Philip Dimmitt
Encyclopedia
Philip Dimmitt was an officer in the Texian Army
during the Texas Revolution
. Born in Kentucky, Dimmitt moved to Texas in 1823 and soon operated a series of trading posts. After learning that Mexican General Martín Perfecto de Cos
was en route to Texas to quell the unrest, Dimmitt proposed that the general be kidnapped on his arrival at Copano
. The plan was shelved when fighting broke out at Gonzales
, but by early October it had been resuscitated by a group of volunteers at Matamoros. Not knowing that Cos had already departed for San Antonio de Bexar, this group decided to corner Cos at Presidio La Bahia
in Goliad. Dimmitt joined them en route, and participated in the battle of Goliad
.
Following the battle, Dimmitt assumed command of the Texian forces that remained at Presidio La Bahia. One of his first acts as commander was to design a new flag. Similar to the Mexican flag, his version replaced the central eagle with the words "Constitution of 1824", reflecting his loyalty to the Constitution of 1824, which had been repudiated by Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
. Against the wishes of the commander of the Texian Army, Dimmitt also authorized a group of his men to take Fort Lipantitlan
. Their success meant that the only remaining group of Mexican soldiers in Texas were Cos's men in Bexar. Dimmitt and a few of his men left Goliad in early December to join the siege of Bexar
and participated in the final battle which forced Cos to surrender. On their return to Goliad, Dimmitt's men declared independence from Mexico. In honor of their new aim, Dimmitt designed a second flag, a white background with a severed, bloody arm holding a sword. The new Texian Army commanders and the provisional government were angry with the premature declaration and instructed Dimmitt to lower his flag. He resigned his command in protest.
Soon after, Dimmitt joined the Texians garrisoned at the Alamo Mission in Bexar. On February 23, Alamo commander William B. Travis
sent Dimmitt on a scouting mission to see if the Mexican Army was close. While Dimmitt was out, the Mexican Army surrounded Bexar. Fearing that he would not be able to reach the Alamo, Dimmitt instead returned to Victoria and tried to recruit volunteers to ride to the Alamo's relief. He and his volunteers eventually joined the Texian Army, under Sam Houston
on April 22, the day after the battle of San Jacinto
. Following the war, Dimmitt opened a trading post near the Nueces River
. The post was raided by Mexican soldiers in July 1841 and Dimmitt was taken captive. He committed suicide in captivity later that year. Dimmit County, Texas
is named for him.
. In 1823 he moved to the Mexican province of Texas
. For several years he lived in San Antonio de Bexar, where he worked as a commisary contractor for the Mexican soldiers garrisoned at the Alamo Mission. After marrying Maria Luisa Lazo, Dimmitt settled near Guadalupe Victoria in the colony of Martín De León
. He supported his family by operating three trading posts. One was located near Victoria on the Guadalupe River
. A second was at Goliad. The largest, which included a wharf and a warehouse, was at Dimitt's Landing on Lavaca Bay
. In 1835, Dimmitt purchased land in the Power and Hewetson colony, but he continued to live near Victoria.
of June 1835, Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna
sent his brother-in-law, General Martín Perfecto de Cos
to quell the unrest in Texas. Cos landed at Copano
on September 20 and arrived in Goliad on October 2. As early as September 18] Dimmitt, along with James Fannin
and John Linn, had begun advocating a plan to seize Cos at either Copano or Goliad. The plan was abandoned in late September as instead colonists flocked to Gonzales, where the Texas Revolution
officially began on October 2.
On October 6, members of the Texian militia in Matagorda, under George Collingsworth, decided to implement Dimmitt's plan and march on Presidio La Bahía
in Goliad. They intended to kidnap Cos and hold him for ransom. If possible, they also wished to steal the estimated $50,000 that was rumored to accompany Cos. When Collingsworth and his men stopped in Victoria to recruit more men for their expedition, Dimmitt joined, along with at least 30 other settlers. One of Dimmitt's contacts in Goliad informed him that Cos had already departed for San Antonio de Bexar, leaving only a small number of troops to defend Goliad. The Texian force continued on to Goliad, and after a brief fight gained control of the presidio. Although the battle had ended, over the next several days more Texian settlers joined the group at La Bahía. Stephen F. Austin
, commander of the newly formed Texian Army
, ordered that 100 men remain at Goliad under Dimmitt's command, while the rest should join the Texian Army in marching on Cos's troops in Béxar.
