On this day in 1836, General Antonio LĂłpez de Santa Anna led his 8,000-strong Mexican Army across the Rio Grande, launching what would become one of the most pivotal military campaigns in Texas history. The harsh Texas winter showed no mercy to Santa Anna’s troops, particularly those from the warmer Yucatán region, who faced devastating losses from hypothermia. The General’s ambitious plan to sustain his army off the land proved disastrous in the barren territory south of San Antonio, while the remaining Texian forces strategically withdrew to the sanctuary of what we now know as the Alamo.
What followed was a series of events that would forever change the landscape of Texas. By February 23, Santa Anna’s forces had reached San Antonio, raising an ominous red flag above San Fernando Church – a chilling symbol that the Mexican army sought full and total victory. Meanwhile, General JosĂ© de Urrea’s smaller force delivered unexpected blows to the Texian cause, capturing San Patricio in a brilliant tactical move that caught the defenders completely off guard.
As these military maneuvers unfolded, another kind of revolution was taking shape at Washington-on-the-Brazos. On March 1, fifty-eight brave delegates gathered to forge the future of Texas. Their bold declaration of independence on March 2, supported by both Anglos and Tejanos alike, laid the foundation for the Republic of Texas. Under the leadership of interim President David G. Burnet and the military command of Sam Houston, these pioneers set in motion the wheels of Texas liberty that continue to turn today.