Texas History - Goliad/San Jacinto
What event(s) caused Houston to decide to retreat from the Colorado to the Brazos River?
1. 2. 3.
Name 3 reasons why Sam Houston ordered a retreat from Gonzales.
1. Alamo had fallen 2. He was hoping to pick up more men on the way 3. His soldiers were untrained so he needed to stop and train them
Give 2 pieces of evidence that suggests that some Mexicans were not in favor of Santa Anna's decision to execute the prisoners
1. General Urrea wanted the prisoners to be released 2. Some of the Mexican soldiers didn't want to kill off the Texans but they knew if they were to defy orders they would be killed as well
Name 3 mistakes Santa Anna made that caused him to lose the Battle of San Jacinto and the war.
1. Horses were not saddled 2. Cannons were not ready 3. Guns were not powdered
How did the Battle of the Alamo aid the victory at San Jacinto?
1. It made the Texans furious 2. Some of the soldiers had family members who fought 3. They were warned about what they were up against
The Secret Treaty?
1. Personal undertaking by Santa Anna not to take up arms, or encourage arms to be taken up, against the people of Texas in this war of independence. 2. Santa Anna to give orders for all Mexican troops to withdraw from Texas as soon as possible. 3. Santa Anna to make arrangements in Mexico City so that a mission of Texans would be well received, all differences settled, and independence recognized. 4. A treaty of commerce, friendship, and limits to be established between Mexico and Texas, where under the territory of Texas would not extend beyond the Rio Grande. 5. Government of Texas to provide for Santa Anna's immediate embarkation for Veracruz. 6. Both copies of the document to be kept folded and sealed until conclusion of the negotiations, when they should both be given to Santa Anna; no use to be made of it before that, unless either party failed to abide by its terms. 7. Was to have had a trade agreement with Mexico.
What was Houston strategy for retreating so far to the east?
1. To stretch Santa Anna's supply line 2. So they could stop and train 3. To get closer to America
What made up the Public Treaty?
1.Personal undertaking by Santa Anna not to take up arms, or encourage arms to be taken up, against the people of Texas in this war of independence. 2.Cessation of hostilities, on sea and land, between Texas and Mexico. 3.Mexican troops to evacuate the territory of Texas, relocating south of the Rio Grande 4.Mexican troops to refrain from taking property without due compensation 5.All property captured by Mexico during the war and negro slaves freed by the Mexican army had to be returned. 6.The two armies to avoid contact, keeping a distance of five leagues 7.The Mexican army to retreat without tarrying. 8.Dispatches to be sent to the commanders of the two armies, informing them of the treaty's content. 9.Mexico to release all Texan prisoners. 10.Santa Anna to be conveyed to Veracruz as soon as deemed proper.
Sam Houston
1st and 3rd President of Texas Republic
How many were killed at Goliad?
342 killed
Why did the Texas government move so often? What cities did they occupy?
Because Santa Anna was behind them burning the towns and killing people in them
Why do historians consider the Battle of San Jacinto one of the most decisive battles in history?
Because the Texians murdered the Mexicans in Peggy lake for almost 2 hours
Mirabeau Lamar
Distinguished himself at San Jacinto for his military skill(rescued secretary of war
Explain what the Runaway Scrape was and what caused it.
Families heard of the disaster at the Alamo and grabbed whatever they could and fled their home town
Infantry
Foot soldiers
What mistakes did Fannin make that caused his surrender at Goliad?
He didn't go the extra mile and camped out in the middle of the field and he buried his artillery and the oxen carrying the 19 pound cannon
What did he rely on to back his decision?
He relied on the Mexican Law that required the execution of those who took up arms against the government
Explain how Santa Anna was captured.
He was waiting near Vince's Bridge and a Texan spotted him and took him as a prisoner
What might have happened had he escaped?
He would have gone and join the other Mexican forces and destroy what was left of the Texan army
Groce's Plantation is near which present day Texas city?
It is near present day Hempstead
Jose Urrea
Jose Urrea led his men toward Goliad defeating two groups of Texan soldiers. Urrea got orders from Sant Anna to kill all his captives at Goliad. He did so leading his men into what's now called the Goliad Massacre.
