Editing Texas Revolution (section)

==Santa Anna's offensive: February–March 1836==

===Alamo===
{{Main|Battle of the Alamo}}
[[File:1847 watercolor of The Alamo in San Antonio.jpg|left|thumb|alt=The front of a brick building; the top of the building appears torn off. Around the arched doorway are four niches, now empty. There are two small square windows.|The [[Alamo Mission]], painted 10 years after the battle]]
<!--[[File:Alamo pano.jpg|left|thumb|The [[Alamo Mission]] in modern times. The distinctive bell-shaped facade was added decades after the battle.]]-->
Fewer than 100 Texian soldiers remained at the Alamo Mission in Béxar, under the command of Colonel [[James C. Neill]].<ref name=todish29/>  Unable to spare the number of men necessary to mount a successful defense of the sprawling facility,<ref name=edmondson252>Edmondson (2000), p. 252.</ref> in January Houston sent Bowie with 30 men to remove the artillery and destroy the complex.<ref name=todish31>Todish ''et al.'' (1998), p. 31.</ref><ref group=Note>Houston's orders to Bowie were vague, and historians disagree on their intent. An alternative interpretation is that Bowie's orders were to destroy only the barricades that the Mexican army had erected around San Antonio de Béxar, and that he should then wait in the Alamo until Governor Henry Smith decided whether the mission should be demolished and the artillery removed. Smith never gave orders on this issue. Edmondson (2000), p. 252.</ref> In a letter to Governor Smith, Bowie argued that "the salvation of Texas depends in great measure on keeping Béxar out of the hands of the enemy. It serves as the frontier [[picket (military)|picquet]] guard, and if it were in the possession of Santa Anna, there is no stronghold from which to repel him in his march towards the Sabine."<ref name=todish31/><ref group=Note>The [[Sabine River (Texas-Louisiana)|Sabine River]] marked the eastern border of Mexican Texas.</ref> The letter to Smith ended, "Colonel Neill and myself have come to the solemn resolution that we will rather die in these ditches than give it up to the enemy."<ref name=todish31/> Few reinforcements were authorized; cavalry officer [[William B. Travis]] arrived in Béxar with 30&nbsp;men on February 3, and five days later a small group of volunteers arrived, including the famous frontiersman [[Davy Crockett]].<ref name=hardin117>Hardin (1994), p. 117.</ref> On February 11, Neill left to recruit additional reinforcements and gather supplies.<ref name=todish32>Todish ''et al.'' (1998), p. 32.</ref>  In his absence, Travis and Bowie shared command.<ref name=hardin120/>

When scouts brought word on February 23 that the Mexican advance guard was in sight, the unprepared Texians gathered what food they could find in town and fell back to the Alamo.<ref name=hardin121/>  By late afternoon, Béxar was occupied by about 1,500 Mexican troops, who quickly raised a blood-red flag signifying [[no quarter]].<ref name=todish40>Todish ''et al.'' (1998), p. 40.</ref> For the next 13 days, the Mexican army [[Siege of the Alamo|besieged the Alamo]]. Several small skirmishes gave the defenders much-needed optimism, but had little real impact.<ref name=todish42and43>Todish ''et al.'' (1998), pp. 42–43.</ref><ref name=edmondson325>Edmondson (2000), p. 325.</ref>  Bowie fell ill on February 24, leaving Travis in sole command of the Texian forces.<ref name=hardin129>Hardin (1994), p. 128.</ref>  The same day, Travis sent messengers with a letter [[To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World]], begging for reinforcements and vowing "victory or death"; this letter was reprinted throughout the United States and much of Europe.<ref name=todish42and43/>  Texian and American volunteers began to gather in Gonzales, waiting for Fannin to arrive and lead them to reinforce the Alamo.<ref name=hardin133>Hardin (1994), p. 133.</ref>  After days of indecision, on February 26 Fannin prepared to march his 300 troops to the Alamo; they turned back the next day.<ref name="auto">Davis (2006), p. 236.</ref>  Fewer than 100 Texian reinforcements reached the fort.<ref name=edmondson340>Edmondson (2000), p. 340.</ref>

