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Texas Revolution

"Some were for independence, some were for the Constitution of 1824; and some were for anything, just so long as it was a row." - Noah Smithwick

Revolution that resulted in the independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico. The causes of the revolution remain controversial. Historians sympathetic to the revolutionaries tend to portray the revolution as a revolt against Santa Anna and his suspension of the Mexican constitution. Historians unsympathetic to the revolutionaries tend to emphasize that one of the causes of the revolution was the desire of the revolutionaries to maintain the institution of slavery which was banned in Mexico.

Mexico tried to ban immigration of white Americans because of their racist Hispanic nationalistic views.

The revolution moved in two phases: the initial revolt and expulsion of federal garrisons from Texas, followed by the Mexican invasion and eventual defeat and capture of Santa Anna.

Gonzales

Ugartechea orders cannon given to Gonzales settlers returned. September 1835 sends squad to retrieve it, settlers send squad home with no cannon.

Mexico:
Colonel Domingo Ugartechea, military commander at San Antonio de Bexar sends Lieutenant Francisco Castaneda with 100 dragoons on September 29th.

Texas:
Captain Albert Martin with 18 militiamen gets contingents from Fayette under Colonel John Henry Moore and from Columbus under a committee, all totalling 180 men, 50 of which were mounted.

Castaneda requests cannon, Moore refuses to yield cannon to a centralista. Castaneda claims to be republican, Moore invites him to join the Texans. Castaneda refuses, Texans fire cannon, Castaneda retreats October 2.

Further Reading Hardin, Stepen L. Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution, 1835-1836, University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, 1994

TODO:

La Bahia -- October 12
  • Concepcion -- October 28
  • Lipantitlan -- November 3
  • Bexar