Timeline of the Texas Revolution facts for kids

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This is a timeline of the Texas Revolution. It covers the time from the first calls for independence in Texas to the moment the Republic of Texas broke away from Mexico.

The first shot of the Texas Revolution happened at the Battle of Gonzales on October 2, 1835. This event started the war. For the next three months, Texian colonists pushed all Mexican army troops out of the area.

General Jose Urrea led half of the Mexican troops up the Texas coast. This was part of the Goliad Campaign. Meanwhile, Santa Anna led the rest of the troops to San Antonio. After a thirteen-day fight, Santa Anna's army defeated the small group of Texians at the Battle of the Alamo. His army then moved east. Many Texians, including the government, left their homes in what was called the Runaway Scrape.

On March 19, the Texas troops marched into an open field near Goliad in thick fog. When they stopped to rest, Urrea and his main army surrounded them. The Texas force had about 300 soldiers. The Mexicans had 300 to 500 troops. With no other choice, James Fannin decided to fight near Coleto Creek. Santa Anna and his troops looked for the Texian government and the Texian army. This army was led by Sam Houston.

On April 21, 1836, the Texans defeated Santa Anna's army at the Battle of San Jacinto. Santa Anna was captured the next day. The Mexican army went back to Mexico City. This ended the Texas Revolution. Texas became an independent area and later joined the United States.

Before the War: 1823–1834

Year	Political Events	Military Events
1823	February: Agustín de Iturbide approved Stephen F. Austin's plan to bring settlers to Texas. July: Austin started the town of San Felipe de Austin. This became his main base. Mexico passed a law against buying or selling slaves. It also said children of slaves would be free at age fourteen. Any slave brought into Mexico would also be freed.
1824	October 4: The Mexican Constitution of 1824 created a federal republic. This meant power was shared between the central government and states. Texas was joined with Coahuila to form the new state of Coahuila y Tejas.
1825	Green DeWitt started a new settlement in Texas, west of Austin's. Haden Edwards started a settlement in Texas, east of Austin's. Martín De León started a settlement in Texas, south of Austin's.
1826	December 16: Empresario Haden Edwards and 30 of his settlers declared their own country. They called it the independent Republic of Fredonia.	July: Comanche people burned DeWitt's town to the ground.
1827	The United States President John Quincy Adams offered to buy Texas for $1 million. Mexican President Guadalupe Victoria said no. The government of Coahuila y Tejas made new laws. They outlawed bringing more slaves into the state. They also said all children born to slaves would be free at birth. Any slave brought into Texas had to be freed within six months.	January 31: Mexican forces and local fighters from other settlements drove Edwards out of Texas. DeWitt and his settlers rebuilt their town, Gonzales.
1829	Slavery was officially outlawed in Mexico. Austin tried to keep this a secret. He feared it would make many people unhappy. United States President Andrew Jackson again offered to buy Texas for $1 million. Mexican President Vicente Guerrero said no.	Mexican General Manuel Mier y Teran wrote a report about the settlers in Texas. He said most Anglo Americans did not want to become Mexican citizens. They tried to stay separate from Mexicans. He also noted that slave laws were being ignored. The report suggested new military bases in Texas. These bases would watch the Anglo colonists. They would also encourage Mexicans to move to the area. July: Santa Anna led Mexican troops to stop an invasion by Spanish General Isidro Barradas. During this invasion, the Mexican Congress gave war powers to Vicente Guerrero. This made him almost a dictator.