Approximately 1,000 Mexican reinforcements arrived on March 3.<ref name=edmondson349>Edmondson (2000), p. 349.</ref>  The following day, a local woman, likely Bowie's relative [[Juana Navarro Alsbury]], was rebuffed by Santa Anna when she attempted to negotiate a surrender for the Alamo defenders.<ref name=edmondson355>Edmondson (2000), p. 355.</ref> This visit increased Santa Anna's impatience, and he scheduled an assault for early on March 6.<ref name=todish49>Todish ''et al.'' (1998), p. 49.</ref>  Many of his officers were against the plan; they preferred to wait until the artillery had further damaged the Alamo's walls and the defenders were forced to surrender.<ref name=hardin136>Hardin (1994), p. 136.</ref>  Santa Anna was convinced that a decisive victory would improve morale and sound a strong message to those still agitating in the interior and elsewhere in Texas.<ref name=davis220>Davis (2006), p. 220.</ref>

[[File:FalloftheAlamo.jpg|thumb|''The Fall of the Alamo'' depicts [[Davy Crockett]] swinging his rifle at Mexican troops who have breached the south gate of the mission.]]
In the early hours of March 6, the Mexican army attacked the fort.<ref name=hardin138>Hardin (1994), p. 138.</ref> Troops from Béxar were excused from the front lines, so that they would not be forced to fight their families and friends.<ref name=todish49/>  In the initial moments of the assault the Mexican troops were at a disadvantage. Although their column formation allowed only the front rows of soldiers to fire safely, inexperienced recruits in the back also discharged their weapons; many Mexican soldiers were unintentionally killed by their own comrades.<ref name=todish52>Todish ''et al.'' (1998), p. 52.</ref>  As Mexican soldiers swarmed over the walls, at least 80 Texians fled the Alamo and were cut down by Mexican cavalry.<ref name=davis223>Davis (2006), p. 223.</ref> Within an hour, almost all of the [[List of Alamo defenders|Texian defenders]], estimated at 182–257 men, were killed.<ref group=Note>Brigido Guerrero convinced the Mexican army he had been imprisoned by the Texians. Joe, the slave of Alamo commander [[William B. Travis]], was spared because he was a slave. Some historians also believe that Henry Warnell hid during the battle, although he may have been a courier who left before the battle began. He died several months after the battle of wounds incurred during his escape. See Edmondson (2000), pp. 372, 407.</ref>  Between four and seven Texians, possibly including Crockett, surrendered. Although General [[Manuel Fernández Castrillón]] attempted to intercede on their behalf, Santa Anna insisted that the prisoners be executed immediately.<ref name=hardin148>Hardin (1994), p. 148.</ref>

Most Alamo historians agree that 400–600&nbsp;Mexicans were killed or wounded.<ref name=todish55>Todish ''et al.'' (1998), p. 55.</ref><ref name=hardin155>Hardin (1994), p. 155.</ref> This would represent about one-third of the Mexican soldiers involved in the final assault, which historian Timothy Todish remarks is "a tremendous casualty rate by any standards".<ref name="todish55"/>  The battle was militarily insignificant but had an enormous political impact. Travis had succeeded in buying time for the Convention of 1836, scheduled for March 1, to meet. If Santa Anna had not paused in Béxar for two weeks, he would have reached San Felipe by March 2 and very likely would have captured the delegates or caused them to flee.<ref name=davis229>Davis (2006), p. 229.</ref>

[[List of Texian survivors of the Battle of the Alamo|The survivors]], primarily women and children, were questioned by Santa Anna and then released.<ref name=todish55/>   [[Susanna Dickinson]] was sent with Travis's slave Joe to Gonzales, where she lived, to spread the news of the Texian defeat. Santa Anna assumed that knowledge of the disparity in troop numbers and the fate of the Texian soldiers at the Alamo would quell the resistance,<ref name=edmondson378>Edmondson (2000), p. 378.</ref> and that Texian soldiers would quickly leave the territory.<ref name=hardin158>Hardin (1994), p. 158.</ref>

