4. The Texas Revolution: Part C (January-March 7, 1836)
Selected Texas History Primary Source Documents
(Back to Texas Revolution Table of Contents)
Suggestion: One might also find it useful to consult the list of documents and collections of documents at List 2, "Texas in the Nineteenth Century: General."
William Fairfax Gray. The Diary of William Fairfax Gray, from Virginia to Texas, 1835-1837. Author was, until January 28, traveling to Texas as an agent for two Washington, D.C. land speculators. Texas material for the last four weeks of that journey appears in Volume III, pp. 53-55; Vol. IV, pp. 56-58. and Vol. V, pp. 61-64, 66-70, and 76. Accounts of his journey from Gaines Ferry on the Sabine River to Washington-on-the Brazos and his attendance upon the convention held there in March are in Vol. V, p. 76 and following, Vol. VI, p. 83 and following; and Vol. VII, p. 108 and following. Pages are numbered consecutively through all of the volumes. Use the "Go to Page" link to reach the desired pages.) Link to document
Stephen F. Sparks, "Recollections of S. F. Sparks." [Written many years after the events described.] Author recounts participation in the Texas Revolution from the fall of 1835 to the summer of 1836. Link to document
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Manifesto relating to the Texas Campaign, May 10, 1837. Evidently written at Vera Cruz. Link to document
Jose Juan Sanchez Navarro, "A Mexican View of the War in Texas: Memoirs of a Veteran of the Two Battles of the Alamo," Library Chronicle, 4 (no date given). (Excerpts.) Author was a defender in the siege of San Antonio in 1835 and a participant in Santa Anna's siege of the Alamo in 1836. He also makes reference to the executions at Goliad in March 1836. [Scroll down to the excerpts, which are in quotations.] [To access this document, click on "Link to access page," then on "Memoirs of a Veteran of Two Battles of the Alamo."] Link to access page
Miles S. Bennett. Reminiscences of the Texas Revolution in 1836. Written many years after the fact by an eyewitness. Link to document
DeWitt Colony Papers: Documents and correspondence, 1836. Link to documents
Texas. General Council. Journal of the Proceedings of the General Council, November 14, 1835-March 11, 1836. The council met in San Felipe until February 22, 1836. All meetings from that time to the end were at Washington-on-the-Brazos. The relevant material for this list begins near the bottom of p. 172. Link to document
Texas. Consultation. Ordinances, January 1-22, 1836. The link to the ordinances is on a Table of Contents Page. [Scroll down to find the link to the ordinances. The documents themselves are in pdf files; Adobe Acrobat required.] Link to Table of Contents to the documents
James Kerr to the People of Texas, January 4, 1836. Written from San Felipe de Austin. Exhorts Texas colonists to fight for the Mexican constitution, not for independence. Link to document
Stephen F. Austin to R. R. Royall and S. Rhoads Fisher, January 7, 1836. Author writes from New Orleans of substantial support for the Texan cause there and throughout the United States. He had not been sure of that before leaving Texas. Says Texas should declare independence without delay. Link to document
David Crockett to William and Margaret Crockett, January 9, 1836. Author, in San Augustine, Texas, writes about Texas in glowing terms and his enrolling in a company of volunteers from the United States which will be setting off for the Rio Grande shortly. Link to document
Stephen F. Austin, William H. Wharton, and Branch T. Archer to Henry Smith, January 10, 1836. The three Texas commissioners to the U.S. report to the Texas provisional governor from New Orleans that they have secured a loan for $250,000 for the revolutionary government. Local leaders state that that should be sufficient for the movement's success. They they also make several recommendations to Smith, based on what they have observed in New Orleans. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and William Wharton. Loan certificate issued to Robert Triplett, January 11, 1836. Issued in New Orleans. Was for a loan of $320.00. The three commissioners from the Texas revolutionary government to the United States were borrowing the money in the name of that government. [The loan was to help pay for the revolution.] Link to document
Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and William Wharton. Loan certificate issued to William Fairfax Gray, January 11, 1836. Issued in New Orleans. Was for a loan of $320.00. The three commissioners from the Texas revolutionary government to the United States were borrowing the money in the name of that government. [Click on "Page 1" for larger image.] Link to document
William R. Carey to "Brother and Sister" January 12, 1836. Author, the first commander at the Alamo, tells of his participation in the Texas Revolution at San Antonio up to the date of the letter. [The source for this document is The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Alamo website.] Link to document
Micajah Autry to Martha W. Autry, January 13, 1836. Author, later to die at the Alamo, writes from Nacogdoches to his wife at Jackson, Tennessee. Is on his way with other volunteers to Washington-on-the-Brazos to receive orders from Sam Houston. Notes that David Crockett has joined the group. [The source for this document is The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Alamo website.] Link to document
David Crockett. Claim on the Provisional Government of Texas, January 15, 1836. Was for the sale of two rifles at Nacogdoches. [The source for this document is The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Alamo website.] Link to document
Sam Houston to Henry Smith, January 17, 1836. Recommends that San Antonio be abandoned, with the Texan force there falling back to the east. [Note: Governor Smith disagreed and ordered that the Alamo be defended.] [To access this document, click on "Link to access page," then on "January 17, 1836."] Link to access page
John Sutherland. Account of events in San Antonio, January 18-February 23, 1836. Written in 1860 by an eyewitness to the events. Author left the Alamo, on William B. Travis' orders, to seek reinforcements at Gonzales. Account goes beyond what Sutherland witnessed to include statements about the siege and fall of the Alamo gained by interviewing survivors on both sides. Link to document
Lewis M. H. Washington. "Fannin and his Command," [n.d.]. Written no later than 1853. Author was a participant in the events described (early months, 1836) "A literal and complete copy from: Washington, Lewis M. H., narrative, reprinted from the Georgia Citizen, Texas State Gazette, Austin: William H. Cushney, June 18, 1853." Link to document
John Sowers Brooks to A. H. Brooks, January 20, 1836. From Velasco. Writes to father that he and others will embark on ships for Copano soon to join other men for an expedition against Matamoras. "We are enthusiastic in the cause." Link to document
Stephen F. Austin and Branch T. Archer to Henry Smith, January 20, 1836. The two Texas commissioners to the U.S. report to the Texas provisional governor details about loans and and several actions they have taken in New Orleans in behalf of Texas (including recruiting volunteers to come to Texas to help in the fight for independence). They also report that information from Mexican ports indicate that preparations are underway to invade Texas by land and sea. Details. [Note: letters which follow this one provide details about the recruiting of the volunteers.] [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
James Robinson to Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and William H. Wharton, January 23, 1836. The acting provisional governor of Texas reports that Henry Smith has been suspended as governor and charged by the Council with "serious and weighty charges." Also, writes of the dispute between the Council and Smith with respect to the expedition to Matamoras. Suggests how the situation should guide the work of the commissioners as they seek funds in the U.S. Link to document
James W. Fannin to James W. Robinson, January 28, 1836. From Aransas Pass. Believes it is prudent, even necessary to concentrate Texan military forces at San Antonio, Goliad, and "Nueces." Link to document
John J. Tumlinson. Account of Texas Ranger rescue of child captured by Comanches, [February 1836]. The children had been taken near Cuero. Link to document
Juan Nepomuceno Almonte. Private Journal, February 1-April 16, 1836. Colonel Almonte was a member of General Santa Anna's staff. [Scroll down to "Feb. 1st At 8 A.M." for the beginning of the document.] Link to document
Jose Urrea. Diary of military operations, February-March, 1836. [Begins with February 16; ends with March 31.] Link to document
Enrique Esparza. Account of the siege of the Alamo, February-March, 1836. Author was eight years old at the time of the siege. His father was a defender. Written when Esparza was 74 years old for publication in the San Antonio Light, November 22, 1902. Link to document