Early in his tenure, he designed the flag that eventually became most associated with the Texas Revolution. His design began with the green, white, and red tricolor of the Mexican flag, but replaced the central eagle with the words "Constitution of 1824", or sometimes just "1824". This signified that the Texians were fighting to uphold the Constitution of 1824, which Santa Anna had nullified. By November, the Texas provisional government had ordered that all ships in the Texas Navy
fly this flag.
In a letter to Austin dated October 15, Dimmitt proposed an attack on Fort Lipantitlán, whose capture would "secure the frontier, provide a vital station for defense, create instability among the centralists, and encourage Mexican federalists". The Mexican soldiers at Fort Lipantitlán intimidated the settlers in nearby San Patricio, leaving them afraid to openly support the federalists who defied Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna
. Two of Dimmitt's men, John Wiliams and John Toole, had been captured on October 10 and 11 carrying missives to the federalist leaders in San Patricio and were imprisoned at Lipantitlán. Austin did not order an assault, and an angry Dimmitt wrote on October 27 that Williams and Toole had been sent to Matamoros
, beyond the reach of the Texians. Dimmitt chose to act without orders from Austin and on October 31 sent Adjutant Ira Westover with a force of 35 men to take Fort Lipantitlán. Following the Battle of Lipantitlan
, the Texians had defeated all of the Mexican forces within Texas except those commanded by Cos at Bexar. Without an easy means of communication with Matamoros in the Mexican interior, Cos was unable to quickly request or receive reinforcements or supplies. According to historian Bill Groneman, this likely contributed to Cos's defeat in the siege of Bexar
. The removal of Mexican army oversight encouraged the federalists in San Patricio to become more active. These men soon gained control of the municipal government, formed a militia, and elected delegates to represent them at the Consultation, which served as a provisional Texas government.
Dimmitt was temporarily relieved of his command on November 18, 1835 after an incident involving Agustín Viesca
, the deposed governor of Coahuila y Tejas
. Veisca had been relieved of his duties and imprisoned after questioning Santa Anna's centralist policies. He escaped from prison and made his way to Texas, where he was discovered by Westover's men as they returned from Fort Lipantitlan. Westover took the governor to Goliad, where Dimmitt treated him courteously but refused to recognize his authority as governor. By this time, Dimmitt had decided that he preferred complete independence from Texas rather than a return to the previous Mexican constitution. Austin, who believed Texas was fighting for the Constitution of 1824, immediately removed Dimmitt from office. Dimmitt's men voted to keep him as their commander and released several resolutions in protest of Austin's action.
In early December, Dimmitt and a few of his men joined Austin's army at Bexar, where they participated in the final fighting at the siege of Bexar
. They returned to Goliad about December 14. On his return, Dimmitt designed a new flag. This flag had a white background and featured a severed, bloody arm holding a sword. It is thought to be the first flag advocating Texas's full independence from Mexico. The flag was raised over Presidio La Bahia after the garrison approved and signed the Goliad Declaration of Independence. Many members of the government, as well as acting army commanders Frank W. Johnson
and James Grant
demanded that the flag be lowered. An angry Dimmitt resigned his command in mid-January 1836.
