Texas Revolution/Republic Timeline

  • Texas Declaration is signed

    The Texas Declaration of Independence is signed by 58 delegates at an assembly at Washington-on-the-Brazos and the Republic of Texas is declared.[1] David G. Burnet is elected ad interim president by the delegates. Texans with Dr. James Grant are defeated at the Battle of Agua Dulce.
  • Bonham arrives at the Alamo

    James B. Bonham arrives back at the Alamo telling Lt. Col. William B. Travis that Col. James Fannin was not coming.
  • Houston is appointed commander

    Santa Anna holds a council of war with Generals Joaquín Ramírez y Sesma, Martín Perfecto de Cos, Manuel F. Castrillón and Colonels Juan Almonte, Agustín Amat, Francisco Duque and Manuel Romero Rubio to plan the final assault. Sam Houston is appointed commander of Texas forces.
  • Battle of the Alamo

    Battle of the Alamo: the Alamo falls. Approximately 190-250 Texians and Tejanos died. The thirteen-day siege resulted in the deaths of all of its defenders, including William B. Travis, Davy Crockett, and Jim Bowie.
  • Houston retreats

    Houston begins his retreat from Gonzales precipitating the Runaway Scrape.
  • Battle of Refugio begins

    Battle of Refugio begins: Texan troops commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Ward and Amos King are attacked by General Urrea. After several hours of fighting, the Texans retreat.
  • Troops are captured

    Ward's troops are captured by the Mexicans.
  • Burnet Becomes interim president

    David G. Burnet becomes interim president of the Republic of Texas.
  • Battle of Coleto

    Battle of Coleto: General Urrea corners Colonel James Fannin near Goliad.
  • Fannin Surrenders

    Fannin Surrenders
  • Battle of Copano

    The Battle of Copano is fought.
  • Troops Captures

    King's troops are captured by the Mexicans.
  • Goliad Massacre

    Goliad Massacre: James Fannin and nearly 400 Texans are executed by order of Santa Anna. Houston and his army camp near San Felipe de Austin.
  • Battle of San Jacinto

    Battle of San Jacinto: Texan army under Sam Houston overwhelmingly defeats Mexican force under Santa Anna, securing Texas independence. Santa Anna captured.
  • Treaties of Velasco

    Treaties of Velasco signed by Republic of Texas officials and General Santa Anna ending the Texas Revolution.
  • Congress of the Republic of Texas

    The 1st Congress of the Republic of Texas assembles at Columbia.
  • Houston becomes president of republic

    Sam Houston becomes president of the republic.
  • temporary capital of republic

    Houston becomes the sixth temporary capital of the republic.
  • Texas independence

    The United States recognizes Texas's independence.
  • Killough massacre

    A disaffected band of Cherokee kills or abducts 18 extended-family members in the Killough massacre, the largest Native American attack on white settlers in Texas.
  • Lamar Becomes president of republic

    Mirabeau B. Lamar becomes president of the republic.
  • Córdova Rebellion

    An uprising of Nacogdoches-area Tejanos who did not support independence from Mexico culminated in the Córdova Rebellion and its defeat at Battleground Prairie in Guadalupe County.
  • capital of the republic is moved

    The capital of the republic is moved from Houston to the seventh and final location of Austin.
  • relocation

    The Cherokee under The Bowl accepts President Lamar's proposal of relocation to the adjacent Arkansas Territory in the United States but refuse to begin preparations for departure after asking for an extension to collect their already planted crops.
  • First day of the Battle of the Neches

    The first day of the Battle of the Neches repulses a Cherokee attack against the Texian army under General Kelsey Douglass.
  • second day of the Battle of the Neches

    The second day of the Battle of the Neches ends in a route of the Cherokee, scattering them and their allies from their settlements on the upper Neches. Generals Rusk and Burleson command the Texians, and Vice President David G. Burnet and Secretary of War Albert Sidney Johnston are both wounded. Both Cherokee chiefs, The Bowl, and Big Mush are killed.
  • France recognizes Texas's independence.

    France recognizes Texas's independence.
  • Council House Fight

    Council House Fight (massacre)
  • Forces gathered

    Forces gathered in San Patricio, Texas to organize the Republic of the Rio Grande expedition.
  • Comanche raids sacked Victoria and Linnville.

    Comanche raids sacked Victoria and Linnville.
  • Battle of Plum Creek

    Battle of Plum Creek
  • invasion of Santa Fe

    321 men under Hugh McLeod and George Thomas Howard at the behest of President Mirabeau B. Lamar began an invasion of Santa Fe. After confusing the Wichita River for the Red River they arrived on October 5 near present-day Tucumcari, New Mexico, were captured without firing a shot and were marched to prison at the San Carlos Fortress in Perote, Veracruz before ultimately being released in June 1842. The disgrace was to lead to the return of Sam Houston.
  • Sam Houston becomes president of the republic.

    Sam Houston becomes president of the republic.
  • Army led by Ráfael Vásquez invades Texas

    A division of the Mexican Army led by Ráfael Vásquez invades Texas and captures San Antonio and Goliad, only to withdraw a few days later
  • invasion of south Texas

    A division of the Mexican Army led by Antonio Canales Rosillo invades south Texas and is repulsed near Fort Lipantitlán.
  • Dawson Massacre

    Texans are surrounded and killed by the Mexican Army in the Dawson Massacre.
  • Mier Expedition

    Texans are taken prisoner in the ill-fated Mier Expedition after they cause about 800 casualties in Pedro de Ampudia's force at the Battle of Mier, where they were outnumbered ten to one by the Mexican Army.
  • Adrián Woll invades Texas

    A division of the Mexican Army led by Gen. Adrián Woll invades Texas and captures San Antonio.
  • attack of General Woll's army

    Col. Mathew Caldwell's and Capt. Jack Hays' companies attack General Woll's army at the Battle of Salado Creek.
  • The people of Austin fire on Texian officials

    The people of Austin fire on Texian officials, who attempted to move the government records to Houston at Pres. Houston's request, in the Texas Archive War.
  • April 24 – August 6 Snively Expedition

    Snively Expedition; an operation led by Jacob Snively to intercept a train of Mexican traders who would be returning from Missouri on the Santa Fe Trail by way of Texas territory and to seize their goods. This was to be in retaliation for the Mexican raids on San Antonio in 1842 and for the mistreatment of Texas prisoners captured in the Mier Expedition and on the Santa Fe Expedition.
  • Texas Navy of the Republic

    Two sloops-of-war of the Texas Navy of the Republic engage Mexican naval vessels in the Naval Battle of Campeche.
  • Texas prisoners are released

    All Texas prisoners are released by Mexico on order from Santa Anna.
  • Anson Jones becomes president of the republic.

    Anson Jones becomes president of the republic.
  • annex the Republic of Texas

    • The United States Congress passes a bill that would authorize the United States to annex the Republic of Texas.
  • John Tyler signs the authorization bill

    United States President John Tyler signs the authorization bill.
  • approve a proposed Texas state constitution

    A majority of voters in the Republic approve a proposed Texas state constitution.
  • The Republic of Texas is annexed by the United States of America

    The Republic of Texas is annexed by the United States of America
  • Power is transferred

    Power is transferred from the Republic of Texas to the State of Texas.