Runaway Scrape

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A map of Mexico, 183546, showing administrative divisions.

The Runaway Scrape was the 1836 evacuation by Texas residents fleeing the Mexican Army of
Operations during the Texas Revolution, from the Battle of the Alamo through the decisive Battle of
San Jacinto. The ad interim government of the new Republic of Texas and much of the civilian
population fled eastward, ahead of the Mexican forces. The conflict arose after Antonio Lpez de
Santa Annaabrogated the 1824 constitution of Mexico and established martial law in Coahuila y
Tejas. The Texians resisted and declared their independence. It was Sam Houston's responsibility,
as the appointed commander-in-chief of the Provisional Army of Texas (before such an army actually
existed), to recruit and train a military force to defend the population against troops led by Santa
Anna.
In what would be an event replayed across Texas, residents on the Gulf Coast and at San Antonio
de Bxar began evacuating in January upon learning of the Mexican army's troop movements into
their area. During early skirmishes some Texian soldiers surrendered believing they would
become prisoners of war, but Santa Anna demanded their executions. The news of the Battle of the
Alamo and theGoliad massacre instilled fear in the population and resulted in the mass exodus of
the civilian population of Gonzales, where the opening battle of the Texian revolution had begun, and
where only days before the fall of the Alamo they had sent a militia to reinforce the defenders at the
mission. The civilian refugees were accompanied by the newly forming provisional army, as Houston
bought time to train soldiers and create a military structure that could go up against Santa Anna's
larger forces. Houston's actions were viewed as cowardice by the ad interim government, as well as
by some of his own troops. As he and the refugees from Gonzales escaped first to the Colorado
River and then to the Brazos, evacuees from other areas trickled in and new militia groups arrived to
join with Houston.
The towns of Gonzales and San Felipe de Austin were burned to keep them out of the hands of the
Mexican army. Santa Anna was intent on executing members of the Republic's ad interim
government, who fled from Washington-on-the-Brazos to Groce's Landing to Harrisburg and New
Washington. The government officials eventually escaped to Galveston Island, and Santa Anna
burned the towns of Harrisburg and New Washington when he failed to find them. Approximately

5,000 terrified residents of New Washington fled from the Mexican army. After a little over a month of
training the troops, Houston reached a crossroads where he ordered some of them to escort the
fleeing refugees farther east while he took the main army southeast to engage the Mexican army.
The subsequent Battle of San Jacinto resulted in the surrender of Santa Anna and the signing of
the Treaties of Velasco.
Contents
[hide]

1Prelude
o

1.1Ad interim government

1.2Battle of Gonzales

1.3Bxar

1.4Battle of the Alamo

2Flight
o

2.1Houston begins forming his army

2.2The burning of Gonzales

2.3Colorado River crossings

2.3.1Burnam's

2.3.2Beason's and DeWees

2.4Brazos River training camp

2.4.1Groce's Landing

2.4.2Yellowstone steamboat
2.5Burning of Harrisburg and the crucial crossroads

3New Washington

4Aftermath

5See also

6Notes
o

6.1Footnotes

6.2Citations

7References

8External links

Prelude[edit]
Ad interim government[edit]

Sam Houston army recruitment proclamation December 12, 1835

In 1834, Mexican president Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna shifted from a Federalist political ideology
to creating a Centralist government and revoked the country's Constitution of 1824.[FN 1] That
constitution had not only established Coahuila y Tejas[FN 2] as a new Mexican state, but had also
provided for each state in Mexico to create its own local-level constitution. [3] After eliminating statelevel governments Santa Anna had in effect created a dictatorship and put Coahuila y Tejas under
the military rule of General Martn Perfecto de Cos.[4] When Santa Anna made Miguel
Barragn temporary president, he also had Barragn install him as head of the Mexican Army of
Operations.[5] Intending to put down all rebellion in Coahuila y Tejas, he began amassing his army on
November 28.[6] General Joaqun Ramrez y Sesma led the Vanguard of the Advance across the Rio
Grande in December.[7]
Stephen F. Austin was commander of the existing unpaid volunteer Texian army, and at his
urging[8] the Consultation of 1835 convened in San Felipe de Austin on November 3. Their creation of
a provisional government based on the 1824 constitution [9] established the General Council as a
legislative body with each municipality allotted one representative. [10] Henry Smith was elected
governor without any clearly defined powers of the position. [11]Sam Houston was in attendance as the
elected representative from Nacogdoches, and also served as commander of the Nacogdoches
militia.[12] The Consultation approved the creation of the Provisional Army of Texas, a paid force of
2,500 troops. Houston was named commander-in-chief of the new army and issued a recruitment
Proclamation on December 12.[FN 3][FN 4] Edward Burleson replaced Austin as commander of the
volunteer army on December 1, but they disbanded on December 20.[15] Harrisburg was designated