. Many of Dimmitt's men left after their arrival, but Dimmitt remained and worked as a scout. Early in the morning of February 23, local townspeople warned Travis that the Mexican army was very near to Bexar. Travis assigned one of his men to stand lookout in the bell tower of the San Fernando Church and warn him if Mexican soldiers appeared. Travis then asked Dimitt and Lieutenant Benjamin Noble to try to locate the Mexican army. At approximately 2:30 that afternoon the church bell began to ring as the lookout claimed to have seen flashes in the distance. Although Travis could still see nothing, since Dimitt and Noble had not returned he sent John Sutherland and John W. Smith on horseback to scout the area where the flashes had been seen. Within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the town, they saw the troops of the Delores Cavalry and returned to Bexar at a run. The Texians were completely unprepared for the arrival of the Mexican army, and scrambled about to gather food and supplies for the anticipated siege. By late afternoon Bexar was completely occupied by about 1500 Mexican troops, who quickly raised a blood-red flag signifying "No Quarter" above the San Fernando Church.
Dimmitt and Noble were still scouting the area. As they were returning to Bexar, a local told them that the town was surrounded. Soon after, a servant sent by Dimmitt's wife found them to tell them not to return or the Mexican army would kill them. The men rode to a nearby location to wait and see if it would be safe to return to the Alamo. After several days, Dimmitt concluded that the wait was in vain and he and Noble left the area.
, the new commander of the Texian Army, Sam Houston
, sent Dimmitt a letter on March 12, ordering Dimmitt to bring his men to Gonzales. By this time Dimmitt had recruited 21 men. By the time they arrived at Gonzales, the Mexican army had already taken possession of the town, as Houston and his men retreated east. Dimmitt's men briefly skirmished with Mexican troops before returning to Victoria on March 19. There, he and his men helped evacuate settlers. When Mexican General Jose de Urrea
prepared to enter Victoria on March 21, Dimmitt and his men joined the settlers in fleeing east. The mass evacuation was later termed the Runaway Scrape
.
On April 15, Dimmitt arrived at Matagorda Island with more recruits for Houston's army. On April 22, Dimmitt joined Houston, bringing with him reinforcments and much-needed supplies. The reinforcements missed the final battle of the revolution
by only a day. Later on April 22, Santa Anna was taken prisoner, and the war essentially ended.
and became a justice. In 1841 he purchased part of a ranch on the Aransas River
. By May, he had formed a trading post, with James Gourley, Jr., near what is now Calallen
. The post was about 15 miles (24.1 km) from one that had long been operated by William P. Aubrey and Henry Kinney, who dealt in contraband with Mexican troops. On July 4, 1841, Mexican troops raided Dimmitt's post, confiscating merchandise valued at $6,000 and taking Dimmitt and several other men captive. Dimmitt and the other men were sent to prison in Matamoros
.
The troops did not approach Aubrey and Kinney's post. Some newspapers speculated that Kinney, who was friendly with Mexican general Pedro de Ampudia
, had asked Ampudia to eliminate the competition. Aubrey and Kinney were eventually arrested and charged with treason, but were acquitted on August 22, probably due to pressure from Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar
. Within weeks, Lamar had sent Kinney to Mexico to petition for Dimmitt's release. The request was unsuccessful; the Mexican government was still angry with Dimmitt for his role in the Goliad Declaration of Independence and had no intention of releasing him.
Dimmitt and his friends, along with 19 other men from Texas who were imprisoned in Matamoros, were marched to Monterrey in August 1841. Eighteen of the men escaped in Saltillo
after drugging their guards. Eleven of them were later found and executed, while seven reached safety in the mountains. Dimmitt had been held separately and did not participate in the escape, but he was told that if the other Texians did not return Dimmitt would be executed as revenge. Unhappy with either alternative—execution or extended imprisonment—Dimmitt committed suicide by taking an overdose of morphine
.
