Runaway Scrape
Encyclopedia
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.
Settlers had fled their homes in Texas
, after receiving reports of the Mexican Army, under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
, gathering on the Rio Grande
in preparation to invade and retake Texas. A large scale exodus occurred after a string of Texian
battle losses in the rebellion against the Centralist Mexican
government.
The primary catalysts of the mass exodus were the knowledge of the defeat of the Texian forces at the Alamo with the declaration of Deguello
to all Separatists of Texas by Mexican General Santa Anna and the imminent need of the Texian commander, Sam Houston
, to raise and train an army large enough to confront them in battle.
The Mexican take no prisoner policy was in essence a replay of the similar no quarter given by the Spanish general and royalist Joaquín de Arredondo y Mioño, under whom Santa Anna had served as a staff officer. That counter-insurgency against the first Republic of Texas
resulted in the virtual wholesale slaughter of civilians and Prisoners of War, in one of the largest repercussions ever conducted in Mexico, in an area that later became part of the United States of America http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/Spain2.htm.
In 1813, General José Joaquín de Arredondo
's army destroyed the First Texas Republic, sometimes called the Green Flag Republic and its pro-independence movement, then being sponsored by the Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition
. The campaign against the Republican Army of the North reached its decisive conclusion at the Battle of Medina
, the largest battle in Texas history, which saw thousands of Texian, American, Tejano, Indian, Mexican, and European soldiers killed and those captured executed. Arredondo saw in Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
an up and coming leader. Santa Anna watched as the prisoners of war and any of their families which fell into the hands of his army were executed. As an aide de camp to Arredondo, he was privy to much of the Spanish general's brutal principles of counter-insurgency which included wholesale slaughter of Mexican nationalist rebels and communities sympathetic to the revolution. The end of the campaign saw the early Texas province devastated and essentially depopulated until Austin's settlement. The ruins and narrative of the campaign left a burning imprint in the minds of the later settlers, the few survivors, and Santa Anna.
Rebellion to the dictatorial rule of Santa Anna
When Santa Anna overthrew the pro-centralist Anastasio Bustamante
, he quickly began dismantling the Constitution of 1824 under the guise of liberal reform. Finally, displeased with the pace of reform and growing tumultuous countryside, Santa Anna dismissed the liberal government and declared himself Supreme Dictator of Mexico. In reply to these events several states came to the defense of the Constitution and into open rebellion against the Centralist Government, including Coahuila y Tejas
, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Durango, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Yucatán
, Jalisco, Nuevo León
, Tamaulipas
and Zacatecas
. Several of these states formed their own governments, the Republic of the Rio Grande
, the Republic of Yucatan
, and the Republic of Texas
.
Hoping to achieve a similar gory but glorious victory against various rebellions, thereby uniting the Mexican
nation behind him, General Santa Anna prepared his army. He called on all Mexican rebels to surrender and join his patriotic army, and started the long march north toward Texas. As Santa Anna began his campaign to put down these rebellions he methodically devastated the individuals, families, and communities who opposed him. By the time his reign of terror made its way toward Texas, Santa Anna had a well grounded reputation for counter-insurgency brutality and massacre.
before arriving at the Rio Grande River.
The State of Zacatecas proved to be Santa Anna's greatest obstacle at first. The Zacatecan militia, the largest and best supplied of the Mexican states, led by Francisco Garcia, was well armed with .753 caliber British 'Brown Bess' muskets and Baker .61 rifles. After two hours of combat, on May 12, 1835, Santa Anna's "Army of Operations" defeated the Zacatecan militia and took almost 3,000 prisoners which he summarily executed and followed by executing their families as well.
The few Mexican survivors of these ruthless actions south of the Rio Grande, brought news of the events and Santa Anna's vision to the Texans. The few survivors of the previous First Texas Republic quickly verified the probable intention of Santa Anna. Consequently, when Santa Anna succeeded in defeating and massacring the Texas garrisons at the fall of the Alamo
on March 6 and the Battle of Goliad
three weeks later, he marched into south central and eastern parts of the territory treating all in arms against him as pirates, unworthy of mercy. The remainder of Texas quickly fled the murderous onslaught.
on March 11, 1836, where Colonel James C. Neill
, Colonel Edward Burleson
, Captain Juan Seguín
and their companies were now located. Two days later, they learned of the March 6 fall of the Alamo through the reports of Susanna Dickinson, after she had been released by the Mexican
Army
in San Antonio
. Deaf Smith
, Henry Wax Karnes
and R. E. Handy had found Mrs. Dickinson and Karnes and other Texan family survivors of Santa Anna's campaign. With their reports in hand, the group hurried back to tell Houston of the news.
