Editing Texas Revolution (section)

===Texian retreat: The Runaway Scrape===
{{Further|Runaway Scrape}}
On March 11, Santa Anna sent one column of troops to join Urrea, with instructions to move to Brazoria once Fannin's men had been neutralized. A second set of 700 troops under General [[Antonio Gaona (general)|Antonio Gaona]] would advance along the Camino Real to [[Bastrop, Texas|Mina]], and then on to Nacogdoches. General [[Joaquín Ramírez y Sesma]] would take an additional 700 men to San Felipe. The Mexican columns were thus moving northeast on roughly parallel paths, separated by {{convert|40|-|50|mi|km}}.<ref name=davis253>Davis (2006), p. 253.</ref>

[[File:SHouston.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=Black-and-white photograph showing a balding man from the chest up. He is looking to the side, with a pensive expression.|[[Sam Houston]]]]
The same day that Mexican troops departed Béxar, Houston arrived in Gonzales and informed the 374 volunteers (some without weapons) gathered there that Texas was now an independent republic.<ref name=moore48and52>Moore (2004), pp. 43, 48, 52, 57.</ref>  Just after {{nowrap|11 p.m.}} on March 13, Susanna Dickinson and Joe brought news that the Alamo garrison had been defeated and the Mexican army was marching towards Texian settlements. A hastily convened council of war voted to evacuate the area and retreat. The evacuation commenced at midnight and happened so quickly that many Texian scouts were unaware the army had moved on. Everything that could not be carried was burned, and the army's only two cannon were thrown into the Guadalupe River.<ref name=moore55through59>Moore (2004), pp. 55–59.</ref>  When Ramírez y Sesma reached Gonzales the morning of March 14, he found the buildings still smoldering.<ref name=moore71>Moore (2004), p. 71.</ref>

Most citizens fled on foot, many carrying their small children. A cavalry company led by Seguín and [[Salvador Flores]] were assigned as rear guard to evacuate the more isolated ranches and protect the civilians from attacks by Mexican troops or Indians.<ref name=moore60>Moore (2004), p. 60.</ref> The further the army retreated, the more civilians joined the flight.<ref name=davis243>Davis (2006), p. 243.</ref> For both armies and the civilians, the pace was slow; torrential rains had flooded the rivers and turned the roads into mud pits.<ref name=hardin182>Hardin (1994), p. 182.</ref>

As news of the Alamo's fall spread, volunteer ranks swelled, reaching about 1,400 men on March 19.<ref name=hardin182/>   Houston learned of Fannin's defeat on March 20 and realized his army was the last hope for an independent Texas. Concerned that his ill-trained and ill-disciplined force would only be good for one battle and aware that his men could easily be outflanked by Urrea's forces, Houston continued to avoid engagement, to the immense displeasure of his troops.<ref name=hardin183and4>Hardin (1994), pp. 183–184.</ref>  By March 28, the Texian army had retreated {{convert|120|mi|km}} across the [[Navidad River|Navidad]] and [[Colorado River (Texas)|Colorado River]]s.<ref>Moore (2004), pp. 71, 74, 87, 134.</ref>  Many troops deserted; those who remained grumbled that their commander was a coward.<ref name="hardin183and4"/>

On March 31, Houston paused his men at Groce's Landing, roughly {{convert|15|mi|km}} north of San Felipe.<ref group=Note>Groce's Landing is located roughly {{convert|9|mi|km}} northeast of modern-day [[Bellville, Texas|Bellville]]. Moore (2004), p. 149.</ref>  Two companies that refused to retreat further than San Felipe were assigned to guard the crossings on the Brazos River.<ref>Moore (2004), pp. 134–137.</ref>  For the next two weeks, the Texians rested, recovered from illness, and, for the first time, began practicing military drills. While there, two cannons, known as the Twin Sisters, arrived from [[Cincinnati, Ohio]].<ref name=hardin189>Hardin (1994), p. 189.</ref>  Interim Secretary of War [[Thomas Rusk]] joined the camp, with orders from Burnet to replace Houston if he refused to fight. Houston quickly persuaded Rusk that his plans were sound.<ref name=hardin189/> Secretary of State [[Samuel P. Carson]] advised Houston to continue retreating all the way to the Sabine River, where more volunteers would likely flock from the United States and allow the army to counterattack.<ref group=Note>After getting inaccurate reports that several thousand Indians had joined the Mexican army to attack Nacogdoches, American General [[Edmund P. Gaines]] and 600 troops crossed into Texas. This would have provoked a war if they had encountered the Mexican army, which might have followed Houston if he continued his retreat. Reid (2007), pp. 152–153.</ref><ref name=davis263>Davis (2006), p. 263.</ref>  Unhappy with everyone involved, Burnet wrote to Houston: "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."<ref name=hardin189/>  Complaints within the camp became so strong that Houston posted notices that anyone attempting to usurp his position would be court-martialed and shot.<ref name=moore185>Moore (2004), p. 185.</ref>