the seat of a deeply divided provisional government on December 30.[16] Most of the General Council
wanted to remain part of Mexico, but with the restoration of the 1824 constitution. Governor Smith
supported the opposing faction who advocated for complete independence. Smith dissolved the
General Council on January 10, 1836, but it was unclear if he had the power to do that. He was
impeached on January 11. The power struggle effectively shut down the government. [17]
On December 10, the General Council called new elections to choose delegates to determine the
fate of the region.[18] The Convention of 1836 met at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 1.[19] The
following day, the 59 delegates created the Republic of Texas by affixing their signatures to
the Texas Declaration of Independence.[20] Houston's military authority was expanded on March 4, to
include "the land forces of the Texian army both Regular, Volunteer, and Militia." [21] The delegates
elected the Republic's ad interim government on March 16,[22] with David G. Burnet as
president, Lorenzo de Zavala as vice president, Samuel P. Carson as secretary of state,Thomas
Jefferson Rusk as secretary of war, Bailey Hardeman as secretary of the treasury, Robert Potter as
secretary of the navy, and David Thomas as attorney general.[23]

Battle of Gonzales[edit]

Battle of Gonzales cannon

The Battle of Gonzales was the onset of a chain of events that led to what is known as the Runaway
Scrape. The confrontation began in September 1835, when the Mexican government attempted to
reclaim a bronze cannon that it had provided to Gonzales in 1831 to protect the town against Indian
attacks. The first attempt by Corporal Casimiro De Len resulted in De Len's detachment being
taken prisoners, and the cannon being buried in a peach orchard. [24] James C. Neill, a veteran who
had served at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend under Andrew Jackson, was put in charge of the artillery
after it was later dug up and wheel mounted.[25] When LieutenantFrancisco de Castaeda arrived
accompanied by 100 soldiers and made a second attempt at repossessing the cannon, Texians
dared the Mexicans to "come and take it".[24] John Henry Moore led 150 Texian militia on October 2 in
successfully repelling the Mexican troops. A "Come and Take It" flag was later fashioned by the
women of Gonzales.[26] The cannon was moved to San Antonio de Bxar and became one of the
artillery pieces used by the defenders of the Alamo.[FN 5]
The immediate result of the Texian victory at Gonzales was that two days later the number of
volunteers had swelled to over 300, and they were determined to drive the Mexican army out of
Texas.[28] Simultaneously, acompany of volunteers under George M. Collinsworth captured the
Presidio La Baha from the Mexicans on October 9 at the Battle of Goliad.[29] The Mexican
government's response to the unrest in Texas was an October 30 authorization of war.[30] On the
banks of the Nueces River 3 miles (4.8 km) from San Patricio on November 4 during the Battle of
Lipantitln, volunteers under Ira Westover captured the fort from Mexican troops.[31]

Bxar[edit]
By October 9, Cos had taken over San Antonio de Bxar.[30] Stephen F. Austin sent an advance scout
troop of 90 men under James Bowie and James Fannin to observe the Mexican forces. While taking
refuge at Mission Concepcin on October 28, they repelled an attack by 275 Mexicans
under Domingo Ugartechea during the battle.[32] Austin continued to send troops to Bxar. Bowie was

ordered on November 26 to attack a Mexican supply train alleged to be carrying a payroll. The
resulting skirmish became known as theGrass Fight, after it was discovered that the only cargo was
grass to feed the horses.[33] When Austin was selected to join Branch T. Archer and William H.
Wharton on a diplomatic mission to seek international recognition and support, Edward Burleson
was named as commander.[34] On December 5, James C. Neill began distracting Cos by firing
artillery directly at the Alamo, while Benjamin Milam and Frank W. Johnson led several hundred
volunteers in a surprise attack. The fighting at the Siege of Bxar continued until December 9 when
Cos sent word he wanted to surrender. Cos and his army were sent back to Mexico, but would later
unite with Santa Anna's forces.[35]
Approximately 300 of the Texian garrison at Bxar departed on December 30 to join Frank W.
Johnson and James Grant on the Matamoros Expedition, in a planned attack to seize the port for its
financial resources.[36] Proponents of this campaign were hoping Mexican Federalists [FN 1] would oust
Santa Anna and restore the 1824 constitution.[37] When Sesma crossed the Rio Grande, residents of
the Gulf Coast began fleeing the area in January 1836. [38] Santa Anna ordered General Jos de
Urrea on February 16 to secure the Gulf Coast.[39] About 160 miles (260 km) north of Matamoros
at San Patricio, Urrea's troops ambushed Johnson and members of the expedition on February 27 at
the Battle of San Patricio. Sixteen Texians were killed, six escaped, and 21 were taken prisoner.
[40]
Urrea's troops then turned southwest by some 26 miles (42 km) to Agua Dulce Creek and on
March 2 attacked a group of the expedition led by Grant, killing all but 11, six of whom were taken
prisoner. Five of the men escaped the Battle of Agua Dulceand joined Fannin who wanted to
increase the defense force at Goliad.[41]

