Mier Expedition – Texas History

The Mier Expedition was the most disastrous of all of the border confrontations between Texas and Mexico during the days of the Republic. It developed out of the Somervell Expedition, which disbanded soon after making brief raids into Laredo and Guerrero along the Rio Grande. About 300 strong, the group elected William S. Fisher as their … Read more

The Battle of San Jacinto – Texas History

Sam Houston and the meager army of Texans retreated eastward following the fall of the Alamo in the spring of 1836. The troops were becoming increasingly impatient, however, by the time they reached Buffalo Bayou, a few miles southeast of present-day Houston. On the morning of April 19, the Texans crossed over and marched down the … Read more

The Grass Fight – Texas History

Toward the end of November 1835, it was reported to the Texans around San Antonio that a shipment of silver coming from Mexico. According to the report, the silver was being transported on a train of pack mules on its way to pay the soldiers of Mexican General Cos, who then occupied the town. The … Read more

The Battle of Gonzales – Come and Take it!

The Battle of Gonzales was the first battle of the Texas Revolution and occurred on October 2, 1835. Leading up to the battle, tensions had been growing between the Texians and the Mexican government as Santa Anna came to power. Many of the Texan settlers were from the United States, continuing to speak English and … Read more

Goliad Campaign of 1835

The town of Goliad held a strategic position at the time of the Texas Revolution. It was located about 50 miles up the San Antonio River on a key route between San Antonio and the port of Copano on the Gulf coast. Thus, any Mexican naval supply line to San Antonio passed by the town. … Read more

The Goliad Massacre – Texas History

As part of the Mexican invasion of Texas in early 1836, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his main force of at least 5000 men followed an inland route toward San Antonio. At the same time, Mexican General Jose Urrea with some 900 troops, left Matamoros and followed a coastal route into Texas. The first town approached … Read more

The Battle of Galveston – Texas History

In the fall of 1862, Union Commodore William B. Renshaw sailed into Galveston harbor and demanded the surrender of the island city by its occupants. With virtually no defense force, the Confederate commander on the island, Colonel Joseph J. Cook, had little choice but to comply. About the same time in late 1862, Major General … Read more

Texas Secession Convention of 1861

For many southerners, the election of Abraham Lincoln in the fall of 1860 was equivalent to a declaration of war on the South. A few, including Texas’ aging Governor Sam Houston, argued against secession. They proclaimed the benefits of mediation and compromise. Further, if Texas did separate from the Union, Houston reasoned, she would fare better … Read more

The Convention of 1836 – Texas History

Fifty-four delegates of the Convention of 1836 began meeting on March 1st at the village of Washington-on-the-Brazos. Each of the settlements of Texas was represented by delegates elected one month earlier. Richard Ellis was elected president of the convention and Herbert S. Kimble secretary. With very little time to accomplish its mission, delegates of the … Read more

The Convention of 1833 – Texas History

Almost before the Mexican authorities had a chance to reject the resolutions adopted by the Convention of 1832, a new convention was planned to meet again in San Felipe on April 1, 1833. The nature of this new convention was more aggressive than before. Of the fifty-five delegates that met in 1833, only a quarter of … Read more