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Mexican garrison surrenders in prelude to Texas Revolution
On this day in 1832, the Mexican fort at Velasco surrendered to Texas
colonists in the battle of Velasco, probably the first occasion of
bloodshed in relations between Texas and Mexico. Between 100 and 150
Texans, under the command of Henry Smith and John Austin, had gone to
Brazoria to secure a cannon for use against Mexican forces at Anahuac;
Domingo de Ugartechea, commander of the fort at Velasco, tried to
prevent the passage of their vessel. As a result of the ensuing
eleven-hour battle, one writer called Velasco the "Boston harbor of the
Texas Revolution." The estimated 91 to 200 Mexicans under Ugartechea
were forced to surrender when their ammunition was exhausted. A
conservative estimate of casualties suggests that seven Texans were
killed and fourteen wounded, of whom three later died, while the
Mexicans suffered five killed and sixteen wounded. Final terms allowed
Ugartechea to surrender with honor and return to Mexico aboard a ship
furnished by the Texans. The final document of surrender was signed by
Texas representatives William H. Wharton and William J. Russell.
- Links to Related Handbook of Texas Online Articles
- VELASCO, BATTLE OF
- AUSTIN, JOHN
- UGARTECHEA, DOMINGO DE
- WHARTON, WILLIAM HARRIS
- RUSSELL, WILLIAM JARVIS
- ANAHUAC DISTURBANCES
- VELASCO, TX
- MEXICAN TEXAS
- Other Texas Day by Day Articles for This Date
- Work Projects Administration establishes NYA (1935)
- WFAA radio goes on the air (1922)
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