and was on duty in the Alamo in 1836. He escaped death only because he had been sent out of the Alamo as a messenger. Seguin was in charge of the rear guard of the army in its retreat east from Gonzales, and he helped Moseley Baker in his attempt to prevent Santa Anna’s crossing the river at San Felipe. Seguin rejoined Houston’s army and fought in the battle of San Jacinto. He was ordered, along with Henry Karnes, to follow the Mexican Army during its retreat in order to protect the property of Texans.
Sherman, SidneyIn 1835, Sherman raised money to equip a company of Kentucky volunteers. The force arrived in Texas in time to vote in the election for delegates to the Convention of 1836, then proceeded to San Felipe. Sherman was lieutenant colonel in the regiment raised by Houston at Gonzales in March. On April 20, he led a sortie to try to capture the Mexican cannon at San Jacinto. On the following day, he commanded the left wing of the Texan attack. After the battle of San Jacinto,Sherman served as president of the board of officers which distributed the Mexican spoils among the Texas soldiers.
Smith, Benjamin FortSmith commanded a company at the battle of Gonzales, relieved J. M. Collinsworth at Goliad, and later joined Austin in the siege of Bexar. He was a delegate to the Consultation, but he did not attend. However, he put eleven leagues of land at the government’s disposal on November 8, 1835. Smith left for Mississippi to recruit volunteers in late November. Returning to Texas in March, he reentered the army as a private. He was quartermaster and acting adjutant to General Houston during the retreat from Gonzales. At the battle San Jacinto, he served in Henry Karnes’s cavalry company.
Smith, Erastus (Deaf)Neutral at the beginning of the war, Deaf Smith joined the Texans when Mexican officials refused him permission to visit his family in San Antonio. He joined Austin’s volunteer army and became prominent as a scout. He participated in or gave information valuable to Texan forces at the battle of Concepcion and the Grass Fight. He led F. W. Johnson’s troops into San Antonio on December 5, 1835. After Cos’ surrender, Smith moved his family to Columbia then joinedHouston at Gonzales. He was sent to reconnoiter the Alamo and returned with Mrs. Almeron Dickinson. Deaf Smith commanded a company in the reorganized army and was ordered to destroy Vince’s Bridge secretly before he took part in the battle of San Jacinto.
Smith, HenryFrom the beginning of the Revolution, Smith was a supporter of independence from Mexico. He was a delegate to the Consultation, participated in drafting the organic law, and was chosen provisional governor. His opposition to the peace party members of the General Council, as well as his suspicion of all offers of help from Mexican supporters brought Governor Smith into conflict with the rest of the government. On January 10 he dismissed the General Council, claiming it had no further function. The Council impeached Smith, replacing him with Lieutenant Governor James W. Robinson.
Stewart, Charles BellingerStewart was elected secretary of the Permanent Council on October 1, 1835. He later served as secretary to the executive and enrollment clerk by the General Council on November 18. He represented Austin at the Convention of 1836.
Tampico ExpeditionCommanded by Jose Antonio Mexia, 150 volunteers sailed from New Orleans November 6, 1835. Hoping to take the fort and the town of Tampico by surprise, they arrived at Tampico on November 14. Secrecy was impossible, however. The garrison’s commandant had aroused official suspicions, and he was arrested on November 13. And, when the ship attempted to approach the landing at night, it ran aground on the bar, and the men were forced to wade ashore. On November 15, they took up the march to Tampico, arriving there about midnight. Troops commanded by Gregorio Gomez attacked and wounded several of the expedition members. Mexia retreated to the bar and took refuge in the garrison, remaining there for twelve days. On November 26, what remained of the force embarked on theHalcyon. They arrived at the mouth of the Brazos on December 3. Three of the 31 prisoners left behind in Tampico died of their wounds; the rest were tried by court martial and shot on December 14, in spite of vigorous effortsby Texas and the United States to ransom the men.
Thompson’s FerryRiver crossing on the Brazos, three miles above Richmond. Houston’s army crossed at this point on April 14, 1836.
Tolsa, EugenioTolsa commanded the second brigade of Santa Anna’s forces. He was ordered to reinforce General Sesma at the Colorado, and, on March 31, to operate against the Bolivar-Harrisburg-Lynchburg area as far as the San Jacinto River.
Tornel, Jose MariaMexican Minister of War and Marine.
