Section 1, Continued

Name ______Class ______Date ______

Section 1, continued

/ Main Ideas
1.The Battle of Gonzales and the capture of Goliad were among the opening conflicts in the Texas Revolution.
2.The Texas army laid siege to San Antonio and fought several small battles against Mexican troops.
3.The Texas army drove the Mexican forces out of San Antonio.
Key Terms
Battle of Gonzales a battle between Texas militia and Mexicans; considered the start of the Texas Revolution
Juan Seguín a Tejano hero of the Texas Revolution who led a unit at the Battle of San Jacinto and accepted Mexico’s surrender of San Antonio
infantry foot soldiers
cavalry soldiers who fight on horseback
Edward Burleson elected by soldiers as commander of the Texas army, replacing Stephen F. Austin; led the siege on Mexican soldiers known as the Grass Fight
Erastus “Deaf” Smith a scout for the Texas army who reported the rumor of Mexican soldiers carrying silver to pay Mexican troops in San Antonio
Grass Fight an incident in which the Texas army ambushed Mexican soldiers for the silver they were rumored to be carrying but found only grass for horses
Ben Milam a colonel in the Texas army who wanted to lead an attack on San Antonio after hearing that the Mexican army was weak and disorganized

Section Summary

the capture of gonzales
and goliad

Many Texans were upset with the Mexican government because Antonio López de Santa Anna refused to follow the Constitution of 1824. When a Mexican officer ordered settlers at Gonzales to
hand over a cannon, they refused. They waved a flag with the challenge COME AND TAKE IT. On October 2, 1835, Mexican soldiers opened fire as the settlers approached their camp. The fighting
was brief and the Mexican troops retreated.
The Battle of Gonzales signaled the start of a war. General Cos ordered more Mexican troops to Texas. In response, a group of settlers captured the garrison at Goliad.

the march on san antonio

The growing Texas force set its sights on San Antonio and chose Stephen F. Austin as its general. He increased the number of cavalry, rather than infantry, to compete with the Mexican troops. More than 100 Tejanos—including Juan Seguín —volunteered for the Texas army.

the grass fight

Austin and his troops attacked San Antonio. The siege seemed to have little effect. Austin left to travel to the United States and the soldiers elected Edward Burleson to take command. On November 26, a scout named Erastus “Deaf” Smith reported that Mexican soldiers carrying silver intended as soldiers’ pay were headed to San Antonio. Hoping to find the silver, some Texans ambushed the Mexican soldiers. They found that the Mexicans’ pack animals were carrying grass for feeding horses of the soldiers. This event became known as the Grass Fight.

the capture of san antonio

Colonel Burleson wanted to attack San Antonio, but his officers refused. Hearing that the Mexican troops were worn down, Colonel Ben Milam organized an attack on San Antonio. After fierce fighting, the Texans forced the Mexican troops to retreat. General Cos surrendered and led his troops out of Texas.

challenge activity

Critical Thinking: Sequencing Create a time line of the major events between The Battle of Gonzalez and the capture of San Antonio.

Battle of Gonzales / Juan Seguín / Edward Burleson / Grass Fight
Erastus “Deaf” Smith / cavalry / infantry / Ben Milam

directions Read each sentence below and circle the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

1.The (Battle of Gonzales/Grass Fight) occurred in response to the attempt to reclaim a cannon.

2.The branch of an army that fights on foot is the (cavalry/infantry).

3.(Ben Milam/Erastus “Deaf” Smith) wanted to take advantage of the weak Mexican troops in San Antonio and organized an attack on them.

4.Selected by soldiers, (Juan Seguín /Edward Burleson) replaced Stephen F. Austin as the commander of the Texas army.

5.(Juan Seguín /Ben Milam) joined other Tejanos to volunteer for the Texas army.

directions Write a simple explanation of the following battles.

6.Battle of Gonzalez ______

______

7.Grass Fight______

______

1Guided Reading Workbook