April 6, 1830
The Mexican Congress passes a law forbidding further emigration into Texas by U.S. settlers.
October 2, 1835
The Battle of Gonzales marks the first official skirmish of the Texas Revolution. Near the Guadalupe River, this attempted repossession of a cannon given to American colonists by the Mexican government for Indian defense marked the descent to a new low in relations between the Texian settlers and Mexico.
October 9, 1835
The Goliad Campaign of 1835 started as an initiative by General Martín Perfecto de Cos to regain control of ports along the Texas Coast. But it ended when Texian rebels charged the handful of Mexican defenders seized a fort at Goliad. This enraged Mexican officials and strained relations between rebel and loyalist Texians.
October 28, 1835
Battle of Concepción. General Martín Perfecto de Cos, failing his objectives at Goliad, made his way to the Alamo mission whereby Texas forces under the command of Stephen F. Austin laid siege to his position from a wooded area near the San Antonio River. Less than 100 Texans ended all hope of escape for the 450 Mexican soldiers.
November 26, 1835
The Texian camp was alerted to Mexican cavalry approaching San Antonio, and attacked—hoping they were carrying the soldier’s pay. The Texans managed to steal their cargo. But instead of silver, it was grass to feed the livestock. This engagement is now known as the Grass Fight.
December 5-9, 1835
At the Siege of Béxar, the Texians launched a surprise attack on the Mexican soldiers seeking refuge in San Antonio. The climax of the first major campaign in the Texas Revolution, the siege included trench warfare and night attacks. Many of the Mexican Cavalry fled, and surrender terms were accepted from General Cos.
March 2, 1836
A new nation was born in North America as the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed. An ad interim government was established, appointments were made and the army was quickly formed due to the urgency of wartime demand. Sam Houston was named Commander-in-Chief.
March 6, 1836
The 13 day siege of the Alamo concludes on this date, as over 200 Texians under the command of Col. James Bowie and Lt. Col. William Barrett Travis fell to over 2,000 Mexican soldiers. On February 24, Travis wrote: “I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due his own honor & that of his country. VICTORY or DEATH.” After the siege, all surviving Texian fighters were executed.
March 13, 1836
The Runaway Scrape began, following the burning of Gonzales at Gen. Houston's orders, as settlers fled eastward before the approach of the Mexican army.
March 27, 1836
Following General Santa Anna's direct order, Mexican soldiers executed Colonel Fannin and 344 of his men at Goliad—regardless of the formal provisions of surrender. Twenty-eight Texians escape to witness to the event. As Texian forces fell to the superior Mexican army at the battles of Refugio and Coleto, they too were put to death. Four hundred in total were executed. The news outraged the volunteers of Houston's army.
April 21, 1836
The Battle of San Jacinto marked the stunning conclusion to the Texas Revolution, as Texian forces—outnumbered and under-trained—launched a successful attack. The battle lasted approximately 18 minutes. Discipline was hard to maintain as Texian soldiers rallied to cries of “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!”