Texian Army
The Texian Army was a military organization consisting of volunteer and regular soldiers who fought against the Mexican army during the Texas Revolution. Approximately 3,700 men joined the army between October 2, 1835 during the Battle of Gonzales through the end of the war on April 21, 1836, at...
during the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
. Born in Kentucky, Dimmitt moved to Texas in 1823 and soon operated a series of trading posts. After learning that Mexican General Martín Perfecto de Cos
Martín Perfecto de Cos
Martín Perfecto de Cos was a 19th-century Mexican general. He was married to Lucinda López de Santa Anna, sister of Antonio López de Santa Anna.-Background:Cós was born in Vera Cruz in the year 1800, the son of an attorney...
was en route to Texas to quell the unrest, Dimmitt proposed that the general be kidnapped on his arrival at Copano
Copano, Texas
Copano, Texas or El Copano is a ghost town on the northwestern shore of Copano Bay in Refugio County. It is located north of present day Bayside, on Copano Point. The port, which holds the distinction as the first in South Texas, was founded in the early 18th century by the Spanish, and named for...
. The plan was shelved when fighting broke out at Gonzales
Battle of Gonzales
The Battle of Gonzales was the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. It was fought near Gonzales, Texas, on October 2, 1835, between rebellious Texian settlers and a detachment of Mexican army troops....
, but by early October it had been resuscitated by a group of volunteers at Matamoros. Not knowing that Cos had already departed for San Antonio de Bexar, this group decided to corner Cos at Presidio La Bahia
Presidio La Bahía
The Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahía, known more commonly as Presidio La Bahia, or simply La Bahia is a fort constructed by the Spanish Army that became the nucleus of the city of Goliad, Texas, United States. Originally founded in 1721 on the ruins of the failed French Fort Saint...
in Goliad. Dimmitt joined them en route, and participated in the battle of Goliad
Battle of Goliad
The Battle of Goliad was the second skirmish of the Texas Revolution. In the early-morning hours of October 10, 1835, rebellious Texas settlers attacked the Mexican Army soldiers garrisoned at Presidio La Bahía, a fort near the Mexican Texas settlement of Goliad...
.
Following the battle, Dimmitt assumed command of the Texian forces that remained at Presidio La Bahia. One of his first acts as commander was to design a new flag. Similar to the Mexican flag, his version replaced the central eagle with the words "Constitution of 1824", reflecting his loyalty to the Constitution of 1824, which had been repudiated by Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
. Against the wishes of the commander of the Texian Army, Dimmitt also authorized a group of his men to take Fort Lipantitlan
Battle of Lipantitlán
The Battle of Lipantitlán, also known as the Battle of Nueces Crossing, was fought along the Nueces River on November 4, 1835 between the Mexican Army and Texian insurgents, as part of the Texas Revolution...
. Their success meant that the only remaining group of Mexican soldiers in Texas were Cos's men in Bexar. Dimmitt and a few of his men left Goliad in early December to join the siege of Bexar
Siege of Bexar
The Siege of Béxar was an early campaign of the Texas Revolution in which a volunteer Texan army successfully defeated Mexican forces at San Antonio de Béxar . Texians had become disillusioned with the Mexican government as President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's tenure became increasingly...
and participated in the final battle which forced Cos to surrender. On their return to Goliad, Dimmitt's men declared independence from Mexico. In honor of their new aim, Dimmitt designed a second flag, a white background with a severed, bloody arm holding a sword. The new Texian Army commanders and the provisional government were angry with the premature declaration and instructed Dimmitt to lower his flag. He resigned his command in protest.
Soon after, Dimmitt joined the Texians garrisoned at the Alamo Mission in Bexar. On February 23, Alamo commander William B. Travis
William B. Travis
William Barret Travis was a 19th-century American lawyer and soldier. At the age of 26, he was a lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army...
sent Dimmitt on a scouting mission to see if the Mexican Army was close. While Dimmitt was out, the Mexican Army surrounded Bexar. Fearing that he would not be able to reach the Alamo, Dimmitt instead returned to Victoria and tried to recruit volunteers to ride to the Alamo's relief. He and his volunteers eventually joined the Texian Army, under Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
on April 22, the day after the battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
. Following the war, Dimmitt opened a trading post near the Nueces River
Nueces River
The Nueces River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas, approximately long. It drains a region in central and southern Texas southeastward into the Gulf of Mexico. It is the southernmost major river in Texas northeast of the Rio Grande...