Upon hearing of the news and with subsequent reports of fleeing Texan families entering the camp, Houston decided to retreat, advising all settlers to follow. Henry Karnes was asked to burn Gonzales to prevent the Mexicans from gathering anything useful for their campaign. Although, most Texian
families had begun making preparation for leaving, substantial numbers decided to remain. As troops would march away from Gonzales, the remaining remnants lost their protectors. Salvador Flores
along with a group of volunteers formed the rear guard that would protect the fleeing families. The Flores company proceeded westward to secure the lower ranches of San Antonio. Flores maintained this position offering protection from Mexican and Indian attack. On March 14, the caravan had reached the Lavaca River, there they would camp at Williamson Daniels.
On March 17, the Texians would cross the Colorado River
where favorable defensive positions awaited them. Here they could secure three of the Colorado crossings; Burnam's, Dewee's (a.k.a., Mosely's) and Beason's, while waiting, although in vain, for the arrival of Colonel James Fannin
's army. Preceding the Texian Army
at these crossings was the civilian evacuation toward the American border and safety of Louisiana. On March 20, Sesma leading 800 men, had reached the Colorado. The Texians, although eager to battle were advised by Houston to wait, which caused much grumbling and dissatisfaction among the troops.
Further up the Colorado at Mina (Bastrop), the civilian exodus traveling ahead of Gaona's Mexican Division, made use of the Puesta del Colorado crossing prompting the Ranger unit there to divide its forces. Half of the Tumlinson Ranger's corps protected the non combatants, accompanying them toward Nacogdoches along the San Antonio Road, with the remainder serving as rear guard between the Texan army below and the three pursuing Mexican vanguards. After the evacuation, Mina would be destroyed by the pursuing Mexican army and scavenged by Indians. After a week of organizing and training at Benjamin Beason's Crossing, the Texian Army under Sam Houston received the disheartening news of Fannin's fate. Houston would lose some 300 men, as they rushed to gather and escort their families. The flight eastward would continue toward San Felipe, on March 26.
On March 29, just the next day after arriving, Houston burned and abandoned San Felipe de Austin. This retreat of Houston and the Texian Army
left more settlements unprotected. General Santa Anna had condoned the confiscation of food and the burning of towns along his route through Texas. Thus, his treatment toward rebelling Anglos, the "No Quarter" orders and proven history of massacre proved sufficient to cause thousands of settlers to flee his wrath.
The refugee trains soon became a flood, as more settlers heard of the fall of the Alamo and the retreat of Houston. The flight was marked by lack of preparation and by panic caused by fear of both the Mexican Army and of Indians
who, unknowingly were temporarily allied, might crush the fledgling Texan nation. While the fear of Indian alliance with Santa Anna was real, it did not materialize. By April 1 most settlements around the Brazos were evacuated.
On April 2, Santa Anna reached Gonzales, following the military road he proceeded to take the Atascosito Crossing of the Colorado on April 5, and on April 7, he had reached San Felipe de Austin. While in San Felipe, Santa Anna did not know that Houston and his army were camped in a pasture across the Brazos River from Groce's Plantation, only fifteen miles above the main Mexican forces. For almost two weeks, the Texians would remain undetected, allowing time for their numbers to increase and training to progress. At the Brazos, the eager fighters were put to work. Juan Seguin's company with Captain Moseley Baker's company, would hinder the advance of Santa Anna by blocking the Mexican army from crossing the Brazos river, thereby preventing them from rapidly overtaking the Texians. Wyly Martin was given the same task, but with a limited guard was flanked out of his position when the Mexicans crossed near Old Fort
.
The spring of 1836 was wet, and many roads were washed away. The rain, cold, and lack of food and shelter made the settlers susceptible to many diseases such as cholera
, whooping cough and dysentery
. They were buried where they died.
