On the second day of the siege, february 24, 1836, travis called for reinforcements with this heroic message. The garrisons sentries spot the advance of santa annas cavalry units. Students will analyze a primary source travis letter in order to better understand a soldiers point of view during the war assignment taken for a grade. The seal of the combat studies institute authenticates this document as an. Houstons forces attacked and destroyed mexican army. Santa anna declared himself president again and unsuccessfully tried to fight off the united states. Detailed information on the mexican army which fought the texans in the 1830s, and the us army in its first important foreign war ten years later, is notoriously elusive. He first opposed mexican independence from spain, but then fought in support of it. There were two documents, one private, the other public, signed velasco. On april 21, 1836, the forces of the mexican army under general santa anna were handed a decisive defeat by the texans at san jacinto. He was plagued by inept soldiers, some of them freed convicts, and he was distracted by sniping from political enemies in the capital.
After scouts confirm the mexican armys presence, colonel william b. When war did break out in 1846, the thenexiled santa anna returned to mexico and took command of a mexican army. Polk believed him, and agreed to let santa anna leave cuba through a. Letter from santa anna ordering retreat of the mexican. The texas revolution was over in less than a year, and a new government led largely by anglos had emerged. News of santa annas victory spread quickly through texas, and remember the alamo became the battle. Officials moved religious records and activities to san fernando church. Military academy graduates who time and again paved the way for american victories. When the mexican war broke out in 1846, santa anna sent a letter to u. Sam houstons forces defeated santa annas army in a swift and bloody battle at san jacinto. A very short introduction this book, written by one of the bestknown scholars in the.
Travis orders a withdrawal into the alamo compound. Texas historybiography of mexican general santa anna. Detailed information on the mexican army which fought the texans in the battle of the alamo 1836 and the us army in its first. He was personally in charge of the mexican army at the battle of the alamo march, 1836, and he was responsible for the brutal and treacherous massacre at goliad march 1836. Dressed as a common soldier, santa anna attempted to flee, but was taken prisoner the following day. At san jacinto, 250 miles east of the alamo, the texan forces turned on santa annas overconfident army in a surprise attack during siesta time. Santa annas mexican army 182148 by rene chartrand, bill. For the next two days, the mexican army of over 15,000 troops assaulted the smaller u. The mexican congress considered santa annas actions scandalous and nullified both. The bravados classic western, full movie, gregory peck, english free full western films duration.
Santa anna and his army then set out in search of sam houston s army but met with little success. The two sides talked and dickered, but no action was taken. The fallof the citadel brought mexican resistance practically to an end. Santa annas military and political career was a series of reversals. In a parley with mexican colonel juan almonte the texians are ordered to surrender or be put to the sword. Travis 1836 victory or death letter from the alamo tslac. At buena vista, however, jefferson davis reserve forces stalled santa annas mexican soldiers.
Mexican forces stormed the garrison from all sides. Letter from santa anna ordering retreat of the mexican army, april 22, 1836 page. Letter from santa anna ordering retreat of the mexican army, april 22, 1836. Letter from santa anna ordering retreat of the mexican army, april 22, 1836, letter. As an antisanta anna agitator and an outspoken opponent of the mexican centrist government, lt. Account for the san antonio express at least a half century later. Travis and his men were able to beat back two assaults, but at last the mexicans breached the walls of the alamo and killed all of the texas defenders. Unts history and scholarship, library special collections, plus a large collection of u. President james polk in which he promised to sell new mexico and california to the u. Returned to his tent, allow his men to rest, not posting enough guards. But peace with mexico would not come with the end of the war. This outline, in response to requests by several members, provides a list of units in the mexican army as a whole during the texas revolution. He left 250 men who were too sick to travel, and rushed to head off santa annas army.