1830	April 6: Mexican president Anastasio Bustamante signed new laws for Texas. These laws included: An order for Texas to follow the slave freedom law. If not, the military would step in. To get around this, many colonists made their slaves "indentured servants for life." Others just called them that without changing their legal status. Ending the property tax law. This law had let immigrants avoid taxes for ten years. He also raised taxes on goods from the United States. This made prices go up. Settlement contracts were now controlled by the federal government, not the state. Settlements with fewer than 150 people would be canceled. Stopping immigration from the United States to Texas. Many people ignored this rule. By 1834, over 30,000 Anglos lived in Texas. Only 7,800 Mexicans lived there.
1831	For protection, the local leader gave Gonzales a small cannon. Following Mier y Teran's ideas, three military bases were set up in Texas. The base at Anahuac became the first port in Texas to collect customs taxes. A second customs port, Fort Velasco, was built at the mouth of the Brazos River. A third base, Fort Teran, was set up on the Neches River near Nacogdoches. This was to stop smuggling and illegal immigration. These bases were staffed with prisoners.
1832	A new state law said worker contracts could not last more than ten years. October 1: 55 delegates met at San Felipe de Austin for the Convention of 1832. They wrote three requests for the Mexican Congress. They wanted to cancel part of the 1830 law that stopped foreign settlement. They also wanted customs reform, recognition for settlers without legal land titles, and Texas to become a separate state.	June: The commander of the Anahuac base, Juan Davis Bradburn, angered settlers by strictly enforcing the 1830 laws. The settlers chose Johnson as their leader. In the first Anahuac Disturbances, angry colonists attacked Bradburn's base. They wanted to free lawyers William Barret Travis and Patrick Churchill Jack. June 26: Colonel Domingo de Ugartechea, commander at Velasco, tried to stop colonists. They were bringing a cannon up the Brazos River to help attack Anahuac. This started the overnight Battle of Velasco. Mexican troops surrendered the next day. Then, there were several days of talks. June 29: Ugartechea signed an agreement with the Brazoria local fighters at Velasco. July: Colonel Jose de las Piedras arrived in Anahuac with troops from Nacogdoches. After talks with the settlers, the Turtle Bayou Resolutions were created. Bradburn was removed from his job, ending the problems. August 2: The Battle of Nacogdoches happened. All Mexican soldiers were driven from east Texas.
1833	March: The capital of Coahuila y Tejas moved from Saltillo to Monclova. This made it even further from Texas. April 1: Santa Anna was elected president of Mexico. April 1: The Convention of 1833 met with 56 delegates. They chose a group to write a constitution for a new state of Texas. They also picked Stephen F. Austin to speak for Texas to the federal government. November 21: Because Austin pushed for it, the Mexican Congress lifted the ban on foreign settlement in Texas.
1834	January: Stephen F. Austin was arrested in Saltillo. He was suspected of treason. No official charges were ever filed against him. March: Texas got more say in the state government. Trial by jury was started. English was allowed as a second language. Santa Anna canceled the Mexican Constitution of 1824. As the national government tried to gain more power, a civil war began. Saltillo said Monclova was not the legal capital. They appointed their own governor.