They also faced Mexican partisans and renegade looters who wanted what little the settlers may have fled with. Many were picked off by bands of Mexican scouts and partisans as well as hostile Indians. With the rivers flooded, the refugees were forced to make crude rafts to cross the swollen waterways, sinking them afterwards to delay their pursuers.
Houston stayed ahead of the Mexican army by crossing the Brazos beginning on the April 12 and marching east from Groce's Plantation on April 14. Santa Anna had learned of the Texian's President, David G. Burnet
and other officials presence in Harrisburg and split his army by sending a detachment to capture them. The Texians also had also learned of the Mexican's plan and hurried to parallel the Mexican march. Harrisburg would be torched by the Mexican Army. On April 16, Houston's army ended the retreat by turning southeast to march toward the eminent confrontation at San Jacinto.
After pushing the defiant population before him in three primary pincer movements, Santa Anna presumed he had finally cornered the settlers and their protecting Texian soldiers and American volunteers under Sam Houston
at San Jacinto.
The Runaway Scrape consisted of three major columns. The largest of these columns was protected by Houston's army. When Houston turned his army around he began collecting the refugee train behind his army. On April 21, in the subsequent battle of San Jacinto, this large group of settlers awaited their fate to the sounds of the battle before learning of Texas victory and their own safety. The remainder of the refugee columns continued for about six weeks until news spread of Houston's victory in the Battle of San Jacinto
.
The Runaway Scrape had caused many families to incur substantial property losses, and upon their return home found their property had been ravaged and their livestock missing. Thus many ended up nearly destitute. Estimates of civilian casualties range from dozens to perhaps hundreds dead. Combined with military losses, the entire nation of Texas lost anywhere from a minimum of ten percent to upwards of twenty percent of its population.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Tejano
Tejano
Tejano or Texano is a term used to identify a Texan of Mexican heritage.Historically, the Spanish term Tejano has been used to identify different groups of people...
, and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
settlers and militia encountered the pursuing Mexican army in early 1836.
Settlers had fled their homes in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, after receiving reports of the Mexican Army, under General 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...
, gathering on the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
in preparation to invade and retake Texas. A large scale exodus occurred after a string of Texian
Texian
Texian is an archaic, mostly defunct 19th century demonym which defined a settler of current-day Texas, one of the southern states of the United States of America which borders the country of Mexico...
battle losses in the rebellion against the Centralist Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
government.
The primary catalysts of the mass exodus were the knowledge of the defeat of the Texian forces at the Alamo with the declaration of Deguello
Degüello
Degüello is the sixth studio album by American blues rock band ZZ Top, released in 1979 . "Degüello" means "beheading" or, idiomatically, "no quarter" in Spanish and was the title of a Moorish-origin bugle call used by the Mexican Army forces at the Battle of the Alamo, Texas, in 1836.Degüello...
to all Separatists of Texas by Mexican General Santa Anna and the imminent need of the Texian commander, 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...
, to raise and train an army large enough to confront them in battle.
Background
A prelude of the Texas RevolutionThe Mexican take no prisoner policy was in essence a replay of the similar no quarter given by the Spanish general and royalist Joaquín de Arredondo y Mioño, under whom Santa Anna had served as a staff officer. That counter-insurgency against the first Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
resulted in the virtual wholesale slaughter of civilians and Prisoners of War, in one of the largest repercussions ever conducted in Mexico, in an area that later became part of the United States of America http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/Spain2.htm.
In 1813, General José Joaquín de Arredondo
Jose Joaquín de Arredondo
Joaquín de Arredondo y Mioño was a 19th-century Spanish–Mexican soldier who served as Chief Civil and Military Commandant of Texas during the first Texas revolution.-Early life:...
's army destroyed the First Texas Republic, sometimes called the Green Flag Republic and its pro-independence movement, then being sponsored by the Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition
Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition
The Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition was an 1812–13 joint Mexican-American filibustering expedition against Spanish Texas during the early years of the Mexican War of Independence.-Background:...
. The campaign against the Republican Army of the North reached its decisive conclusion at the Battle of Medina
Battle of Medina
The Battle of Medina was fought approximately 20 miles south of San Antonio de Bexar on August 18, 1813 as part of the Mexican War of Independence against Spanish authority in Mexico...