. The post was raided by Mexican soldiers in July 1841 and Dimmitt was taken captive. He committed suicide in captivity later that year. Dimmit County, Texas
Dimmit County, Texas
Dimmit County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 10,248. It is named for Philip Dimmitt, a major figure in the Texas Revolution. The reason the county name differs is because the bill creating the county misspelled Dimmitt's name...
is named for him.
Early life
Dimmitt was born about 1801 in Jefferson County, KentuckyJefferson County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of...
. In 1823 he moved to the Mexican province of Texas
Mexican Texas
Mexican Texas is the name given by Texas history scholars to the period between 1821 and 1836, when Texas was an integral part of Mexico. The period began with Mexico's victory over Spain in its war of independence in 1821. For the first several years of its existence, Mexican Texas operated very...
. For several years he lived in San Antonio de Bexar, where he worked as a commisary contractor for the Mexican soldiers garrisoned at the Alamo Mission. After marrying Maria Luisa Lazo, Dimmitt settled near Guadalupe Victoria in the colony of Martín De León
Martín De León
Martín De León was a rancher and wealthy Mexican empresario descended from Spanish aristocracy. He was the patriarch of one of the prominent founding families of early Texas. De León and his wife Patricia de la Garza established De León's Colony, the only predominantly Mexican colony in Texas...
. He supported his family by operating three trading posts. One was located near Victoria on the Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River (Texas)
The Guadalupe River runs from Kerr County, Texas to San Antonio Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. The river is a popular destination for rafters and canoers. Larger cities along the river include New Braunfels, Kerrville, Seguin, Gonzales, Cuero, and Victoria...
. A second was at Goliad. The largest, which included a wharf and a warehouse, was at Dimitt's Landing on Lavaca Bay
Lavaca Bay
Lavaca Bay is a northwestern extension of the Matagorda Bay system found mostly in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. The ports of Port Lavaca and Point Comfort have been established on the bay, and are the main areas of human habitation...
. In 1835, Dimmitt purchased land in the Power and Hewetson colony, but he continued to live near Victoria.
Goliad
After the Anahuac DisturbancesAnahuac Disturbances
The Anahuac Disturbances were uprisings of settlers in and around Anahuac, Texas in 1832 and 1835 which helped to precipitate the Texas Revolution. This eventually led to the territory's secession from Mexico and the founding of the Republic of Texas...
of June 1835, Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
sent his brother-in-law, General Martín Perfecto de Cos
Martín Perfecto de Cos
Martín Perfecto de Cos was a 19th-century Mexican general. He was married to Lucinda López de Santa Anna, sister of Antonio López de Santa Anna.-Background:Cós was born in Vera Cruz in the year 1800, the son of an attorney...
to quell the unrest in Texas. Cos landed at Copano
Copano, Texas
Copano, Texas or El Copano is a ghost town on the northwestern shore of Copano Bay in Refugio County. It is located north of present day Bayside, on Copano Point. The port, which holds the distinction as the first in South Texas, was founded in the early 18th century by the Spanish, and named for...
on September 20 and arrived in Goliad on October 2. As early as September 18] Dimmitt, along with James Fannin
James Fannin
James Walker Fannin, Jr. was a 19th-century U.S. military figure on the Texas Army and leader during the Texas Revolution of 1835–36...
and John Linn, had begun advocating a plan to seize Cos at either Copano or Goliad. The plan was abandoned in late September as instead colonists flocked to Gonzales, where the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
officially began on October 2.
