The War BeginsThe War Begins11.111.1

Austin v Santa Anna

Battle of Gonzales:Battle of Gonzales: The first conflict erupted in The first conflict erupted in

Gonzales because Gonzales because Santa Santa Anna Anna refused the Constitution refused the Constitution of 1824. This increased of 1824. This increased tensions between Texans and tensions between Texans and the Mexican Government.the Mexican Government.

The battle of Gonzales was The battle of Gonzales was over a over a cannoncannon, which the , which the Mexican government wanted Mexican government wanted to take from the U.S. settlers.to take from the U.S. settlers.

The settlers antagonized the The settlers antagonized the Mexican troops by placing a Mexican troops by placing a flag on the cannon chanting flag on the cannon chanting “Come and Take It.”“Come and Take It.”

The fighting in Gonzales was The fighting in Gonzales was brief as brief as 140140 Texas rebels Texas rebels attacked attacked 100100 Mexican soldiers, Mexican soldiers,

ending up victoriousending up victorious..

Conflict at Goliad:Conflict at Goliad: General Martin Perfecto de General Martin Perfecto de

Cos brought Cos brought 300300 Mexican Mexican soldiers to soldiers to GonzalesGonzales, which , which was immediately after was immediately after Mexican troops backed down Mexican troops backed down in Gonzales.in Gonzales.

Veteran Ben Veteran Ben MilamMilam, who , who assisted the U.S. rebels, led a assisted the U.S. rebels, led a volunteer army to attack a volunteer army to attack a small amount of Mexican small amount of Mexican troops at troops at GoliadGoliad , so they , so they quickly quickly surrenderedsurrendered..

The Texans winning at Goliad The Texans winning at Goliad and Gonzales was a surprise and Gonzales was a surprise to the Mexican to the Mexican garrison garrison (army(army..

Now the Texas rebels had two Now the Texas rebels had two victories, and were beginning victories, and were beginning to grow quite confident.to grow quite confident.

Ben Milam

General Martin Perfecto de Cos

The March on San Antonio:The March on San Antonio: After the victory at Goliad, After the victory at Goliad,

many many volunteersvolunteers joined joined the rebel army. By the rebel army. By capturing Goliad, the capturing Goliad, the rebels had cut off the rebels had cut off the Mexican army’s Mexican army’s supply supply route.route.

In October, Stephen F. In October, Stephen F. Austin led a march from Austin led a march from Gonzales to Gonzales to San AntonioSan Antonio..

Even Even TejanosTejanos like Juan like Juan Seguin joined the Texas Seguin joined the Texas rebel army.rebel army.

Although Austin’s army Although Austin’s army had grown to over had grown to over 600600 infantry (foot soldiers), the infantry (foot soldiers), the Mexican army had a much Mexican army had a much more dominant more dominant cavalrycavalry (soldiers on (soldiers on horsebackhorseback). ).

I am Juan Seguin

Mexican attack at Concepcion:Mexican attack at Concepcion:

As Jim Bowie was choosing As Jim Bowie was choosing a holding ground for Austin a holding ground for Austin and his troops, 400 and his troops, 400 Mexican soldiers attacked Mexican soldiers attacked Bowie at Mission Bowie at Mission Concepcion.Concepcion.

Bowie however, camped Bowie however, camped behind a behind a riverbankriverbank, which , which provided great protection provided great protection from the Mexican troops.from the Mexican troops.

The Mexican brigade The Mexican brigade quickly grew quickly grew discouraged, and discouraged, and retreated.retreated.

This boosted Austin’s This boosted Austin’s army, causing them to army, causing them to want to attack want to attack San San Antonio Antonio immediately.immediately.

I’m Jim Bowie and this is my knife!!!

The Grass Fight:The Grass Fight: After the fight at Concepcion, Austin After the fight at Concepcion, Austin

relocated his troops to relocated his troops to Old MillOld Mill, which was , which was just north of San Antonio. just north of San Antonio.

This was a great location because it again This was a great location because it again crossed another one of the Mexicans crossed another one of the Mexicans supply routessupply routes..

Austin and his men were growing tired and Austin and his men were growing tired and sick, so Edward sick, so Edward BurlesonBurleson came in took came in took over Austin’s command.over Austin’s command.

Erastus “Deaf” Smith, one of Burleson’s Erastus “Deaf” Smith, one of Burleson’s men, rode into camp claiming that the men, rode into camp claiming that the Mexican’s resupply was coming on Mexican’s resupply was coming on horseback with horseback with silversilver..

This excited the rebel army, causing them This excited the rebel army, causing them to strike. It turned out that the silver was to strike. It turned out that the silver was non-existent, and the resupply was non-existent, and the resupply was actually full of actually full of grass and haygrass and hay for the for the livestock of the Mexican army.livestock of the Mexican army.

Erastus “Deaf”Smith

Capturing San Antonio:Capturing San Antonio:

After capturing the After capturing the Mexican’s resupply, Mexican’s resupply, Colonel Ben Colonel Ben MilamMilam led led 300300 rebel troops in to San rebel troops in to San Antonio.Antonio.

From December 5From December 5thth-9-9thth, , Milam and his men cleared Milam and his men cleared out all the Mexican troops out all the Mexican troops in in San AntonioSan Antonio..

General Cos and the General Cos and the Mexican army soon Mexican army soon surrenderedsurrendered, and left , and left Texas.Texas.

This victory led the rebels This victory led the rebels to think that the to think that the Constitution of 1824 had Constitution of 1824 had been achieved, but been achieved, but Santa Santa AnnaAnna had different plans. had different plans.

Ben Milam statueBen Milam statue

Who will go with Old Ben Milam???