, the largest battle in Texas history, which saw thousands of Texian, American, Tejano, Indian, Mexican, and European soldiers killed and those captured executed. Arredondo saw in 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...
an up and coming leader. Santa Anna watched as the prisoners of war and any of their families which fell into the hands of his army were executed. As an aide de camp to Arredondo, he was privy to much of the Spanish general's brutal principles of counter-insurgency which included wholesale slaughter of Mexican nationalist rebels and communities sympathetic to the revolution. The end of the campaign saw the early Texas province devastated and essentially depopulated until Austin's settlement. The ruins and narrative of the campaign left a burning imprint in the minds of the later settlers, the few survivors, and Santa Anna.
Rebellion to the dictatorial rule of Santa Anna
When Santa Anna overthrew the pro-centralist Anastasio Bustamante
Anastasio Bustamante
Anastasio Bustamante y Oseguera was president of Mexico three times, from 1830 to 1832, from 1837 to 1839 and from 1839 to 1841. He was a Conservative. He first came to power by leading a coup against president Vicente Guerrero...
, he quickly began dismantling the Constitution of 1824 under the guise of liberal reform. Finally, displeased with the pace of reform and growing tumultuous countryside, Santa Anna dismissed the liberal government and declared himself Supreme Dictator of Mexico. In reply to these events several states came to the defense of the Constitution and into open rebellion against the Centralist Government, including 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...
, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Durango, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
, Jalisco, Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
, Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
and Zacatecas
Zacatecas
Zacatecas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Zacatecas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas....
. Several of these states formed their own governments, the Republic of the Rio Grande
Republic of the Rio Grande
The Republic of the Rio Grande was an independent nation that insurgents against the Central Mexican Government sought to establish in northern Mexico. The rebellion lasted from January 17 to November 6, 1840 and the Republic of the Rio Grande was never officially recognized.- Background :After a...
, the Republic of Yucatan
Republic of Yucatán
The Republic of Yucatan was a nineteenth century sovereign state during two periods of the century. The first Republic of Yucatan, founded May 29, 1823, joined the Mexican federation as the Federated Republic of Yucatán on December 23, 1823, less than seven months later...
, and the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
.
Hoping to achieve a similar gory but glorious victory against various rebellions, thereby uniting the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
nation behind him, General Santa Anna prepared his army. He called on all Mexican rebels to surrender and join his patriotic army, and started the long march north toward Texas. As Santa Anna began his campaign to put down these rebellions he methodically devastated the individuals, families, and communities who opposed him. By the time his reign of terror made its way toward Texas, Santa Anna had a well grounded reputation for counter-insurgency brutality and massacre.
Santa Anna's progression toward Texas
On the way, he marched his army through the separatist rebellions at ZacatecasZacatecas, Zacatecas
Zacatecas is a city and municipality in Mexico and the capital of the state of Zacatecas. It is located in the north central part of the country. The city had its start as a Spanish mining camp in the mid 16th century. Prior to this, the area's rich deposits in silver and other minerals were known...
before arriving at the Rio Grande River.
The State of Zacatecas proved to be Santa Anna's greatest obstacle at first. The Zacatecan militia, the largest and best supplied of the Mexican states, led by Francisco Garcia, was well armed with .753 caliber British 'Brown Bess' muskets and Baker .61 rifles. After two hours of combat, on May 12, 1835, Santa Anna's "Army of Operations" defeated the Zacatecan militia and took almost 3,000 prisoners which he summarily executed and followed by executing their families as well.
The few Mexican survivors of these ruthless actions south of the Rio Grande, brought news of the events and Santa Anna's vision to the Texans. The few survivors of the previous First Texas Republic quickly verified the probable intention of Santa Anna. Consequently, when Santa Anna succeeded in defeating and massacring the Texas garrisons at the fall of the Alamo
Battle 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...
on March 6 and the Battle of Goliad
Goliad massacre
The Goliad Massacre was an execution of Republic of Texas soldiers and their commander, James Fannin, by Mexico, reluctantly carried out by General Jose de Urrea.-Background:...
three weeks later, he marched into south central and eastern parts of the territory treating all in arms against him as pirates, unworthy of mercy. The remainder of Texas quickly fled the murderous onslaught.