Bexar election returns for delegates to the Convention to meet March 1 at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Dated February 1, 1836. Important in that it indicates the persons present at the Alamo (where the voting took place) before the siege began. Link to document
Robert Morris to James W. Fannin, February 6, 1836. Writes from San Patricio that many Mexican troops are marching into Texas. "It is believed that an attack in intended on Goliad and Bejar simultaneously." Link to document
William H. Wharton to [Henry] Smith, February 7, 1836. One of the Texas commissioners to the U.S. writes from Nashville, Tennessee to Smith. [No first name provided, but was almost certainly Henry Smith, deposed provisional governor of revolutionary Texas.] Is concerned about the upcoming convention. Hopes that it will not only declare for independence but will also take a vote on Texas annexation to the U.S., which he favors. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
James W. Fannin to James W. Robinson, February 7, 1836. From Mission Refugio. Santa Anna's design is to "expel or exterminate" every white man in Texas. Urges Texans to "fly to their rifles and march to meet the Tyrant." Has ordered concentration of troops at Goliad. Link to document
[Frank W. Johnson] to James W. Fannin, February 9, 1836. Co-leader of planned expedition to Matamoros, Mexico, apprises Fannin of the role he hopes the latter will play in the expedition. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
David Crockett to auditor of accounts, February 13, 1836. Crockett, in San Antonio, requests payment for sale of two rifles to the provisional government on January 15 of that year in Nacogdoches. Link to document
James W. Robinson to James W. Fannin, February 13, 1836. Lieutenant-governor of the Provisional Government (Robinson) has ordered militia reinforcements to join Fannin. Orders Fannin to fortify and defend Goliad and San Antonio. If opportunity comes, "give the enemy battle, but do not hazard much until you are reinforced." Link to document
James W. Robinson to James W. Fannin, February 13, 1836. Lieutenant-governor of the Provisional Government (Robinson) does not believe that Mexicans will attack either San Antonio or Goliad. Link to document
James W. Fannin to James W. Robinson, February 16, 1836. From Goliad. Has learned that Mexican troops are to enter Texas in three divisions. One will march on San Antonio, one on Goliad, and one will go north or south of San Antonio into the heart of the settlements. Asks the Texas lieutenant-governor for reinforcements for both San Antonio and Goliad. Link to document
Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and William H. Wharton to Henry Smith, February 16, 1836. The three Texas commissioners to the U.S. write to the former governor of Texas [whom they do not know has been ousted from office] that the people of Tennessee strongly support Texan independence and are sending volunteers to help fight for it. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to Jose Maria Tornel, February 16, 1836. Speaks of freeing the slaves in Texas once the rebels are driven out; believes Mexico should establish military colonies in Texas. Link to document
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to Jose Maria Tornel, February 16, 1836. Wants instructions about how to deal with the colonies after order is restored. Writes of the causes of the present campaign in Texas. Mentions both slavery and land grants. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
James W. Fannin to James W. Robinson, February 21, 1836. Is pessimistic that reinforcements will arrive in time to be of much help. Is fortifying Goliad. Link to document
James W. Fannin to James W. Robinson, February 22, 1836. Is now satisfied with his militia troops. Are well-disciplined and doing good work. Has christened the old presidio "Fort Defiance." Link to document
Sam Houston and John Forbes. Treaty with Cherokee Indian leaders, February 23, 1836. The Provisional Government commissioned Houston and Forbes to negotiate the treaty to reduce any possible friction between Texans and the Cherokee and to prevent any collaboration between the tribe and the Mexican enemy. [When submitted to the Senate of the Republic Congress in December 1836, that body failed to ratify it.] Link to document