Battle of the Alamo[edit]

Main article: Battle of the Alamo
Neill was promoted to lieutenant colonel during his participation in the Siege of Bxar,[25] and 10 days
later Houston placed him in charge of the Texian garrison in the city.[42] In January residents had
begun evacuating ahead of Santa Anna's approaching forces.[43]Neill pleaded with Houston for
replenishment of troops, supplies and weaponry. The departure of Texians who joined the
Matamoros Expedition had left Neill with only about 100 men. At that point Houston viewed Bxar as
a military liability and did not want Santa Anna's advancing army gaining control of any remaining
soldiers or artillery. He dispatched Bowie with instructions to remove the artillery, have the defenders
abandon the Alamo mission and destroy it.[FN 6] Upon his January 19 arrival[17] and subsequent
discussions with Neill, Bowie decided the mission was the right place to stop the Mexican army in its
tracks. He stayed and began to help Neill prepare for the coming attack. Lieutenant Colonel William
B. Travis arrived with reinforcements on February 3.[45] When Neill was given leave to attend to family
matters on February 11, Travis assumed command of the mission, and three days later he and
Bowie agreed to a joint command.[46] Santa Anna crossed the Rio Grande on February 16, and the
Mexican army's assault on the Alamo began February 23. [39] Captain Juan Segun left the mission on
February 25, carrying a letter from Travis to Fannin at Goliad requesting more reinforcements.
[47]
Santa Anna extended an offer of amnesty to Tejanos inside the fortress; a non-combatant survivor,
Enrique Esparza, said that most Tejanos left when Bowie advised them to take the offer.[48] In
response to Travis' February 24 letter To the People of Texas, 32 militia volunteers formed the
Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers and arrived at the Alamo on February 29. [FN 4]
If you execute your enemies, it saves you the trouble of having to forgive them.
General Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna, February 1836[49]

Flight[edit]
Houston begins forming his army[edit]

As the closest settlement to San Antonio de Bxar, Gonzales was the rallying point for volunteers
who responded to both the Travis letter from the Alamo and Houston's recruitment pleas. Recently
formed groups came from Austin and Washington counties and from the Colorado River area.
[50]
Volunteers from Brazoria, Fort Bend and Matagorda counties organized after arriving in Gonzales.
[51]
The Kentucky Rifle company under Newport, Kentucky business man Sidney Sherman had been
aided by funding from Cincinnati, Ohioresidents.[52]
Alamo commandant Neill was in Gonzales purchasing supplies and recruiting reinforcements on
March 6. When Seguin learned en route that Fannin would be unable to reach the Alamo in time,
[53]
he immediately began mustering an all-Tejano company of scouts.[54] His men combined with
Lieutenant William Smith's and volunteered to accompany Neill's recruits. They encountered the
Mexican army 18 miles (29 km) from the Alamo on March 7, and Neill's men turned back while the
Seguin-Smith scouts moved forward.[55] As the scouts neared the Alamo, they met only silence.
[56]
Andrew Barcena and Anselmo Bergara from Seguin's other detachment inside the Alamo showed
up in Gonzales on March 11, telling of their escape and delivering news of the slaughter. Their
stories were discounted; Houston, who had arrived that same day, denounced them as Mexican
spies.[57]
Smith and Seguin confirmed the fate of the mission upon their return. Houston dispatched orders to
Fannin to abandon Goliad, blow up the Presidio La Baha fortress, and retreat to Victoria,[58] but
Fannin delayed acting on those orders. Believing the approach of Urrea's troops brought a greater
urgency to local civilians, he sent 29 men under Captain Amon B. King to help evacuate
nearby Refugio.[59]
Houston promptly began organizing the troops at Gonzales into the First Regiment under Burleson
who had arrived as part of the Mina volunteers.[60] A second regiment would later be formed when the
army grew large enough.[61] As others began to arrive, individual volunteers not already in another
company were put under Captain William Hestor Patton. [62] Houston had 374 volunteers and their
commanders in Gonzales on March 12.[63]
Santa Anna sent Susannah Dickinson with her infant daughter Angelina, Travis' slave Joe, and
Mexican Colonel Juan Almonte's cook Ben to Gonzales, with dispatches written in English by
Almonte to spread the news of the fall of the Alamo.[64] Scouts Deaf Smith,Henry Karnes and Robert
Eden Handy encountered the survivors 20 miles (32 km) outside of Gonzales on March 13. When
Karnes returned with the news, almost immediately 25 volunteers deserted. Wailing filled the air
when Dickinson and the others reached the town with their first-hand accounts. [38]
There was not a soul left among the citizens of Gonzales who had not lost a father, husband, brother
or son ... That terrible massacre had, for a time, struck terror into every heart.
John Milton Swisher, private in William W. Hill's volunteers.[65]