The Runaway and scrapes
Sam Houston arrived in GonzalesGonzales, Texas
Gonzales is a city in Gonzales County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gonzales County.-Geography:Gonzales is located at...
on March 11, 1836, where Colonel James C. Neill
James C. Neill
↔James Clinton Neill was a 19th-century American soldier and politician, most noted for his role in the Texas Revolution and the early defense of the Alamo. He was born in North Carolina.-Early life and career:...
, Colonel Edward Burleson
Edward Burleson
Edward Burleson was a soldier, general, and statesman in the state of Missouri, the Republic of Texas, and later the U.S. state of Texas....
, Captain Juan Seguín
Juan Seguín
Juan Nepomuceno Seguín was a 19th-century Texas Senator, Mayor, Judge, and Justice of the Peace and a prominent participant in the Texas Revolution.-Early life and family:...
and their companies were now located. Two days later, they learned of the March 6 fall of the Alamo through the reports of Susanna Dickinson, after she had been released by the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. Deaf Smith
Deaf Smith
Erastus "Deaf" Smith was an American frontiersman noted for his part in the Texas Revolution and the army of the Republic of Texas. He fought at the Grass Fight and the Battle of San Jacinto. After the war, Deaf Smith led a company of Texas Rangers.-Biography:Smith was born in Dutchess County, New...
, Henry Wax Karnes
Henry Wax Karnes
Henry Wax Karnes was notable as a soldier and figure of the Texas Revolution, as well as the commander of General Sam Houston's "Spy Squad" at the Battle of San Jacinto....
and R. E. Handy had found Mrs. Dickinson and Karnes and other Texan family survivors of Santa Anna's campaign. With their reports in hand, the group hurried back to tell Houston of the news.
Upon hearing of the news and with subsequent reports of fleeing Texan families entering the camp, Houston decided to retreat, advising all settlers to follow. Henry Karnes was asked to burn Gonzales to prevent the Mexicans from gathering anything useful for their campaign. Although, most Texian
Texian
Texian is an archaic, mostly defunct 19th century demonym which defined a settler of current-day Texas, one of the southern states of the United States of America which borders the country of Mexico...
families had begun making preparation for leaving, substantial numbers decided to remain. As troops would march away from Gonzales, the remaining remnants lost their protectors. Salvador Flores
Salvador Flores
Salvador Flores served as a volunteer in the Texan Army in 1835–1836. He was instrumental in organizing and commanding Texian volunteers in support of the Texas Revolution. He participated in many battles and would rise through the ranks to reach Captain status during the fight for Texas...
along with a group of volunteers formed the rear guard that would protect the fleeing families. The Flores company proceeded westward to secure the lower ranches of San Antonio. Flores maintained this position offering protection from Mexican and Indian attack. On March 14, the caravan had reached the Lavaca River, there they would camp at Williamson Daniels.
On March 17, the Texians would cross the Colorado River
Colorado River (Texas)
The Colorado River is a river that runs through the U.S. state of Texas; it should not be confused with the much longer Colorado River which flows from Colorado into the Gulf of California....
where favorable defensive positions awaited them. Here they could secure three of the Colorado crossings; Burnam's, Dewee's (a.k.a., Mosely's) and Beason's, while waiting, although in vain, for the arrival of Colonel 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...
's army. Preceding the 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...
at these crossings was the civilian evacuation toward the American border and safety of Louisiana. On March 20, Sesma leading 800 men, had reached the Colorado. The Texians, although eager to battle were advised by Houston to wait, which caused much grumbling and dissatisfaction among the troops.
Further up the Colorado at Mina (Bastrop), the civilian exodus traveling ahead of Gaona's Mexican Division, made use of the Puesta del Colorado crossing prompting the Ranger unit there to divide its forces. Half of the Tumlinson Ranger's corps protected the non combatants, accompanying them toward Nacogdoches along the San Antonio Road, with the remainder serving as rear guard between the Texan army below and the three pursuing Mexican vanguards. After the evacuation, Mina would be destroyed by the pursuing Mexican army and scavenged by Indians. After a week of organizing and training at Benjamin Beason's Crossing, the Texian Army under Sam Houston received the disheartening news of Fannin's fate. Houston would lose some 300 men, as they rushed to gather and escort their families. The flight eastward would continue toward San Felipe, on March 26.