Santa Anna and a smaller force had remained in Béxar. After receiving word that the acting president, [[Miguel Barragán]], had died, Santa Anna seriously considered returning to Mexico City to solidify his position. Fear that Urrea's victories would position him as a political rival convinced Santa Anna to remain in Texas to personally oversee the final phase of the campaign.<ref name=davis254>Davis (2006), p. 254.</ref>  He left on March 29 to join Ramírez y Sesma, leaving only a small force to hold Béxar.<ref name=moore154>Moore (2004), p. 154.</ref>  At dawn on April 7, their combined force marched into San Felipe and captured a Texian soldier, who informed Santa Anna that the Texians planned to retreat further if the Mexican army crossed the Brazos River.<ref name=moore176>Moore (2004), p. 176.</ref>  Unable to cross the Brazos due to the small company of Texians barricaded at the river crossing, on April 14 a frustrated Santa Anna led a force of about 700 troops to capture the interim Texas government.<ref name=hardin190>Hardin (1994), p. 190.</ref><ref name=moore182>Moore (2004), p. 182.</ref>   Government officials fled mere hours before Mexican troops arrived in Harrisburg, and Santa Anna sent Colonel [[Juan Almonte]] with 50 cavalry to intercept them in New Washington. Almonte arrived just as Burnet shoved off in a rowboat, bound for [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston Island]]. Although the boat was still within range of their weapons, Almonte ordered his men to hold their fire so as not to endanger Burnet's family.<ref name=hardin191>Hardin (1994), p. 191.</ref>

At this point, Santa Anna believed the rebellion was in its final death throes. The Texian government had been forced off the mainland, with no way to communicate with its army, which had shown no interest in fighting. He determined to block the Texian army's retreat and put a decisive end to the war.<ref name=hardin191/>  Almonte's scouts incorrectly reported that Houston's army was going to Lynchburg Crossing, on [[Buffalo Bayou]], in preparation for joining the government in Galveston, so Santa Anna ordered Harrisburg burned and pressed on towards [[Lynchburg, Texas|Lynchburg]].<ref name=hardin191/>

The Texian army had resumed their march eastward. On April 16, they came to a crossroads; one road led north towards Nacogdoches, the other went to Harrisburg. Without orders from Houston and with no discussion amongst themselves, the troops in the lead took the road to Harrisburg. They arrived on April 18, not long after the Mexican army's departure.<ref name=hardin192and3>Hardin (1994), pp. 190–193.</ref>  That same day, [[Deaf Smith]] and [[Henry Karnes]] captured a Mexican courier carrying intelligence on the locations and future plans of all of the Mexican troops in Texas. Realizing that Santa Anna had only a small force and was not far away, Houston gave a rousing speech to his men, exhorting them to "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember Goliad". His army then raced towards Lynchburg.<ref name=hardin199and200>Hardin (1994), pp. 199–200.</ref>  Out of concern that his men might not differentiate between Mexican soldiers and the ''Tejanos'' in Seguín's company, Houston originally ordered Seguín and his men to remain in Harrisburg to guard those who were too ill to travel quickly. After loud protests from Seguín and [[Antonio Menchaca]], the order was rescinded, provided the ''Tejanos'' wear a piece of cardboard in their hats to identify them as Texian soldiers.<ref name=hardin209>Hardin (1994), p. 209.</ref>