Travis, William BarretTravis organized a company of volunteers in June 1835 which expelled the Mexican garrison at Anahuac. He commanded a scouting company as part of the Volunteer Army before San Antonio. He was appointed a major of artillery in December, but later took a commission as lieutenant colonel of cavalry. Sent out to recruit volunteers, he was ordered to proceed to San Antonio with such troops as he could muster. He arrived there on February 2, 1836. Command fell to him when James Neill left, but by mid-February he was sharing command with James Bowie. After February 24, becauseof Bowie’s illness, Travis held sole command. Refusing to surrender the garrison to Santa Anna, Travis died in the assault on March 6.
Ugartechea, Domingo deMilitary commandant of Coahuila and Texas, he was put in charge of the forces at San Antonio in 1835. He ordered Lt. Francisco Castaneda to attempt to reclaim the cannon at Gonzales, thus setting off the organized resistance of the Texan colonists. He arrived in San Antonio with reinforcements for General Cos on December 9, just in time to take part in the surrender of the city. He retreated with Cos’s army to Laredo.
Urrea, JoseOn January 2, 1836, Santa Anna ordered Urrea to march to Matamoros to prevent the expected invasion by Texans. On February 18, Urrea left Matamoros and forced marched to San Patricio. There he surprised F. W. Johnson and his men at San Patricio on February 27, killing all but a handful.He attacked and defeated James Grant at Agua Dulce on March 2, then began the advance to Goliad on March 12. He attacked the mission at Refugio on March 14, occupying it on the following day. He laid siege to Goliad from March 16 to 20, finally defeating James Fannin at Coleto Creek on March 20. Urrea continued his march, capturing Texans at Victoria and on the Guadalupe River on March 21. On March 22 he captured the 100-man unit led by William Ward. Units under his command captured W. P. Miller and his men when they landed at Copano Bay. Urrea captured Matagordo on April 13, Columbia on the 21, and Brazoria on the 22. He was preparing to invade Velasco when ordered to retreat. Urrea strongly opposed executing the Goliad prisoners. The March 27 Massacre was carried out by Nicolas de la Portilla in obedience to Santa Anna’s orders.
Velasco, Treaties ofTwo treaties, one public, the other secret, were signed by Santa Anna and interim president David G. Burnet on May14, 1836. In the public treaty, Santa Anna agreed to cease all hostilities against Texas, then and in the future. Mexican troops would be withdrawn south of the Rio Grande, confiscated property would be restored to the Texan owners, and prisoners would be exchanged. Texas agreed to return Santa Anna to Mexico as soon as possible, and Texas army units would approach no nearer than five leagues to the retreating Mexican army. In the secret treaty, Santa Anna agreed to secure Mexican recognition of Texas independence and a permanent end to the war. The Mexican cabinet would receive a Texas mission to conclude a treaty of commerce and limits, Texas boundaries to extend no further south than the Rio Grande. Although the Mexican retreat was begun almost immediately, the Texas Army refused to allow Santa Anna’s return to Mexico. On May 20, the Mexican government declared all Santa Anna’s acts as a captive to be null and void.
VictoriaUrrea’s army, marching east after the battle of Coleto Creek, captured Victoria on March 21, a few hours after it had been burned by the Texans.
Viesca, AgustinFormer governor of Coahuila and Texas, Viesca arrived at Goliad on November 11, 1835. His ill treatment by PhillipDimmitt led Viesca to protest to Texan leaders, particularly to Stephen F. Austin. The affair at Goliad threatened to upset all Mexican support for the revolution.
Vince’s BridgeCrossing Vince’s Bayou, the bridge was the only viable crossing at that point on the San Jacinto River. Erastus (Deaf) Smith secretly destroyed the bridge on the morning of April 21, at Houston’s orders, and all retreat for either Texan or Mexican army was cut off.
Ward, Thomas WilliamWard joined the New Orleans Greys in 1835 and was at the siege of Bexar. On the day Milam was killed, Ward’s right leg was shot off by cannon fire. He returned to New Orleans and recruited a company of volunteers.
Ward, WilliamWard helped recruit and defray the travel expenses of the Georgia Battalion of volunteers. On December 20, 1835, he reported toHenry Smith and was elected major of the battalion when it was mustered into Texas service. Ward was elected lieutenant colonel after James W. Fannin reorganized the battalion at Goliad. He was sent to relieve Amon B. King at Refugio on March 13. Encountering the Mexican army commanded by Urrea, Ward joined King in the mission. After battling Urrea on March 14, Ward and his men escaped on March 15. They were overtaken on March 22, as they retreated toward Dimmitt’s Landing. Returned to Goliad, Ward and his men were executed on March 27.