On september 29, 1835, a detachment of the mexican army arrived in gonzales, texas, a mexican state, to confiscate a cannon. On february 23, 1836, colonel william barret travis led 150 defenders to make their stand against santa annas vastly superior mexican army. But his basic failures were rooted in his own shortcomings. On the evening of february 21, general taylor received a message from general santa anna offering to accept an american surrender and be spared the battle. Detailed information on the mexican army which fought the texans in thebattle of the alamo 1836and the us army in its first important foreign war ten years later, is notoriously elusive. Mexican army, outline of organization, 183536 compiled by tom kailbourn, 2008 note. Mexican soldiers account of the battle of the alamo, march 6, 1836. Dating from 1835 through 1849, the manuscripts include correspondence, military orders, and a decree that gives insight into the mexican army during the texas revolution. Santa anna s mexican army 182148 elite rene chartrand santa anna s mexican army 182148 elite rene chartrand osprey s examination of the mexican army of santa anna, from 1821 to 1848.
Santa anna abdicatedthe presidency, and the last remnant of his army, about 1,500 volunteers, wascompletely defeated a few days later while attempting to capture an americansupply train. Once cos arrived, santa annas men numbered 1,300 houston called for a war council a meeting of army leaders at noon. The shield is encircled by a wreath of live oak and olive. Shortly after houstons force reached harrisburg they captured three mexican couriers carrying dispatches relating that santa anna was leading the force that passed through harrisburg. Texans struggle for freedom and equality exhibit texans fight for. Battle of the alamo, a mexican soldiers eyewitness account. Several battles were fought, including the famous battle of the alamo, in which 200 texans held off nearly. On march 27, 1836, the mexicans captured goliad and over 300 unarmed texan prisoners were massacred. The treaty of guadalupe hidalgo, which brought an official end to the mexicanamerican war 184648, was signed on february 2, 1848, at guadalupe hidalgo, a city to which the mexican government had fled with the advance of u. On may 14, santa anna signed two peace treaties with interim texas president david g. What are known now as the treaties of velasco were not called that when they were drafted, but were rather a public agreement and a secret treaty.
After some formal education and a short career as a merchant, he was appointed to the infantry. When santa anna retired, farias assumed the presidency and enacted a series of reforms against the upper class and the catholic church, which enraged the mexican centralists. The mexican army includes the mexican air force fam. The special forces are part of the army while the presidential guard and military police fall under the national guard, but have their own chain of command. Santa anna proclaimed the plan of cuernavaca in 1834, which called for the removal of farias and the 1824 constitution and the establishment of a centralist government. No author given or date, although internal evidence. A guide to the mexican army of operations in texas. What were two of the things that they did to mexico. Sam houston and his newly formed army proceeded into east texas, closely pursued by santa anna, whose divided forces clashed several times with texans. At the alamo in san antonio, then called bexar, 150 texas rebels led by william barret travis made their stand against santa annas vastly superior mexican army. In this groundbreaking book an internationally respected military historian presents a mass of new information from mexican archives and a variety of other contemporary sources. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext.
The treaty of velasco, negotiated between sam houston and santa. Six times the countrys president, he is consistently depicted as a traitor, a turncoat, and a tyrantthe exclusive cause of all of mexicos misfortunes. The alamo charge of santa annathe final assault soundtrack duration. The cannon was well hidden, but eighteen armed men stood in plain sight. Santa anna was captured and forced to sign treaty giving texas its independence. A scout reported to colonel travis that the mexican army had crossed the rio grande. He would take a few steps and stop, turning his proud face toward us to discharge his shots. Born on february 21, 1794, in veracruz, santa anna enjoyed a middleclass upbringing.
He saw action in the service of spain in attempts to put down mexican independence revolt. The mexican army advances seeking revenge against the rebellious texans, santa anna decided that he would personally lead the attack. Santa anna took the field in person against the revolutionists. With the defeat of its army and the fall of the capital, mexico city, in september 1847, the mexican. Authoritiesin mexico city sent out a white flag on 14 september 1847.
Ospreys examination of the mexican army of santa anna, from 1821 to 1848. According to the speaker, who were the miserable wretches. The news had now been received of the massacre of fannins men, and when it was also learned that the mexican army was on the east side of the colorado, the people of san felipe burned the town, and a general retreat commenced from that place, the settlers endeavoring to put the sabine river. At first, the general agreed to most of the reforms in austins peti. Detailed information on the mexican army which fought the texans in the battle of the alamo 1836 and the us army in its first important foreign war ten years later, is notoriously elusive.