On March 29, just the next day after arriving, Houston burned and abandoned San Felipe de Austin. This retreat of Houston and the 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...
left more settlements unprotected. General Santa Anna had condoned the confiscation of food and the burning of towns along his route through Texas. Thus, his treatment toward rebelling Anglos, the "No Quarter" orders and proven history of massacre proved sufficient to cause thousands of settlers to flee his wrath.
The refugee trains soon became a flood, as more settlers heard of the fall of the Alamo and the retreat of Houston. The flight was marked by lack of preparation and by panic caused by fear of both the Mexican Army and of Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
who, unknowingly were temporarily allied, might crush the fledgling Texan nation. While the fear of Indian alliance with Santa Anna was real, it did not materialize. By April 1 most settlements around the Brazos were evacuated.
On April 2, Santa Anna reached Gonzales, following the military road he proceeded to take the Atascosito Crossing of the Colorado on April 5, and on April 7, he had reached San Felipe de Austin. While in San Felipe, Santa Anna did not know that Houston and his army were camped in a pasture across the Brazos River from Groce's Plantation, only fifteen miles above the main Mexican forces. For almost two weeks, the Texians would remain undetected, allowing time for their numbers to increase and training to progress. At the Brazos, the eager fighters were put to work. Juan Seguin's company with Captain Moseley Baker's company, would hinder the advance of Santa Anna by blocking the Mexican army from crossing the Brazos river, thereby preventing them from rapidly overtaking the Texians. Wyly Martin was given the same task, but with a limited guard was flanked out of his position when the Mexicans crossed near Old Fort
Fort Bend
Fort Bend was a blockhouse built in a large bend of the Brazos River in what is now Fort Bend County, Texas, to provide protection against Indian raids. It was erected in November 1822 by several members of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred, including William W...
.
The spring of 1836 was wet, and many roads were washed away. The rain, cold, and lack of food and shelter made the settlers susceptible to many diseases such as cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
, whooping cough and dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
. They were buried where they died.
They also faced Mexican partisans and renegade looters who wanted what little the settlers may have fled with. Many were picked off by bands of Mexican scouts and partisans as well as hostile Indians. With the rivers flooded, the refugees were forced to make crude rafts to cross the swollen waterways, sinking them afterwards to delay their pursuers.
Houston stayed ahead of the Mexican army by crossing the Brazos beginning on the April 12 and marching east from Groce's Plantation on April 14. Santa Anna had learned of the Texian's President, David G. Burnet
David G. Burnet
David Gouverneur Burnet was an early politician within the Republic of Texas, serving as interim President of Texas , second Vice President of the Republic of Texas , and Secretary of State for the new state of Texas after it was annexed to the United States of America.Burnet was born in Newark,...
and other officials presence in Harrisburg and split his army by sending a detachment to capture them. The Texians also had also learned of the Mexican's plan and hurried to parallel the Mexican march. Harrisburg would be torched by the Mexican Army. On April 16, Houston's army ended the retreat by turning southeast to march toward the eminent confrontation at San Jacinto.
After pushing the defiant population before him in three primary pincer movements, Santa Anna presumed he had finally cornered the settlers and their protecting Texian soldiers and American volunteers 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...
at San Jacinto.
The Runaway Scrape consisted of three major columns. The largest of these columns was protected by Houston's army. When Houston turned his army around he began collecting the refugee train behind his army. On April 21, in the subsequent battle of San Jacinto, this large group of settlers awaited their fate to the sounds of the battle before learning of Texas victory and their own safety. The remainder of the refugee columns continued for about six weeks until news spread of Houston's victory in 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...
.
The Runaway Scrape had caused many families to incur substantial property losses, and upon their return home found their property had been ravaged and their livestock missing. Thus many ended up nearly destitute. Estimates of civilian casualties range from dozens to perhaps hundreds dead. Combined with military losses, the entire nation of Texas lost anywhere from a minimum of ten percent to upwards of twenty percent of its population.
See also
- Timeline of the Texas RevolutionTimeline of the Texas RevolutionThis is a timeline of the Texas Revolution, spanning the time from the earliest independence movements of the area of Texas, over the declaration of independence from Spain, up to the secession of the Republic of Texas from Mexico....
- History of TexasHistory of TexasEuropean conquistadors first arrived in the region now known as Texas in 1519, finding the region populated by various Native American tribes...
- List of Texas Revolution battles
- Texas RevolutionTexas RevolutionThe 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...