The Sam Houston Oak[FN 7] where the Provisional Army of Texas rested after the burning of Gonzales

Although civilian evacuations had begun in January for the Gulf Coast and San Antonio de Bxar,
the Texian military was either on the offensive or standing firm until the smaller Gulf Coast
skirmishes happened in February. Houston was now facing a choice of whether to retreat to a safe
place to train his new army, or to meet the enemy head-on immediately.[66] He was wary of trying to
defend a fixed position the debacle at the Alamo had shown that the new Texian government was
unable to provide sufficient provisions or reinforcements. [67]

The burning of Gonzales[edit]

Houston called for a Council of War. The officers voted that the families should be ordered to leave,
and the troops would cover the retreat. By midnight, less than an hour after Dickinson had arrived,
the combined army and civilian population began a frantic move eastward, [66] leaving behind
everything they could not immediately grab and transport. Much of the provisions and artillery were
left behind, including two 24-pounder cannons.[68] Houston ordered Salvador Flores along with a
company of Juan Seguin's men to form the rear guard to protect the fleeing families. Couriers were
sent to other towns in Texas to warn that the Mexican army was advancing. [69]
The retreat took place so quickly that many of the Texian scouts did not fully comprehend it until after
the town was evacuated.[70] Houston ordered Karnes to burn the town and everything in it so nothing
would remain to benefit the Mexican troops. By dawn, the entire town was in ashes or flames. [71]
Volunteers from San Felipe de Austin who had been organized under Captain John Bird on March 5
to reinforce the men at the Alamo[72] had been en route to San Antonio de Bxar on March 13 when
approximately 10 miles (16 km) east of Gonzales they encountered fleeing citizens and a courier
from Sam Houston. Told of the Alamo's fall, Bird's men offered assistance to the fleeing citizens and
joined Houston's army at Bartholomew D. McClure's plantation on the evening of March 14. [FN 7]
At Washington-on-the-Brazos, the delegates to the convention learned of the Alamo's fall on March
13.[74] The Republic's new ad interim government was sworn in on March 17, with a department
overseeing military spy operations, and adjourned the same day.[75]The government then fled to
Groce's Landing where they stayed for several days before moving on to Harrisburg on March 21
where they established temporary headquarters in the home of widow Jane Birdsall Harris. [76]
King's men at Refugio had taken refuge in Mission Nuestra Seora de la Rosario when they were
subsequently attacked by Urrea's forces. Fannin sent 120 reinforcements under William Ward, but
the March 14 Battle of Refugio cost 15 Texian lives.[77] Ward's men escaped, but King's men were
captured and executed on March 16.[78]

Colorado River crossings[edit]

Burnam's[edit]
Upon learning of the flight, Santa Anna sent General Joaqun Ramrez y Sesma with 700 men to
pursue Houston, and 600 men under General Eugenio Tolsa as reinforcements. Finding only burned
remains at Gonzales, Sesma marched his army toward theColorado River.[79]
The Texian army camped March 1518 on the Lavaca River property of Williamson Daniels[80] where
they were joined by combined forces under Joe Bennett and Captain Peyton R. Splane. [81] Fleeing
civilians accompanied Houston's army turning north at theNavidad River as they crossed to the east
side of the Colorado River at Burnam's Crossing. [82] The ferry and trading post, as well as the family
home of Jesse Burnam, were all burned at Houston's orders on March 17 to prevent Santa Anna's
army from making the same crossing.[FN 8]
Beason's and DeWees[edit]

Campaigns of the Texas Revolution

Beason's Crossing was located where Columbus is today.[84] DeWees Crossing was 7 miles (11 km)
north of Beason's. From March 19 through March 26, Houston split his forces between the two
crossings.[85]Additional Texian volunteer companies began arriving at both crossings, including three
companies of Texas Rangers, the Liberty County Volunteers and the Nacogdoches Volunteers. [86]
Sesma's battalion of approximately 725 men and artillery camped on the opposite side of the
Colorado, at a distance halfway between the two Texian camps.[87] To prevent Sesma's troops from
using the William DeWees log cabin, Sherman ordered it burned.[88] Three Mexican scouts from
Sesma's army were captured by Sherman's men, and although Sherman argued for an attack on
Sesma's troops, Houston was not ready.[89]
Fannin had begun evacuating Presidio La Baha on March 19. The estimated 320 troops were low
on food and water, and the breakdown of a wagon allowed Urrea's men to overtake them at Coleto
Creek, ending in Fannin's surrender on March 20.[90] Peter Kerr, who had served with Fannin and
claimed to have been held prisoner, arrived at DeWees on March 25. Houston announced Fannin's
surrender,[91] but would later claim to have uncovered evidence that Kerr was a spy for the Mexicans.
[92]