Susanna Dickinson Hanning. Statement on the siege and fall of the Alamo, February-March, 1836. This account, given to another person, appeared in James M. Morphis, History of Texas 1875) [The source for this document is The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Alamo website.] Link to document
William B. Travis "to the people of Texas and all Americans in the world," February 24, 1836. Gives status of the defenders of the Alamo; asks for help. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
John Sowers Brooks to Mary Ann Brooks, February 25, 1836. Writes from Goliad to sister that Alamo defenders have "determined to hold out to the last and have solicited reinforcements from us." Says 320 men will start that night or the next morning for San Antonio. If they can fight their way through into the Alamo, perhaps they can hold out until more reinforcements arrive. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
John Sowers Brooks to A. H. Brooks, February 25, 1836. Writes from Goliad to his father that 320 men and four pieces of artillery will be off the next morning for San Antonio. The men are almost naked and without provisions or discipline. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Robert McAlpin Williamson to the Governor and Council of Texas, February 25, 1836. Author, commanding a corps of Rangers, reports from Gonzales about Mexican troops arriving in San Antonio. Encloses the text of a letter to J. J. Tomlinson at Bastrop, reporting the same and also urging defensive measures against both Mexicans and Indians. [The source for this document is The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Alamo website.] Link to document
James W. Robinson to Sam Houston, February 26, 1836. Acting governor of Texas writes from Washington-on-the-Brazos, urging Houston to come there "to organize our Countrymen for Battle." States the situation at the Alamo. Details. Link to document
James W. Fannin to James W. Robinson, February 26, 1836. [May be an excerpt.] Explains why he and his troops abandoned their march to join the defenders of the Alamo and returned instead to Goliad. Link to document
W. Walker to "My Dear Sarah," February 26, 1836. Account of Hartwell Walker, sailing master of the Schooner of War Invincible of the Texas Navy and also of some events at Camp Fannin Rio Brazos, January 17, 1836. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
James W. Fannin to "Mims," February 28, 1836. [Recipient's first name not provided.] Enemy occupying San Antonio; fears Alamo will be taken. "I have not as much confidence in the people of Texas as I once had." Link to document
James W. Fannin to James W. Robinson, February 28, 1836. Has about 420 men. Has bread for one day; little beef. "We may expect the enemy here momentarily." Link to document
Robert McAlpin Williamson to William B. Travis, March 1, 1836. Urges Travis to hold out until reinforcements arrive (which he expects will happen). [Text may not be the entire document.] [The source for this document is The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Alamo website.] Link to document
James W. Fannin to "The Governor and Council of Texas," March 1, 1836. (Excerpt.) Has learned that more Mexican troops are coming into Texas than had been expected. Is "pretty well prepared to make battle." But, if he is not to be "sustained in a proper manner," he hopes for an order to fall back to a safer position. [Scroll down to "Included with above letter in Jenkins Papers of the Texas Revolution."] Link to document
The Convention. Journals of the Convention, March 1-17, 1836. [The link is to a Table of Contents. Click on the links for a specific date. The files are in pdf format; Adobe Acrobat required.] Link to Table of Contents
John Sowers Brooks to Mother, March 2, 1836. [Mother's name not provided.] Explains in some detail why the troops marching to the relief of the Alamo turned back to Goliad. Still holds out hope that perhaps 200 men can be detached to go to San Antonio. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
J. G. Ferguson to A. J. Ferguson, March 2, 1836. From Goliad. All of the troops are from the U.S. with the exception of thirty men. Offers two possible reasons why the men do not like James W. Fannin. Explains why the Alamo relief force turned back [It may prove necessary to scroll down a short distance, then click on "J.G. Ferguson to Brother."] Link to document
Texas Convention. Texas Declaration of Independence, March 2, 1836. Link to image of original manuscript. Link to image of broadside of the declaration, printed soon after approval by delegates.