1835: The Revolution Begins

Month	Political Events	Military Events
January	Stephen F. Austin published his Exposition to the Public Regarding the Affairs of Texas. In this paper, he explained that Texas wanted to be a separate Mexican state, not an independent country.
May	May 25: Federalist governor Agustín Viesca closed the state government in Monclova. He feared Santa Anna would attack Coahuila after defeating rebels in Zacatecas. Viezca traveled toward Texas. He planned to set up a new government in San Antonio. He was arrested on the way.	Mexican army groups loyal to the central government took over Saltillo. They ended the state government.
June		June 20: In the second Anahuac Disturbances, William Barret Travis led local fighters. They freed colonists arrested in a customs dispute. The Mexican troops gave up and were sent out of the area.
July	The political leader of the Nacogdoches area told the local fighters to prepare for battle against Mexican troops. "Texas Committees" in the United States started sending money and volunteers to Texas.
August	Austin arrived in Texas. He took back his role as the civil leader of Anglo-American Texas.
September	September 8: Austin changed his mind. He called for war with Mexico to make Texas free. September 28: Juan Seguín, Salvador Flores, Manuel Flores, and others from Béxar met. They declared their support for a revolution.	September 1: The Texas armed ship San Felipe fought and captured the Mexican Navy ship Correo de Majica. A small steamer, Laura, helped. These were arguably the first shots of the conflict. September 20: General Martin Perfecto de Cós landed at Copano with 300 troops. He marched toward Goliad. September 28: Albert Martin was chosen as Captain of the Gonzales "Old 18" defenders. September 29: Mexican Lieutenant Francisco de Castañeda and 100 dragoons arrived near Gonzales. They wanted to force settlers to return a cannon given to them in 1831.
October	October 3: Santa Anna ended all state governments.	October 2: The Battle of Gonzales officially started the Texas Revolution. The Texian settlers kept their cannon. Castañeda and his men left. October 2: Cós occupied Goliad. He waited for 450 more soldiers. October 2: Cós sent Captain Manuel Sabriego and 25 men to Guadalupe Victoria, Texas. They were to seize their cannon and arrest José María Jesús Carbajal. Mayor Plácido Benavides led Victoria's local fighters. The settlers kept their cannon. October 5: Cós left for San Antonio. He left about 30 men in Goliad. October 10: The Battle of Goliad happened. Afterward, Texians took over the fort at Goliad. October 11: Austin was chosen as commander of the Texian volunteers. The army began marching toward San Antonio. October 14: Philip Dimmitt took command of the local fighters guarding Presidio La Bahia. October 27: Austin sent James Bowie, James Fannin, and Juan Seguín with 90 men. They were to find a good spot to start a siege. Bowie and his men camped overnight at Mission Concepción, even though they were told to return that day. October 28: 400 Mexican troops attacked Bowie and his men. The Battle of Concepción ended with the Mexicans leaving.
November	November 3: The Consultation met in San Felipe de Austin. They decided the goals of the ongoing revolution. The group did not declare independence. They said they wanted to bring back the Constitution of 1824. November 7: The Consultation declared Texas had the right to form a new independent state. This would happen if the 1824 Constitution of Mexico was no longer valid in Mexico. November 14: Henry Smith was named Governor. November 14: The new temporary government chose Austin, William H. Wharton, and Branch T. Archer to go to the United States as representatives.	November 1: The Texians began the Siege of Béxar. November 3: Texians captured Fort Lipantitlan. November 14: The Consultation named Sam Houston commander-in-chief of a regular Texas Army. He had no power over Houston's volunteers. November 15: José Antonio Mexía attacked Tampico. When help from federalists in Matamoros did not arrive, he went back to Texas. He then pushed for an attack on Matamoros. November 24: The Texas Army volunteers chose Colonel Edward Burleson as commander-in-chief. He replaced Stephen F. Austin, who was leaving. November 26: Bowie led Texians in the Grass Fight. November 28: Santa Anna left Mexico City with a 6,000-strong Mexican Army. He marched north to take back Texas from the rebels.
December	December 30: Santa Anna received a declaration from the Mexican Congress. It said all foreigners fighting against the government should be treated as pirates and shot.	December 1: Edward Burleson was made commander of the volunteer army by the temporary government. December 5: Under Ben Milam and Frank Johnson, Texians attacked San Antonio. December 7: Fannin was made a colonel in the regular army by Houston. Neill was made a lieutenant colonel of artillery in the regular army by the temporary government. December 8: Colonel Domingo Ugartechea returned to San Antonio with over 500 more soldiers to help General Cós. December 10: General Cós surrendered over 1,000 Mexican troops and the Alamo to Texian forces at San Antonio. Cós and his men were allowed to return to Mexico. They promised not to fight against the Texians again. December 12: Houston issued a statement to recruit a Regular Texas Army. December 15: Edward Burleson left his command. Most volunteers went home for Christmas. Frank W. Johnson took command of the remaining local fighters. December 17: Sam Houston was ordered by Texas Governor Henry Smith to attack Matamoros. Houston gave these orders to James Bowie for the attack. December 29: James Bowie's order to attack Matamoros was confirmed by the U.S. General Council.