The Texian army was a force of 810 volunteers and staff at this point,[93] but few had any military
training and experience. Faced with past desertions, discipline flaws, and individual indecisiveness
of volunteers in training, Houston knew they were not yet ready to engage the Mexican army.
Compounding the situation were the civilian refugees dependent upon the army for their protection.
[94]
The news of Fannin's capture, combined with his doubts about the readiness of the Texian army,
led Houston to order a retreat on March 26.[95] Some of the troops viewed the decision as cowardice
with Sesma sitting just on the other side of the Colorado, and several hundred men deserted. [96]
... the only army in Texas is now present ... There are but few of us, and if we are beaten, the fate of
Texas is sealed. The salvation of the country depends upon the first battle had with the enemy. For
this reason, I intend to retreat, if I am obliged to go even to the banks of the Sabine.

Sam Houston[97]

Brazos River training camp[edit]

Groce's Landing[edit]
Texian survivors of the Battle of Coleto Creek believed their surrender agreement with Urrea would,
at worst, mean their deportation. Santa Anna, however, adhered to the 1835 Tornel Decree that
stated the insurrection was an act of piracy fomented by the United States, and ordered their
executions.[FN 9] Although he personally disagreed with the need to do so, Urrea carried out his
commander's orders on March 27.[99] Of the estimated 370 Texians being held, a few managed to
escape the massacre. The remainder were shot, stabbed with bayonets and lances and clubbed
with gun butts. Fannin was shot through the face and his gold watch stolen. The dead were
cremated on a pyre.[100]
It would be a week before word of the Goliad massacre reached Sam Houston. The retreating Texian
army stopped at San Felipe de Austin[101] on March 2829 to stock up on food and supplies.
[102]
Houston's plan to move the army north to Groce's Landing on the Brazos River was met with
resistance from captains Wyly Martin and Moseley Baker, whose units balked at further retreat.
Houston reassigned Martin 25 miles (40 km) south to protect the Morton Ferry crossing at Fort Bend,
and Baker was ordered to guard the river crossing at San Felipe de Austin. [103]
News of approaching Mexican troops and Houston's retreat caused panic among the population in
the counties of Washington, Sabine, Shelby and San Augustine. Amid the confusion of fleeing
residents of those counties, two volunteer groups under captains William Kimbro and Benjamin
Bryant arrived to join Houston on March 29. Kimbro was ordered to San Felipe de Austin to reinforce
Baker's troops, while Bryant's men remained with the main army.[104]
After an erroneous scouting report of approaching Mexican troops, Baker burned San Felipe de
Austin to the ground on March 30.[105] When Baker claimed Houston had given him an order to do so,
Houston denied it.[106] Houston's account was that the residents burned their own property to keep it
out of the hands of the Mexican army.[91] San Felipe de Austin's residents did as those before them in
escaping the Mexican army, and fled to the east.[105]
During a two-week period beginning March 31, the Texian army camped on the west side of
the Brazos River in Austin County, near Groce's Landing (also known as Groce's Ferry). [107] As
Houston led his army north towards the landing, the unrelenting rainy weather swelled the Brazos
and threatened flooding.[108] Groce's was transformed into a training camp for the troops.[109] Major
Edwin Morehouse arrived with a New York battalion of recruits who were immediately assigned to
assist Wyly Martin at Fort Bend.[110]Civilian men who were fleeing the Mexicans enlisted at Groce's,
[111]
and displaced civilian women in the camp helped the army's efforts by sewing shirts for the
soldiers.[112]
Samuel G. Hardaway, a survivor of Major William Ward's group who had escaped the Battle of
Refugio and re-joined Fannin at the Battle of Coleto, also managed to escape the Goliad massacre.
As he fled Goliad, he was eventually joined by three other survivors, Joseph Andrews, James P.
Trezevant and M. K. Moses. Spies for the Texian army discovered the four men and took them to
Baker's camp near San Felipe de Austin on April 2.[113] Several other survivors of the Goliad massacre
were found on April 10 by Texian spies. Survivors Daniel Murphy, Thomas Kemp, Charles Shain,
David Jones, William Brenan and Nat Hazen were taken to Houston at Groce's Landing where they
enlisted to fight with Houston's army.[114]
Houston learned of the Goliad massacre on April 3. Unaware that Secretary of War Rusk was
already en route to Groce's with orders from President Burnet to halt the army's retreat and engage
the enemy, he relayed the Goliad news by letter to Rusk.[115]