Sam Houston. Army Orders [broadside], March 2, 1836. Issues call from Washington-on-the-Brazos, which reads, in part: "The citizens of Texas must rally to the aid of our army, or it will perish." Link to document
William S. Fisher to Henry Smith, March 2, 1836. Writes of African slaves being landed on the coast. The Council has not legislated on the legality of this. Link to document
William Fairfax Gray. Diary entry, [March 1836]. Comments on Tejano leaders at the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Says Lorenzo de Zavala, Jose Francisco Ruiz, and Jose Antonio Navarro are obliging, kind, and polite but also indolent. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Broadside. "Texas Forever." Not dated but text contains a reference to March 2, 1836. Calls for settlers to come to Texas. Promises free land. Says that Santa Anna has failed to enslave the people of Texas. Link to document
William B. Travis to the Convention, March 3, 1836. His last appeal and report from the Alamo. Link to document
Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and William H. Wharton to "the Governor of Texas," March 3, 1836. The Texas commissioners to the U.S., then on their way to Washington, urge that the convention then meeting in Texas act promptly to adopt a declaration of independence and send a copy to them with dispatch. They explain why this is so important. Other details. Link to document
Texas Convention. Resolution naming Sam Houston as "commander in chief of the land forces of the Texian army both Regular, Volunteer, and Militia." March 4, 1836. Details. Link to document
John Sowers Brooks to Mary Ann Brooks, March 4, 1836. Enemy within twenty-five miles. "If we are defeated, it will be after a hard fight." [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Order to storm the Alamo, March 5, 1836. Link to document
Richard Ellis to Sam Houston, March 5, 1836. President of the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos encloses convention resolution appointing Houston commander in chief of the armies of the Republic of Texas. Link to document
Convention of the Republic of Texas. Orders to Sam Houston, March 6, 1836. Link to document
James W. Robinson to James W. Fannin, March 6, 1836. Robinson, lieutenant governor of Texas: "We are two much divided [by 'party spirit'] . . . to render you the effectual aid you so much need." Link to document
Felix Nunez. Reminiscence of the fall of the Alamo, February-March, 1836. Author was a soldier in Santa Anna's army. Moved to Texas in 1837. Account for the San Antonio Express at least a half century later. Link to document
_____________. Mexican soldier's account of the Battle of the Alamo, [March 6, 1836]. [No author given or date, although internal evidence strongly suggests that it was written on March 6, 1836. [May be an excerpt. Very brief.] [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Vicente Filisola. Report and commentary on the siege and battle of the Alamo., March 5-6, 1836.[Excerpt of document written in 1849.] General Filisola was President Santa Anna's second-in-command in the Texas campaign. States his belief that the blood shed on both sides was in vain. Link to document
Benjamin Briggs Goodrich to Edmund Goodrich, March 15, 1836. Informs family of the death of his brother at the Alamo. Reports that seven defenders survived the battle. They asked for quarter. Santa Anna refused; had them shot. [The source for this document is The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Alamo website.] Link to document
Joseph Lawrence. Account of experiences in the Texas Revolution, March-April 1836. [Written much later.] Author was part of a company of volunteers sent by Houston to relieve the Alamo. Arrived too late. Fought at San Jacinto. Link to document
Francisco Antonio Ruiz. Reminiscence of the fall of the Alamo. Eyewitness account, written much later, perhaps in 1860. Link to document
Jose Enrique de la Pena. With Santa Anna in Texas:A Personal Narrative of the Revolution [March 6, 1836]. Two brief excerpts from the book, translated by Carmen Perry (reprinted 1997). The selections are titled, "The Death of William Barret Travis" and "The Death of Davy Crockett." The second selection contains the controversial assertion that Crockett and six other Alamo defenders survived the battle and asked, unsuccessfully, to be spared. Author was an officer in the Mexican army. Link to document
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna "to the Inhabitants of Texas," March 7, 1836. Explains why his army is in Texas. States that those not participating in the rebellion have nothing to fear from the Mexican government. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document
Sam Houston to James Collinsworth, March 7, 1836. Houston writes to the chairman of the military committee of the Convention meeting in Washington-on-the-Brazos about the need for fortifying a point on Copano Bay and about several Indian matters (Cherokees and Comanches). Ends by asking what Collinsworth thinks of the idea of passing a resolution in the convention stating that Texas is a part of Louisiana and thereby in the U.S. by the terms of the Treaty of 1803. Link to document
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to H. A McArdle, March 19, 1874. At this late date, Santa Anna defends his decision to kill all of the Alamo defenders in early March, 1836. Link to document
Stephen F. Austin. Address at Louisville, Kentucky, March 7, 1836. In the address Austin pleads for support for the Texan revolutionary cause. Link to document
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