===Goliad Campaign===
{{Main|Goliad Campaign}}
Urrea reached Matamoros on January 31. A committed federalist himself, he soon convinced other federalists in the area that the Texians' ultimate goal was secession and their attempt to spark a federalist revolt in Matamoros was just a method of diverting attention from themselves.<ref name=reid122>Reid (2007), p. 122.</ref>  Mexican double agents continued to assure Johnson and Grant that they would be able to take Matamoros easily.<ref name=reid131>Reid (2007), p. 131.</ref>  While Johnson waited in San Patricio with a small group of men, Grant and between 26 and 53 others roamed the area between the Nueces River and Matamoros.<ref name=reid141>Reid (2007), pp. 141–143.</ref>  Although they were ostensibly searching for more horses, it is likely Grant was also attempting to contact his sources in Matamoros to further coordinate an attack.<ref name=reid133>Reid (2007), p. 133.</ref>

Just after midnight on February 27, Urrea's men [[battle of San Patricio|surprised Johnson's forces]]. Six Texians, including Johnson, escaped; the remainder were captured or killed.<ref name=stuart84>Stuart (2008), p. 84</ref>  After learning of Grant's whereabouts from local spies, Mexican dragoons ambushed the Texians [[battle of Agua Dulce|at Agua Dulce Creek]] on March 2.<ref name=reid142>Reid (2007), p. 142.</ref>  Twelve Texians were killed, including Grant, four were captured, and six escaped.<ref name=stuart87>Stuart (2008), p. 87.</ref>  Although Urrea's orders were to execute those captured, he instead sent them to Matamoros as prisoners.<ref name=stuart88>Stuart (2008), p. 88.</ref>

[[File:La Bahia Presidio Chapel, South on U.S. Route 183, Goliad (Goliad County, Texas).jpg|thumb|right|alt=A large stone complex, several stories high. Two crosses top the structures in the foreground.|[[Presidio La Bahía]], also known as Fort Defiance, in Goliad]]
On March 11, Fannin sent Captain [[Amon B. King]] to help evacuate settlers from the mission in Refugio. King and his men instead spent a day searching local ranches for centralist sympathizers. They returned to the mission on March 12 and were soon besieged by Urrea's advance guard and de la Garza's [[Victoriana Guardes]].<ref name=stuart91>Stuart (2008), pp. 91–92.</ref>  That same day, Fannin received orders from Houston to destroy Presidio La Bahía (by then renamed Fort Defiance) and march to Victoria. Unwilling to leave any of his men behind, Fannin sent [[William Ward (Texas)|William Ward]] with 120 men to help King's company.<ref>Reid (2007), pp. 93–94.</ref><ref name="auto"/>  Ward's men drove off the troops besieging the church, but rather than return to Goliad, they delayed a day to conduct further raids on local ranches.<ref>Stuart (2008), pp. 95–96.</ref>

Urrea arrived with almost 1,000 troops on March 14.<ref>Reid (2007), p. 97.</ref>  At the [[battle of Refugio]], an engagement markedly similar to the battle of Concepción, the Texians repulsed several attacks and inflicted heavy casualties, relying on the greater accuracy and range of their rifles.<ref>Hardin (1994), p. 165.</ref>  By the end of the day, the Texians were hungry, thirsty, tired, and almost out of ammunition.<ref>Reid (2007), p. 102.</ref>  Ward ordered a retreat, and under cover of darkness and rain the Texian soldiers slipped through Mexican lines, leaving several severely wounded men behind.<ref name=stuart103and4>Stuart (2008), pp. 103–104.</ref>  Over the next several days, Urrea's men, with the help of local centralist supporters, rounded up many of the Texians who had escaped. Most were executed, although Urrea pardoned a few after their wives begged for their lives, and Mexican Colonel [[Juan José Holzinger]] insisted that all of the non-Americans be spared.<ref name=stuart103and4/>

By the end of the day on March 16, the bulk of Urrea's forces began marching to Goliad to corner Fannin.<ref>Stuart (2008), p. 109.</ref>  Still waiting for word from King and Ward, Fannin continued to delay his evacuation from Goliad.<ref name="hardin166"/>  As they prepared to leave on March 18, Urrea's advance guard arrived. For the rest of the day, the two cavalries skirmished aimlessly, succeeding only in exhausting the Texian oxen, which had remained hitched to their wagons with no food or water throughout the day.<ref>Roell (2014), p. 58.</ref><ref>Stuart (2008), p. 113.</ref>