The enemy are laughing you to scorn. You must fight them. You must retreat no further. The country
expects you to fight. The salvation of the country depends on your doing so.
David G. Burnet, ad interim president of the Republic of Texas [116]
Empowered to remove Houston from command and take over the army himself, Rusk instead
assessed Houston's plan of action as correct, after witnessing the training at Groce's. Rusk and
Houston formed the Second Regiment on April 8 to serve under Sherman, with Burleson retaining
command of the First Regiment.[FN 10]
Yellowstone steamboat[edit]
The steamboat Yellowstone[112] under the command of Captain John Eautaw Ross was impressed
into service for the Provisional Army of Texas on April 2, and initially ferried patients across the
Brazos River when Dr. James Aeneas Phelps established a field hospital at Bernardo Plantation.
[118]
Three days later, Santa Anna joined with Sesma's troops, [119] and had them build flatboats to cross
the Brazos as the Mexicans sought to overtake and defeat the Texians.[120] Wyly Martin reported on
April 8 that Mexican forces had divided and were headed both east to Nacogdoches and southeast
to Matagorda.[121] Houston reinforced Baker's post at San Felipe de Austin on April 9, [122] as Santa
Anna continued moving southeast on April 10.[123]
The Texian army was transported by the Yellowstone over to the east side of the Brazos on April 12,
where they set up camp at the Bernardo Plantation.[124] After walking 50 miles (80 km) from
Harrisburg, future president of the Republic Mirabeau B. Lamar arrived at Bernardo to enlist as a
private in Houston's army and suggested using the steamer for guerilla warfare. [125]
Had it not been for its service, the enemy could never have been overtaken until they had reached
the Sabine ... use of the boat enabled me to cross the Brazos and save Texas.
Sam Houston on the Yellowstone's contributions[126]
With Baker guarding the crossing at San Felipe de Austin, and Martin guarding the Morton Ferry
crossing[127] at Ford Bend, Santa Anna opted on April 12 to cross the Brazos halfway between at
Thompson's Ferry,[128] with Sesma's men and artillery crossing over the next day.[129] The Mexican
army attacked the steamer numerous times in an attempt to capture it, but Ross successfully used
cotton bales to protect the steamer and its cargo, and was able to keep the Yellowstone away from
Mexican control.[129] Houston released the steamboat from service on April 14, and it continued to
Galveston.[130]

Burning of Harrisburg and the crucial crossroads [edit]

The ad interim government departed Harrisburg on the steamboat Cayuga for New
Washington ahead of Santa Anna's April 15 arrival,[131] thwarting his plans to eliminate the entire
government of the Republic of Texas.[132] Three printers still at work on theTelegraph and Texas
Register told the Mexican army that everyone in the government had already left, and Santa Anna
responded by having the printers arrested and the printing presses tossed into Buffalo Bayou.
[133]
After days of looting and seeking out information about the government, Santa Anna ordered the
town burned on April 18.[134] He later tried to place the blame for the destruction on Houston. [135]

Replicas of the Twin Sisters cannons at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site

