-
This battle showed that the Texans were becoming more defiant toward the Mexican government and more willing to use military force if necessary.
-
-
Meanwhile, the seige of San Antonio dragged on, and the Texan army began to drift away. Many of the men were farmers or ranchers who had work to do at home.
-
Finally, the delegates set up a provisional government in Texas. They chose Henry Smith as governor. They decided to meet again on March 1, 1836, to make a decision about Texas's independence.
-
Texans humiliated themselves at what became known as the Grass Fight.On November 26th, Eratus "Deaf" Smith, one of Burleson's scouts, brought news that Mexican soldiers were bringing horses & mules to San Antonio. The Texans suspected taht the mules were carrying silver, which Cos intended to give his soldiers as payment. However, when the Texans attacked, they discovered that the mules were carrying only grass to feed the Mexicans' hungry horses.
-
Many Texans thought that the centralist threat to Texas had ended. After the Battle of San Antonio , Edward Burleson turned over command of the forces to Francis Johnson. When Johnson left to take part in the planned expedition to Matamoros, command pased to Colonel James Clinton Neill.
-
While Santa Anna battled the Texans at the Alamo, the other division of the Mexicsn army encountered several armed groups nearer to the coast. This division, commanded by General Jose Urrea, took the Atascosito Road, and marched Northeast from the Southern tip of Texas,
-
Urrea and his army continued toward the presidio at Goliad. There, Colonel James W. Fannin commanded about 300 revolutionaries. They were at that time the largest armed group in Texas apposed to Santa Anna, but they lacked decisive leadership.
-
With Urrea now so close, Fannin could not go to San Antonio. Even if he had tried, he would have arrived too late. On March 14, Fannin recieved orders from General Sam Housrton to retreat to Victoria. Houston wanted to assemble all the troops in one place.
-
The fate of the captives at Coleto is the subject of much debate. Most of them were recent immigrants from the United States. They had traveled to Texas for adventure and perhaps future land grants. Many had not taken the oath as Mexican citizens. As a result, they expected to be sent back to the United States.