On October 6, members of the Texian militia in Matagorda, under George Collingsworth, decided to implement Dimmitt's plan and march on Presidio La Bahía
Presidio La Bahía
The Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahía, known more commonly as Presidio La Bahia, or simply La Bahia is a fort constructed by the Spanish Army that became the nucleus of the city of Goliad, Texas, United States. Originally founded in 1721 on the ruins of the failed French Fort Saint...
in Goliad. They intended to kidnap Cos and hold him for ransom. If possible, they also wished to steal the estimated $50,000 that was rumored to accompany Cos. When Collingsworth and his men stopped in Victoria to recruit more men for their expedition, Dimmitt joined, along with at least 30 other settlers. One of Dimmitt's contacts in Goliad informed him that Cos had already departed for San Antonio de Bexar, leaving only a small number of troops to defend Goliad. The Texian force continued on to Goliad, and after a brief fight gained control of the presidio. Although the battle had ended, over the next several days more Texian settlers joined the group at La Bahía. Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
, commander of the newly formed Texian Army
Texian Army
The Texian Army was a military organization consisting of volunteer and regular soldiers who fought against the Mexican army during the Texas Revolution. Approximately 3,700 men joined the army between October 2, 1835 during the Battle of Gonzales through the end of the war on April 21, 1836, at...
, ordered that 100 men remain at Goliad under Dimmitt's command, while the rest should join the Texian Army in marching on Cos's troops in Béxar.
Texas Navy
The Texas Navy was the official navy of the Republic of Texas. Two Texas Navies were naval fighting forces. There is a “Third and Honorary” Texas Navy, in which officers are commissioned by the Governor of Texas as Admirals, Commanders and Lieutenants....
fly this flag.
In a letter to Austin dated October 15, Dimmitt proposed an attack on Fort Lipantitlán, whose capture would "secure the frontier, provide a vital station for defense, create instability among the centralists, and encourage Mexican federalists". The Mexican soldiers at Fort Lipantitlán intimidated the settlers in nearby San Patricio, leaving them afraid to openly support the federalists who defied Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
. Two of Dimmitt's men, John Wiliams and John Toole, had been captured on October 10 and 11 carrying missives to the federalist leaders in San Patricio and were imprisoned at Lipantitlán. Austin did not order an assault, and an angry Dimmitt wrote on October 27 that Williams and Toole had been sent to Matamoros
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, beyond the reach of the Texians. Dimmitt chose to act without orders from Austin and on October 31 sent Adjutant Ira Westover with a force of 35 men to take Fort Lipantitlán. Following the Battle of Lipantitlan
Battle of Lipantitlán
The Battle of Lipantitlán, also known as the Battle of Nueces Crossing, was fought along the Nueces River on November 4, 1835 between the Mexican Army and Texian insurgents, as part of the Texas Revolution...
, the Texians had defeated all of the Mexican forces within Texas except those commanded by Cos at Bexar. Without an easy means of communication with Matamoros in the Mexican interior, Cos was unable to quickly request or receive reinforcements or supplies. According to historian Bill Groneman, this likely contributed to Cos's defeat in the siege of Bexar
Siege of Bexar
The Siege of Béxar was an early campaign of the Texas Revolution in which a volunteer Texan army successfully defeated Mexican forces at San Antonio de Béxar . Texians had become disillusioned with the Mexican government as President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's tenure became increasingly...
. The removal of Mexican army oversight encouraged the federalists in San Patricio to become more active. These men soon gained control of the municipal government, formed a militia, and elected delegates to represent them at the Consultation, which served as a provisional Texas government.
Dimmitt was temporarily relieved of his command on November 18, 1835 after an incident involving Agustín Viesca
Agustín Viesca
Agustín Viesca was a governor of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas in 1835. He was the brother of José María Viesca, also a governor of Coahuila y Tejas during 1827-1831....
, the deposed governor of Coahuila y Tejas
Coahuila y Tejas
Coahuila y Tejas was one of the constituent states of the newly established United Mexican States under its 1824 Constitution.It had two capitals: first Saltillo, and then Monclova...
. Veisca had been relieved of his duties and imprisoned after questioning Santa Anna's centralist policies. He escaped from prison and made his way to Texas, where he was discovered by Westover's men as they returned from Fort Lipantitlan. Westover took the governor to Goliad, where Dimmitt treated him courteously but refused to recognize his authority as governor. By this time, Dimmitt had decided that he preferred complete independence from Texas rather than a return to the previous Mexican constitution. Austin, who believed Texas was fighting for the Constitution of 1824, immediately removed Dimmitt from office. Dimmitt's men voted to keep him as their commander and released several resolutions in protest of Austin's action.