1836: Independence and Victory

Date	Political Events	Military Events
January 5		James Grant and Frank Johnson were ordered by the Texas General Council to attack Matamoros. They took most of the remaining men and supplies from the Alamo fort. The few left at the Alamo chose James C. Neill as their commander.
January 6		Santa Anna arrived at Saltillo.
January 7		James Walker Fannin was ordered by the Texas General Council to attack Matamoros.
January 11		James Bowie and William Blowout arrived at Goliad to support a Matamoros trip.
January 14		Sam Houston arrived at Goliad to take control of the Matamoros trip. J.C. Neill, commander of 78 men at the Alamo, asked for supplies. Philip Dimmitt, commander at Presidio La Bahia, left his post and went to Gonzales. This happened after James Grant took supplies from Goliad. Peyton S. Wyatt took command.
January 19		James Bowie and James Bonham arrived at the Alamo fort with 30 men. Houston ordered Francis W. Thornton to command at Goliad.
January 21		Sam Houston arrived at Refugio to control the Matamoros trip.
February 1	Elections were held in Texas settlements for a convention about independence.
February 2		James Bowie asked Smith for supplies. Fannin arrived with troops at Copano, Texas to help the Matamoros Expedition.
February 3		William Travis arrived at the Alamo fort with 30 men.
February 4		Fannin and troops marched to Refugio to meet Grant and Johnson.
February 7		Fannin was at Refugio. He was elected colonel of the volunteer troops who would gather around Goliad. Fannin learned about a Mexican advance into Texas and a planned ambush at Matamoros. He stopped the Matamoros trip.
February 8		David Crockett arrived in Bexar, near the Alamo, with 12 men.
February 9		James Grant and Frank Johnson continued their Matamoros Expedition. They gathered horses around San Patricio and South Texas.
February 11		Alamo commander J.C. Neill left the Alamo command due to a family illness. He appointed Travis commander.
February 12		James Fannin left Refugio with his troops. He took command at Presidio La Bahia in Goliad.
February 13		Santa Anna and his army reached the city of Guerrero. Urrea reinforced Matamoros and marched toward San Patricio and South Texas.
February 14		Travis and Bowie agreed to share command of the Alamo's forces.
February 16		Santa Anna crossed the Rio Grande.
February 17		Travis sent out letters asking for men and supplies. General José de Urrea crossed the Rio Grande.
February 21		Santa Anna arrived at the Medina River.
February 22		Heavy rains made the Medina River swell. This ruined a surprise attack by Sesma's cavalry.
February 23		Santa Anna entered San Antonio with generals Sesma, Amador, and Castrillón and the Vanguard Brigade. The Alamo fort came under artillery fire from Mexican troops. The siege of the Alamo began.
February 24		Travis wrote his famous "To the People of Texas & all Americans in the world" letter. Bowie became ill.
February 25		Fannin, commander of troops at Goliad, received Travis' plea for help. Fannin ordered Chenoweth to leave Copano. He sent his company to hold the Cibolo. This was in preparation for Fannin's march to help the Alamo defenders.
February 26		James Fannin tried to march to help the Alamo. But he turned back. R.M Williamson arrived in Gonzales. He helped organize the Alamo relief forces gathering there.
February 27		Mexican General José de Urrea attacked and defeated Frank Johnson and a small group of Texians at the Battle of San Patricio.
February 28		Juan Seguín and his relief forces were waiting on the Cibolo Creek. They met the Goliad advance led by Francis L. DeSauque and John M. Chenoweth. They told Seguin that Fannin was on his way to help the Alamo defenders. He should be about two days away.
February 29	Houston arrived at Washington on the Brazos.	The Gonzales relief forces arrived on the Cibolo below Bexar.
March 1	The Convention of 1836 of elected delegates met at Washington-on-the-Brazos.	Thirty-two to sixty men from Gonzales, part of the "Gonzales Company of Mounted Volunteers", entered the Alamo at 1:00 A.M.
March 2	The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed. The Republic of Texas was declared. David G. Burnet was elected as temporary president by the delegates.	Texians with James Grant were defeated at the Battle of Agua Dulce. Cos arrived at the Alamo, just before the First Brigade.
March 3		James B. Bonham arrived back at the Alamo. He told Travis that Fannin was not coming. Mexican Aldama, Toluca, and Zapadores battalions arrived in San Antonio.
March 4	Sam Houston was appointed commander of all Texas forces.	Santa Anna held a meeting with generals Joaquín Ramírez y Sesma, Martín Perfecto de Cos, Manuel F. Castrillón, and colonels Juan Almonte, Agustín Amat, Francisco Duque, and Manuel Romero. They planned the final attack.
March 5		Mexican artillery stopped firing at the Alamo. General Juan Valentín Amador created the plan to attack the Alamo. Neill was at Gonzales, commanding 375 troops gathering there.