Washington-on-the-BrazosThe General Council of the Provisional Government and the Convention of 1836 met at Washington-on-the-Brazos. By March 20, the town was evacuated as the interim government retreated to Harrisburg.
Westover, IraWestover led a group of men to join the force assaulting Goliad in October 1835. He remained at Goliad and was its first adjutant. He commanded the successful expedition against Lipantitlan in November. Although praised by Austin and the General Council for this action, Westover was relieved of duty by Philip Dimmitt. He became a member of the General Council’s committee on naval affairs. On December 6, Westover wasmade captain of artillery, resigning on December 17. Recommissioned by the Convention of 1836, he recruited a company from Refugio and San Patricio. It was the only regular army unit under James W. Fannin’s command. Westover and his men were killed in the Goliad Massacre, March 27.
Wharton, William HarrisActive in the independence movement, Wharton was one of the leaders of the war party in Texas. He became judge advocate of the army and served at the siege of Bexar. He was appointed a Commissioner to the United States in November 1835, and served in that capacity throughout the war.
William RobbinsPurchased from McKinney, Williams and Company for $3,500 by the Texas government, this schooner was renamed theLibertyin January 1836. Before its purchase, it had been used by William Hurd as a privateer against the Mexicans.
Williamson, Robert McAlpin (Three-Legged Willie)Crippled by illness in his childhood, Williamson nevertheless took active part in the war. He was a delegate from Mina to the Consultation and was commissioned a major by the provisional government on November 19,1835. He was ordered to raise a corps of rangers. At the battle of San Jacinto, he served in William H. Smith’s cavalry company.
Woll, AdrianWoll was Quartermaster General in Santa Anna’s army. General Filisola sent him to the San Jacinto battlefield to find out the results of the engagement on April 21. Woll was captured and held prisoner throughout the peace negotiations.
Wyatt, Peyton S.Wyatt brought the Huntsville Volunteers from Alabama in 1835. The unit was mustered into the Texas army on December 25 and sent to relieve Phillip Dimmitt’s company at Goliad. Because Wyatt had been sent to Alabama on a recruiting mission, he escaped death in the Goliad Massacre.
Yellow StoneThe steamboatYellow Stone, purchased by McKinney and Williams and registered to Toby and Brother Company in New Orleans,transported the Mobile Greys to Texas on December 31, 1835. In February, Captain J. E. Ross took theYellow Stoneup the Brazos to San Felipe. It anchored later at Groce’s Landing, and General Houston commandeered the boat to transport his men across the river. The steamboat continued down the Brazos, narrowly escaping capture by the Mexican army at Fort Bend. It transported a load of supplies and muskets to Galveston on April 25, then picked up the government to take it to the San Jacinto battlefield on May 4.
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Salem NH: Ayer Company Publications, 1976
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Austin: Pemberton Press, 1968
Henson, Margaret S.Juan Davis Bradburn, a Reappraisal of the Mexican Commander of AnahuacCollege Station: Texas A & M University Press, 1982
Henson, Margaret S.
Juan Davis Bradburn, a Reappraisal of the Mexican Commander of Anahuac
College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 1982
Huson, HobartCaptain Phillip Dimmitt’s Commandancy of GoliadAustin: Von Boeckmann-Jones, 1974
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Austin: Von Boeckmann-Jones, 1974
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College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 1978
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History of the Revolution in Texas
Salem NH: Ayer Company Publications, 1973
Pena, Jose Enrique de laWith Santa Anna in TexasTranslated by Carmen PerryCollege Station: Texas A & M University Press, 1975
Pena, Jose Enrique de la
With Santa Anna in Texas
Translated by Carmen Perry
College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 1975
Pruett, Jakie L. and Everett B. ColeThe Goliad Massacre: A Tragedy of the Texas RevolutionBurnet: Eakin Press, 1985
Pruett, Jakie L. and Everett B. Cole
The Goliad Massacre: A Tragedy of the Texas Revolution
Burnet: Eakin Press, 1985
Santos, Richard G.Santa Anna’s Campaign Against Texas, 1835-1836Salisbury NC: Documentary Publications, 1982
Santos, Richard G.
Santa Anna’s Campaign Against Texas, 1835-1836
Salisbury NC: Documentary Publications, 1982
Smithwick, NoahThe Evolution of a State or Recollections of Old Texas DaysAustin: University of Texas Press (Barker Texas History Center Series #5), 1983
Smithwick, Noah
The Evolution of a State or Recollections of Old Texas Days
Austin: University of Texas Press (Barker Texas History Center Series #5), 1983
Texas State Library