The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 59, July 1955 - April, 1956 Page: 353
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Southwestern Historical Quarterly and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Texas State Historical Association.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
A Critical Analysis of the San Jacinto Campaign
December of that year; the invasion led by Santa Anna in 1836
which ended in the battle of San Jacinto; the invasion of Rafael
Vasquez which captured San Antonio in early March, 1842; and
finally, the Adrian Woll invasion in the autumn of 1842, which
also resulted in the capture of San Antonio.
The Texans, although they tried, were never able to duplicate
these feats. The nearest they came was in 1842, when Alexander
Somervell's expedition, after great effort, reached the Rio Grande,
only to break up, and the force that remained on the river was
captured at the battle of Mier.
To march troops, either infantry or cavalry, across the water-
less and semi-arid plains between San Luis Potosi and the Rio
Grande, and between the Rio Grande and the interior of Texas,
with few if any supply sources either en route or at the destina-
tion, was a feat of no mean order in itself.
Another point that has received scant consideration from many
Texan historians, is the quality of the individual Mexican soldier.
The peon of that date, the class from which Mexican soldiers
were secured, was just a few degrees removed from a state of
savagery. Also a goodly proportion of the army were ex-convicts,
the very dregs of Mexico. Altogether they were a sorry lot, and
any commander who could march such troops over five hundred
miles in a semi-arid country without supply facilities, and have
them in condition to put up any kind of fight at the end of the
march, would be a good soldier.
The Mexican army organized for the invasion of Texas in
1836 consisted of units from Tampico, the City of Mexico, Quere-
taro, and other localities. Santa Anna left his headquarters at
Saltillo, and marched via Monclova with 6ooo men on February
1, 1836. He reached the Rio Grande on February 12, and re-
mained there until the 16th.
General Jose Herrera with 320 infantry, 330 cavalry, and one
four-pounder marched from Saltillo to Monterrey. Jose Urrea
arrived at San Patricio on February 27. While in this area, he
captured the detachments of Dr. James Grant and Colonel Francis
W. Johnson. The second in command of the combined Mexican
forces was General Vicente Filisola. All other units of the army,
commanded by General Joaquin Ramirez y Sesma, Antonio353
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 59, July 1955 - April, 1956, periodical, 1956; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101162/m1/379/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.