The Texians began their retreat on March 19. The pace was unhurried, and after travelling only {{convert|4|mi|km}}, the group stopped for an hour to rest and allow the oxen to graze.<ref name=hardin166>Hardin (1994), p. 166.</ref>  Urrea's troops caught up to the Texians later that afternoon, while Fannin and his force of about 300 men were crossing a prairie.<ref name=stuart122>Stuart (2008), p. 122.</ref>  Having learned from the fighting at Refugio, Urrea was determined that the Texians would not reach the cover of timber approximately {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} ahead, along Coleto Creek.<ref name=hardin168>Hardin (1994), p. 168.</ref>  As Mexican forces surrounded them, the Texians formed a tight hollow square for defense.<ref name=stuart122/>  They repulsed three charges during this [[battle of Coleto]], resulting in about nine Texians killed and 51 wounded, including Fannin. Urrea lost 50 men, with another 140 wounded. Texians had little food, no water, and declining supplies of ammunition, but voted to not try to break for the timber, as they would have had to leave the wounded behind.<ref name=hardin171>Hardin (1994), p. 171.</ref>

The following morning, March 20, Urrea paraded his men and his newly arrived artillery.<ref name=stuart148>Stuart (2008), p. 148.</ref>  Seeing the hopelessness of their situation, the Texians with Fannin surrendered. Mexican records show that the Texians [[Unconditional surrender#Surrender at discretion|surrendered at discretion]]; Texian accounts claim that Urrea promised the Texians would be treated as prisoners-of-war and granted passage to the United States.<ref name=stuart143to6>Stuart (2008), pp. 143–146.</ref>  Two days later, a group of Urrea's men surrounded Ward and the last of his group less than {{convert|1|mi|km}} from Victoria. Over Ward's vehement objections, his men voted to surrender, later recalling they were told they would be sent back to the United States.<ref>Roell (2014), p. 62.</ref><ref>Stuart (2008), p. 167.</ref>

On [[Palm Sunday]], March 27, Fannin, Ward, Westover, and their men were marched out of the presidio and shot. Mexican cavalry were stationed nearby to chase down any who tried to escape.<ref name=hardin173>Hardin (1994), p. 173.</ref> Approximately 342 Texians died,<ref name=hardin174>Hardin (1994), p. 174.</ref> and 27 either escaped or were spared by Mexican troops.<ref name=stuart188>Stuart (2008), p. 188.</ref>   Several weeks after the [[Goliad massacre]], the Mexican Congress granted an official reprieve to any Texas prisoners who had incurred capital punishment.<ref name=vazquez314>Vazquez (1985), p. 314.</ref>

===Texas Convention of 1836===
The Convention of 1836 in [[Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas|Washington-on-the-Brazos]] on March 1 attracted 45 delegates, representing 21 municipalities.<ref name=davis231>Davis (2006), p. 231.</ref>  Within an hour of the convention's opening, [[George C. Childress]] submitted a proposed [[Texas Declaration of Independence]], which passed overwhelmingly on March 2.<ref name=lack86/><ref name=lack87>Lack (1992), p. 87.</ref>  On March 6, hours after the Alamo had fallen, Travis's final dispatch arrived. His distress was evident; delegate [[Robert Potter (American politician, died 1842)|Robert Potter]] immediately moved that the convention be adjourned and all delegates join the army.<ref name=lack88>Lack (1992), p. 88.</ref>  Houston convinced the delegates to remain, and then left to take charge of the army. With the backing of the convention, Houston was now commander-in-chief of all regular, volunteer, and militia forces in Texas.<ref name=davis223/>

Over the next ten days, delegates prepared a [[Constitution of the Republic of Texas|constitution for the Republic of Texas]]. Parts of the document were copied verbatim from the [[United States Constitution]]; other articles were paraphrased. The new nation's government was structured similarly to that of the United States, with a bicameral legislature, a chief executive, and a supreme court.<ref name=lack89>Lack (1992), p. 89.</ref> In a sharp departure from its model, the new constitution expressly permitted impressment of goods and forced housing for soldiers. It also explicitly legalized slavery and recognized the people's right to revolt against government authority.<ref name=lack90>Lack (1992), p. 90.</ref>  After adopting the constitution on March 17, delegates elected interim officers to govern the country and then adjourned. David G. Burnet, who had not been a delegate, was elected president.<ref name=davis241>Davis (2006), p. 241.</ref> The following day, Burnet announced the government was leaving for [[Harrisburg, Texas|Harrisburg]].<ref name=davis242>Davis (2006), p. 242.</ref>