New Clashes with Mexico

Mexico announced her intention to reconquer all of Texas in the 1840s.  The Texas Congress in turn, passed absurd resolutions claiming title to six northern Mexican states plus all of California...an explosive situation.

Mexico struck first.  Santa Anna sent three expeditions into Texas.  plundering Corpus Christi once, and San Antonio twice.  Panicked Texans fled eastward.  President Houston ordered the governmental archives from Austin but the residents refused to allow it.  They thought Houston wanted to permanently move the capital from Austin. The situation developed into the "Archives War" between the Austin vigilantes and the Texas Rangers (photo left). Austin won.


Houston had disbanded the republic's army to save money.  Volunteers were quickly recruited but they didn't like following anyone in command.  General Alexander Somervell, leader of one group along the Rio Grande in November 1842, ordered them back to San Antonio.  Instead they invaded the Mexican border town of Mier on Christmas Day, despite the General's orders.  They were forced to surrender to a much larger Mexican army and then marched southward as prisoners.  When they attempted to escape along the way, 1 out of 10 were executed.  The remaining men were put in prison along with the prisoners taken during Lamar's Santa Fe fiasco (see previous blog post). 

Another volunteer group led by Colonel Charles Warfield was to attack Santa Fe, but the group included 24 mountain men who went off on their own and raided the village of Mora.  They were run off by the Mexican cavalry.

Still another group under Major Jacob. Snively, were authorized to attack caravans along the Santa Fe trail by President Houston.  This was plain robbery and it angered the traders as well as endangered their safety.  In 1843 Snively's privateers were  intercepted by US dragoons and forced to give up their arms and goods.

So far Texans - 0

Next time British threat or farce?
_____________________________
Today in Pioneer History:  On November 7, 1916, Jeannette Rankin becomes the first woman member of Congress. Rankin, a suffragette, was elected to the House of Representatives from Montana.