Before the Texian army left Bernardo Plantation, they welcomed the arrival of two cannons cast in
November 1835 by Greenwood and Webb in Cincinnati, Ohio, funded entirely by the people of that
city as a donation to the Texas Revolution. The idea had arisen as a suggestion from Robert F. Lytle,
one of the businessmen who helped fund Sherman's Kentucky Riflemen. [136] Arriving in New
Orleans after a lengthy trip from Ohio on the Mississippi River, the cannons were transported to
the Gulf Coast aboard the Pennsylvania schooner. The cannons were nicknamed the "Twin Sisters",
perhaps in honor of the twins Elizabeth and Eleanor Rice traveling aboard thePennsylvania, who
were to present the cannons upon their arrival at Galveston in April 1836. [137][138] At Galveston,
Leander Smith had the responsibility of transporting the cannons from Harrisburg to Bernardo
Plantation in Waller County. Along the way, Smith recruited 35 men into the army.[139] Lieutenant
Colonel James Neill was put in charge of the cannons once they arrived in camp. [140]
Martin and Baker abandoned the river crossings on April 14 and re-joined Houston's army which had
marched from Bernardo to the Charles Donoho Plantation near present-day Hempstead in Waller
County.[141] As news spread of the Mexican army's movements, residents of Nacogdoches and San
Augustine began to flee east towards the Sabine River. After refusals to continue with the army,
Martin was ordered by Houston to accompany displaced families on their flight eastward. Hundreds
of soldiers left the army to help their families. The main army parted from the refugees at this point,
and acting Secretary of War David Thomas[FN 10] advised Houston to move southward to secure
Galveston Bay.[142] Houston, however, was getting conflicting advice from the cabinet members.
President Burnet had sent Secretary of State Carson to Louisiana in hopes of getting the United
States army and individual state militias involved in the Texas fight for independence. While he
attempted to secure such involvement, Carson sent a dispatch to Houston on April 14 advising him
to retreat all the way to the Louisiana-Texas border on the Sabine River, and bide his time before
engaging the Mexican army.[143]
The Texian army camped west of present-day Tomball on April 15, at Sam McCarley's homestead.
[144]
They departed the next morning[145] and 3 miles (4.8 km) east reached a crucial crossroads.[FN
11]
One road led east to Nacogdoches and eventually the Sabine River and Louisiana, while the other
road led southeast to Harrisburg. The army was concerned that Houston would continue the
eastward retreat. Although Houston discussed his decision with no one, he led the army down the
southeast road. Rusk ordered that a small group of volunteers be split from the army to secure
Robbins's Ferry on the Trinity River.[147] Houston's troops stopped overnight on April 16 at the home of
Matthew Burnet, and the next morning continued marching towards Harrisburg, 25 miles (40 km)
southeast.[148]
With the refugee families being accorded a military escort eastward and Houston marching
southeast, the retreat of the Provisional Army of Texas was over. On the march which would lead to
San Jacinto, moving the heavy artillery across rain-soaked terrain slowed down the army's progress.
[140]
The army had previously been assisted in moving the Twin Sisters with oxen borrowed from
refugee Pamela Martin when she believed the army was fleeing towards Nacogdoches. When she
learned the army was headed towards Harrisburg and a confrontation with the Mexican army, she

reclaimed her oxen.[149] The Texian army had expanded to twenty-six companies by the time they
reached Harrisburg on April 18 and saw the destruction Santa Anna had left behind. [150]

New Washington[edit]
On orders of Santa Anna, Almonte went in pursuit of the ad interim government at New Washington.
During their flight the Republic officials switched from steamer to ferry to skiff. On the final leg of the
trip, Almonte finally had them in his sights, but refused to fire after he saw Mrs. Burnet and her
children on the skiff.[151] In addition to letting the government get away one more time, Almonte's spies
had misread Houston's troop movements and Santa Anna was told that the Texian army was still
retreating eastward, this time through Lynchburg.[152]
New Washington was later looted and burned by Mexican troops,[153] and as many as 5,000 civilians
fled, either by boat or across land. Those attempting to cross the San Jacinto River were
bottlenecked for three days, and the vicinity around the crossing transformed into a refugee camp.
Burnet ordered government assistance all across Texas for fleeing families. [154]

Aftermath[edit]
Main article: Battle of San Jacinto
In a troop movement that took all night on a makeshift raft, the Texian army crossed Buffalo Bayou at
Lynchburg April 19 with 930 soldiers, leaving behind 255 others as guards or for reasons of illness.
[155]
The idea had been floated of leaving the Twin Sisters behind as protection, but Neill was adamant
that the cannons be taken into the battle.[156] In an April 20 skirmish the day before the main battle
Neill was severely wounded,[157] and George Hockley took command of the heavy artillery.
[158]
Estimates of the Mexican army troop strength on the day of the main battle range from 1,250 to
1,500.[159]
The Texians attacked in the afternoon of April 21 while Santa Anna was still under the misconception
that Houston was actually retreating.[160] He had allowed his army time to relax and feed their horses,
while he took a nap.[161] When he was awakened by the attack, he immediately fled on horseback, but
was later captured when Sergeant James Austin Sylvester found him hiding in the grass.
[162]
Houston's own account was that the battle lasted "about eighteen minutes", [160] before
apprehending prisoners and confiscating armaments.[163] When the Twin Sisters went up against the
Mexican army's Golden Standard cannon, they performed so well that Hockley's unit was able to
capture the Mexican cannon.[FN 12]
The Yellowstone saw war service for the Republic one more time on May 7, when it transported
Houston and his prisoner Santa Anna, along with the government Santa Anna tried to extinguish,
to Galveston Island.[FN 13] From there, the government and Santa Anna traveled to Velasco for the
signing of the treaties.[166] Houston had suffered a serious wound during the battle, [167] and on May 28
boarded the schooner Flora for medical treatment in New Orleans.[168]
Not until news of the victory at San Jacinto spread did the refugees return to their homesteads and
businesses, or whatever was left after the destruction caused by both armies. [38] Throughout Texas,
possessions had been abandoned and later looted. Businesses, homes and farms were wiped out
by the devastation of war. Often there was nothing left to go back to, but those who went home
began to pick up their lives and move forward. San Felipe de Austin never really recovered from its
total destruction. The few people who returned there moved elsewhere, sooner or later. Secretary of
War Rusk would later commend the women of Texas who held their families together during the
flight, while their men volunteered to fight: "The men of Texas deserve much credit, but more was
due the women. Armed men facing a foe could not but be brave; but the women, with their little
children around them, without means of defense or power to resist, faced danger and death with
unflinching courage."[154]

See also[edit]
Texas portal

Timeline of the Texas Revolution

Notes[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
1.