In early December, Dimmitt and a few of his men joined Austin's army at Bexar, where they participated in the final fighting at the siege of Bexar
Siege of Bexar
The Siege of Béxar was an early campaign of the Texas Revolution in which a volunteer Texan army successfully defeated Mexican forces at San Antonio de Béxar . Texians had become disillusioned with the Mexican government as President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's tenure became increasingly...
. They returned to Goliad about December 14. On his return, Dimmitt designed a new flag. This flag had a white background and featured a severed, bloody arm holding a sword. It is thought to be the first flag advocating Texas's full independence from Mexico. The flag was raised over Presidio La Bahia after the garrison approved and signed the Goliad Declaration of Independence. Many members of the government, as well as acting army commanders Frank W. Johnson
Frank W. Johnson
Francis White "Frank" Johnson was a co-commander of the Texian Army from December 1835 through February 1836, during the Texas Revolution. Johnson arrived in Texas in 1826 and worked as a surveyor for several empresarios, including Stephen F. Austin. One of his first activities was to plot the...
and James Grant
James Grant (Texas)
James Grant was a 19th century Texas politician, physician and military participant in the Texas Revolution.-Early life:James Grant was born on July 28, 1793, in Killearnan Parish, Ross-shire, Scotland. In 1823, he traveled to northern Mexico, ending up in Texas. He became interested in real...
demanded that the flag be lowered. An angry Dimmitt resigned his command in mid-January 1836.
Alamo
About January 24, Dimmitt and thirty volunteers arrived in San Antonio de Bexar to reinforce the Texians garrisoned at the Alamo. He was named army storekeeper. Additional reinforcements from the regular army arrived on February 3, under the command of William B. TravisWilliam B. Travis
William Barret Travis was a 19th-century American lawyer and soldier. At the age of 26, he was a lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army...
. Many of Dimmitt's men left after their arrival, but Dimmitt remained and worked as a scout. Early in the morning of February 23, local townspeople warned Travis that the Mexican army was very near to Bexar. Travis assigned one of his men to stand lookout in the bell tower of the San Fernando Church and warn him if Mexican soldiers appeared. Travis then asked Dimitt and Lieutenant Benjamin Noble to try to locate the Mexican army. At approximately 2:30 that afternoon the church bell began to ring as the lookout claimed to have seen flashes in the distance. Although Travis could still see nothing, since Dimitt and Noble had not returned he sent John Sutherland and John W. Smith on horseback to scout the area where the flashes had been seen. Within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the town, they saw the troops of the Delores Cavalry and returned to Bexar at a run. The Texians were completely unprepared for the arrival of the Mexican army, and scrambled about to gather food and supplies for the anticipated siege. By late afternoon Bexar was completely occupied by about 1500 Mexican troops, who quickly raised a blood-red flag signifying "No Quarter" above the San Fernando Church.
Dimmitt and Noble were still scouting the area. As they were returning to Bexar, a local told them that the town was surrounded. Soon after, a servant sent by Dimmitt's wife found them to tell them not to return or the Mexican army would kill them. The men rode to a nearby location to wait and see if it would be safe to return to the Alamo. After several days, Dimmitt concluded that the wait was in vain and he and Noble left the area.
San Jacinto
After leaving Bexar, Dimmitt returned to Victoria, where he began trying to recruit others to help relieve the Alamo. After hearing that the Texians had been defeated at the battle of the AlamoBattle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...
