Article of the day for March 2, 2016
The Article of the day for March 2, 2016 is Battle of Agua Dulce.
The Battle of Agua Dulce was a skirmish on March 2, 1836, in Tamaulipas, Mexico, during the Goliad Campaign of the Texas Revolution. Mexican troops surprised rebellious colonists from the Mexican province of Texas, primarily immigrants from the United States, known as Texians. By the end of 1835, Texians had expelled all Mexican troops from their province. In February Frank W. Johnson, the commander of the volunteer army in Texas, along with James Grant, was leading a planned invasion of the Mexican port town of Matamoros. Unbeknownst to the Texians, Mexican General José de Urrea was leading troops from Matamoros into Texas to neutralize the rebels gathered along the coast. His troops easily defeated Johnson's small force on February 26. Several days later, informants revealed the location of another small force led by Grant, and on the morning of March 2, Urrea sent 150 troops who ambushed and defeated them. Grant fled but was killed, as were 11 men under his command. Six Texians were taken prisoner, and Urrea jailed them instead of executing them, contrary to Santa Anna's orders. Another six Texians escaped, five of whom later died in the Goliad Massacre.
The Battle of Agua Dulce was a skirmish on March 2, 1836, in Tamaulipas, Mexico, during the Goliad Campaign of the Texas Revolution. Mexican troops surprised rebellious colonists from the Mexican province of Texas, primarily immigrants from the United States, known as Texians. By the end of 1835, Texians had expelled all Mexican troops from their province. In February Frank W. Johnson, the commander of the volunteer army in Texas, along with James Grant, was leading a planned invasion of the Mexican port town of Matamoros. Unbeknownst to the Texians, Mexican General José de Urrea was leading troops from Matamoros into Texas to neutralize the rebels gathered along the coast. His troops easily defeated Johnson's small force on February 26. Several days later, informants revealed the location of another small force led by Grant, and on the morning of March 2, Urrea sent 150 troops who ambushed and defeated them. Grant fled but was killed, as were 11 men under his command. Six Texians were taken prisoner, and Urrea jailed them instead of executing them, contrary to Santa Anna's orders. Another six Texians escaped, five of whom later died in the Goliad Massacre.