^ Jump up to:a b In 19th century Mexico, Federalism was the empowerment of local
governments, while Centralism sought to eliminate local political power and give it all to the national
government.[1]

2.

Jump up^ 193,600 square miles (501,000 km2), Mexican provinces of Coahuila and Texas.[2]

3.

Jump up^ The Provisional Army of Texas consisted of three different categories of enlistees.
The Regular Army was much like a modern-day army in its command structure, and had a two-year
enlistment period. Permanent Volunteers ran a democratic structure allowing internal elections, and
was for the duration of the war. The Volunteer Auxiliary was short-termed with an enlistment period of
only six months.[13]

4.

^ Jump up to:a b Locally organized volunteer militias were initially separate from the Provisional
Army of Texas and operated autonomously. Whether or not they were paid, or had supplies or
uniforms, varied. Each had its own framework and elected leaders. They decided as a unit which
battles they would fight. The Consultation only made Houston commander-in-chief of the paid
provisional army he was to recruit and train. On March 4, 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos , the
Convention also put the volunteer militias under Houston's command. [14]

5.

Jump up^ While it is not certain what became of the cannon, Santa Anna ordered all brass
and bronze artillery seized after the battle to be melted down.[27]

6.

Jump up^ Historians disagree as to the clarity of Houston's orders. In a letter dated January
17, 1836, Houston's wording seems to leave the final decision to provisional Governor Henry Smith.
"Colonel Bowie will leave here in a few hours for Bexar, with a detachment of from thirty to fifty men. I
have ordered the fortifications in the town of Bexar to be demolished, and if you think well of it, I will
remove all the cannon and other munitions of war to Gonzales and Copano, blow up the Alamo, and
abandon the place, as it will be impossible to keep up the Station with volunteers." The fractious
provisional government had impeached Smith on January 11. [44]

7.

^ Jump up to:a b A historical plaque denotes the Sam Houston Oak in front of the Braches
House, which itself is on the NRHP.[73]

8.

Jump up^ The ferry and trading post had been built by Jesse Burnam in 1824, and had
survived numerous attacks from Karankawa indians. Burnam later claimed Houston destroyed his
property because of personal issues between the two, not because of any threat from the Mexican
army.[83]

9.

Jump up^ Historians Jack Jackson and John Wheat in their research of Mexican government
records believe that although the wording of the December 30, 1835 Tornel Decree specified
"foreigners", the document was a mere formality to green-light Santa Anna's broader plan of dealing
with opposition both foreign and domestic. In a letter to General Joaqun Ramrez y Sesma on
February 29, 1836, Santa Anna wrote "in this war there are no prisoners". At the Battle of the
Alamo prior to the final siege, he offered a three-day amnesty to allow Tejanos inside the mission to

leave unharmed. At other skirmishes in the war, there is no indication either he or his generals made
that distinction. Jackson and White stated, "When he learned that Urrea had taken several hundred
prisoners near Goliad, Santa Anna expressed his amazement that they had not been treated as
pirates and swiftly executed as Tornel's decree specified. He sent more letters until the tragic deed
was done." [98]
10.

^ Jump up to:a b Attorney General David Thomas was named as acting Secretary of War when
Rusk joined the army.[117]

11.

Jump up^ In Texas history and in historical works on Sam Houston, this is referred to as "the
fork in the road" where Houston stopped retreating and instead actively pursued Santa Anna. The site
is now designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and located in the present day Harris
County city of Tomball.[146]

12.

Jump up^ The final fate of the Twin Sisters cannons is unknown. After the Battle of San
Jacinto, the cannons were sent to Austin, Texas, to be used for ceremonial purposes. When the
cannons were discovered to be in New Orleans, Sam Houston petitioned for their return to Texas at
the onset of the Civil War. Their last known whereabouts was in 1863 at the Battle of Galveston.
Replicas are on display at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. [164]

13.

Jump up^ Houston's agreement when he impressed the Yellowstone steamboat April 2
through April 14, was for Ross and the 17-man crew to receive at least 1/3 of a league of land (more
for officers) as payment. The crew was not obligated to fight. When Stephen F. Austin died in
December 1836, the Yellowstone transported his body to Brazoria County for burial. Nothing is known
about the steamer after 1837.[165]