Texas Tidbits: Closing In On Independence

Independence is Near

At this time of year in 1836, events were rapidly taking place as the climax of the Texas Revolution drew near. On February 1, 1836, elections were held across Texas for a convention to select delegates to an Independence Convention. Preparation for military conflicts were also in full swing, as General Santa Ana's Army continued its march towards San Antonio and the inevitable Battle of the Alamo. Texan and American revolutionaries were arriving at the Alamo in an attempt to defend the mission and the city from the Mexicans. Below, you'll see a timeline of the events of the day (from Wikipedia) leading up to the final stand by the Texans at the Alamo.

January 6		Santa Anna arrives at Saltillo.
January 14		Sam Houston arrives at Goliad. J.C. Neill, commander at the Alamo, pleads for supplies.
January 19		James Bowie and James Bonham arrive at the Alamo with thirty men.
February 1	Elections are held in settlements across Texas for an independence convention.
February 3		William Travis arrives at the Alamo.
February 8		David Crockett arrives at the Alamo.
February 11		Alamo commander J.C. Neill leaves the Alamo due to a family illness. He appoints Travis commander.
February 13		Santa Anna and his army reach the city of Guerrero. Travis and Bowie agree upon joint command of the Alamo's forces.
February 16		Santa Anna crosses the Rio Grande.
February 17		Travis sends out letters pleading for men and supplies.
February 21		Santa Anna arrives at the Medina River.
February 22
February 23		Santa Anna enters San Antonio. The Alamo comes under artillery fire from Mexican troops.
February 24		Travis writes his famous "To the People of Texas & all Americans in the world" letter. Bowie becomes ill.
February 25		Fannin, commander of troops at Goliad, receives Travis' plea for aid.
February 26		James Fannin attempts his relief march to the Alamo but turns back.

I want to stop right there for today and pick it up again tomorrow with some of the other things that were reaching critical mass in the Texas Revolution. Still to come are the fall of the Alamo, the Runaway Scrape and the eighteen minutes that changed the course of history of Texas, Mexico and the United States.