What was the significance of the Battle of San Jacinto for Texans?
Most of the people fighting at the Battle of San Jacinto had a family member who fought at the Alamo and they got revenge for killing all the Mexicans.
Why did Houston want Juan Seguin and his Tejano's to guard the camp? What did he have them do instead?
Sam Houston wanted Juan Seguin and his Tejano's to stay and defend the camp so they wouldn't be mistaken as Mexican soldiers and shot. He let them join Sherman's infantry and they had to put peices of cardboard in their hats to make them stand out and not look like Mexican soldiers
Francita Alavez
She was known as the "Angel of Goliad" because she saved a lot of men lives.
What did Houston and his officers discuss at his "Council of war"? What did Houston decide?
Shortly before noon, General Houston held a council of war . Two of the officers suggested attacking the enemy in his position, while the others favored awaiting Santa Anna's attack. Houston withheld his own views, but later, after having formed his plan of battle, submitted it to Secretary of War Rusk, who approved it.
What was the significance of Houston's stay at Groce's Plantation?
So the men could eat, sleep and train
Why did Santa Anna order Urrea to execute the Texans?
So they wouldn't go back and join the other Texan forces
Cavalry
Soldiers on horseback
Juan Seguin
Tejano leader at the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto
How many Texans were killed? How many Mexicans? How long did the battle last?
Texans 9 Mexicans 630 Battle lasted 18 minutes
What were the treaties that ensured Texas Independence called?
The Treaties of Valasco
Explain the message David Burnet tried to convey to Houston in his letter.
The message is trying to get Sam Houston to stop fleeing and face the enemy head on.
What did the Texas army receive at Groce's Landing? Where was the gift from?
The received two six-pound cannons called the Twin Sisters from Cincinnati, Ohio
What did the Texans think was going to happen to them while being prisoners of war for Mexico?
They thought they would be set free to go home to their families
Why were the officers and soldiers upset at Houston?
They wanted to stay and fight
Why were there around 400 soldiers gathered around Gonzales when Houston arrived?
They were in a square to defend themselves from the Mexican forces
What happened to them instead?
They were marched out into the middle of the field and executed
Explain the Battle of San Jacinto include....(When did it occur, where did it occur, who won/lost, Details of the battle, Who was involved?
When: April 21, 1836 Where: San Jacinto Who Won: Texans Details of battle: The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican army in a fight that lasted just 18 minutes. About 630 of the Mexican soldiers were killed and 730 captured, while only nine Texans died. Who was involved: Sam Houston, Santa Anna, Juan Segiun, Manuel Fernández Castrillón, Juan Almonte, Martín Perfecto de Cos, Thomas J. Rusk, James C. Neill W, Mirabeau B. Lamar.
Explain the Battle of Coleto. (Who fought, who won/lost, details of the battle, how many from each side fought?
Who fought: José de Urrea andJames Fannin Who won: Mexicans Details of the Battle: On March 19, Fannin led his men on a leisurely retreat from Goliad. Mexican troops surrounded the Texians later in the day, before Fannin could reach the shelter of a grove of timber at Coleto Creek, some 400 yards away. Texans formed a square in the middle of the prairie and attempted to defend their position. Although Mexican troops launched three separate attacks against the square, they could not penetrate the Texian position. As night fell, Mexican sharpshooters were able to wound and kill more Texans. With little water to give to the wounded or to cool their artillery, the Texians felt they were unable to withstand further fighting. On the morning of March 20, the Texians surrendered. Mexican: 300 to 500 men Texan: 300 men
Flank
be located at the sides of something or somebody
James Fannin
commanded 350 Texans, but was completely surrounded by the Mexican Army so he surrendered, assuming he and his men are taken prisoner; instead Mexican army execute all 350 of his men; Battle of Goliad (2 weeks after Alamo) symbol of Mexico's brutality (justifies revolution)
Massacre
kill a large number of people indiscriminately
Erastus "Deaf" Smith
the scout whose report of Mexican soldiers approaching with supplies led to the Grass fight and