, the new commander of the Texian Army, Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
, sent Dimmitt a letter on March 12, ordering Dimmitt to bring his men to Gonzales. By this time Dimmitt had recruited 21 men. By the time they arrived at Gonzales, the Mexican army had already taken possession of the town, as Houston and his men retreated east. Dimmitt's men briefly skirmished with Mexican troops before returning to Victoria on March 19. There, he and his men helped evacuate settlers. When Mexican General Jose de Urrea
José de Urrea
José de Urrea was a noted general for Mexico. He fought under General Antonio López de Santa Anna during the Texas Revolution. Urrea's forces were never defeated in battle during the Texas Revolution...
prepared to enter Victoria on March 21, Dimmitt and his men joined the settlers in fleeing east. The mass evacuation was later termed the Runaway Scrape
Runaway Scrape
The Runaway Scrape was the name given to the flight and subsequent hostilities that occurred, as Texan, Tejano, and American settlers and militia encountered the pursuing Mexican army in early 1836....
.
On April 15, Dimmitt arrived at Matagorda Island with more recruits for Houston's army. On April 22, Dimmitt joined Houston, bringing with him reinforcments and much-needed supplies. The reinforcements missed the final battle of the revolution
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
by only a day. Later on April 22, Santa Anna was taken prisoner, and the war essentially ended.
Later years
Dimmitt later moved to RefugioRefugio, Texas
Refugio is a town in Refugio County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,941 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Refugio County. Although the town's name is derived from Spanish, a vast majority of the town's residents pronounce it re-fury-oh. The Spanish pronunciation is...
and became a justice. In 1841 he purchased part of a ranch on the Aransas River
Aransas River
The Aransas River is a short river in south Texas in the United States. It drains an area of the south Texas coastal plains into the Gulf of Mexico. It rises in Bee County southwest of Beeville and north of Skidmore, from the confluence of three creeks: Olmos, Aransas, and Poesta...
. By May, he had formed a trading post, with James Gourley, Jr., near what is now Calallen
Calallen, Corpus Christi, Texas
Calallen is a neighborhood in the U.S. city of Corpus Christi, Texas. It is located in the northwest part of the city.-History:Calallen was named after Calvin Joseph Allen . It was a town before being annexed by Corpus Christi in 1966....
. The post was about 15 miles (24.1 km) from one that had long been operated by William P. Aubrey and Henry Kinney, who dealt in contraband with Mexican troops. On July 4, 1841, Mexican troops raided Dimmitt's post, confiscating merchandise valued at $6,000 and taking Dimmitt and several other men captive. Dimmitt and the other men were sent to prison in Matamoros
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
.
The troops did not approach Aubrey and Kinney's post. Some newspapers speculated that Kinney, who was friendly with Mexican general Pedro de Ampudia
Pedro de Ampudia
Pedro de Ampudia was born in Havana, Cuba and served Mexico as a Northern army officer for most of his life. He was also governor of the state of Nuevo León in 1846 and from 1853 to 1854....
, had asked Ampudia to eliminate the competition. Aubrey and Kinney were eventually arrested and charged with treason, but were acquitted on August 22, probably due to pressure from Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was a Texas politician, diplomat and soldier who was a leading Texas political figure during the Texas Republic era. He was the second President of the Republic of Texas, after David G. Burnet and Sam Houston.-Early years:Lamar grew up at Fairfield, his father's...
. Within weeks, Lamar had sent Kinney to Mexico to petition for Dimmitt's release. The request was unsuccessful; the Mexican government was still angry with Dimmitt for his role in the Goliad Declaration of Independence and had no intention of releasing him.
Dimmitt and his friends, along with 19 other men from Texas who were imprisoned in Matamoros, were marched to Monterrey in August 1841. Eighteen of the men escaped in Saltillo
Saltillo
Saltillo is the capital city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. The city is located about 400 km south of the U.S. state of Texas, and 90 km west of Monterrey, Nuevo León....
after drugging their guards. Eleven of them were later found and executed, while seven reached safety in the mountains. Dimmitt had been held separately and did not participate in the escape, but he was told that if the other Texians did not return Dimmitt would be executed as revenge. Unhappy with either alternative—execution or extended imprisonment—Dimmitt committed suicide by taking an overdose of morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
.