March 6	Travis's March 3 plea reached Washington on the Brazos. Houston and his staff headed for Gonzales.	Battle of the Alamo: The Alamo fell. About 180-250 Texians, Tejanos, and Anglos died. The thirteen-day siege resulted in the deaths of all of its defenders. This included William B. Travis, David Crockett, and Jim Bowie. Several civilians survived.
March 8	Fannin received the news of the Texas Declaration of Independence.	Mexican Generals Antonio Gaona, Adrián Woll, Vicente Filisola, and Juan Arago arrived with artillery and the rest of the First Brigade at the Alamo. Houston ordered Fannin with his command at Goliad and Neill with his command at Gonzales to go help the Alamo defenders.
March 10		Mexican General Andrade arrived at the Alamo in San Antonio. Edward Burleson at Gonzales was elected as an infantry colonel.
March 11		Houston arrived, took command, and began his retreat from Gonzales. This started the Runaway Scrape. Houston ordered Fannin to fall back from Goliad and move to Victoria. General Sesma left for Gonzales.
March 12		Battle of Refugio began: Amon B. King and his men were attacked by General Urrea. Texian troops led by Lt. Col. William Ward were sent to help.
March 13		Ward's troops arrived. The Mexicans were pushed back, but fighting continued.
March 14		After several hours of fighting, Amon King, William Ward, and the Texians tried to retreat to Victoria.
March 15		King's troops were captured by the Mexicans.
March 16		Amon King and 14 men were executed. General Eugenio Tolosa and the 2nd Brigade arrived near the Alamo in San Antonio.
March 17		Albert C. Horton's scouts found Colonel Juan Morales nearing Goliad with his battalions.
March 18		Albert C. Horton's cavalry and Urrea's advance forces fought near Fort Defiance.
March 19		Fannin's command left for Victoria. Urrea learned of Fannin's departure and chased them. Battle of Coleto: General Urrea stopped Colonel James Fannin near Goliad.
March 20		Urrea received more soldiers. Mexican troops now totaled nearly 1000. Fannin surrendered.
March 21		Battle of Copano: General Urrea captured the port of Copano. The Mexicans held the port until the end of the war. They used it for more soldiers and to send injured and prisoners to Mexico.
March 23		William Ward surrendered.
March 24		General Antonio Gaona left Bexar. He headed east toward Nacogdoches.
March 27		Goliad Massacre: James Fannin and nearly 400 Texians were executed. This was ordered by Santa Anna. Houston and his army camped near San Felipe de Austin.
March 28		Houston ordered Wiley Martin and Mosley Baker with Juan Seguín to guard his retreat. This delayed Santa Anna's army from crossing the Brazos River.
March 29 – 31		Santa Anna finally left San Antonio de Bexar. General Andrade was left in command with 1000 troops at Bexar.
April 5		General Antonio Gaona, after new orders from Santa Anna and an eight-day delay, left his occupation of Mina. He then went to San Felipe de Austin.
April 7		Santa Anna's army reached San Felipe. They were stopped by Baker's men.
April 8		Santa Anna joined Ramirez y Sesma at Beason's Crossing.
April 12	David G. Burnet and his cabinet barely escaped the arriving Mexican army. Colonel Almonte decided not to shoot the fleeing group.	Santa Anna crossed Fort Bend on the Brazos River. Houston used the boat Yellow Stone to cross the Brazos River.
April 15		Santa Anna and his army arrived at Harrisburg.
April 18		Houston and his army arrived outside of Harrisburg.
April 20		Texian and Mexican patrols clashed at New Washington. Houston moved his army to Buffalo Bayou. J.C. Neill was wounded and replaced by G.W. Hockley. A cavalry attack led by Sidney Sherman fought the Mexican army.
April 21		Martín Perfecto de Cos arrived with 500 more soldiers to help Santa Anna. Battle of San Jacinto: The Texian army under Sam Houston completely defeated the Mexican force under Santa Anna. This secured Texas's independence.
April 22		Santa Anna was captured.
April 23		News of Santa Anna's defeat and capture reached Santa Anna's second-in-command, General Vicente Filisola.
April 25		All Mexican troops in Texas (2,573 men) gathered at Elizabeth Powell's Tavern near Old Fort. This included General José de Urrea's troops. In a meeting led by Filisola, they agreed to withdraw south of the Colorado River.
April 28		The retreating Mexican army crossed the Colorado River at the Atascosito Crossing near present-day Columbus, Texas. Because of heavy rains and low food and supplies, the Mexicans continued to move south.
May 10		The Mexican army reached the Atascosita Road at Victoria.
May 14		Treaties of Velasco were signed by Republic of Texas officials and General Santa Anna.
May 17		The Mexican army arrived in Goliad.
May 28		The first groups of the Mexican army arrived in San Patricio.
May 31		The Mexican army arrived on the west bank of the Nueces River.
June 4		The Mexican army at the Alamo fort officially surrendered to Juan Seguín, the military chief of San Antonio.
June 5 – June 12		The Mexican army camped at Rancho Chiltipiquin. Extreme summer heat forced the army to move on.
June 15		Filisola, leading the defeated and tired Mexican army, crossed the Rio Grande back into Mexico. He arrived later that day at Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

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