Welcome to the Hidden History of Texas Episode 26.

Texas made it to the end of 1835 and in a couple of months in 1836 things finally come to a head and independence is gained. Before the two big battles of 1836, the Battle of the Alamo and San Jacinto, there were skirmishes and battles that took place during the closing months of 1835.

The battles are October 2, 1835, Battle of Gonzales , October 28, 1835, the  Battle of Goliad, October 28, 1835, the Battle of Concepcion, and then on December 11, 1835, the Siege of Bexar begins. I want to take a look at each of these early battles a little closer.

Let’s start in Gonzales, Texas. Gonzales is one of those early settlements made up of fiercely independent people. They were also, mostly Anglos and they didn’t have any particular allegiance to Mexico.

In 1831, the colonists had been given a small cannon to help in their defense against raids by the Apache and Comanche. When the government decided it was time to take the cannon back, the colonists refused to give it up.  When Domingo de Ugartechea, military commander in Texas, received word from the Mexican Government that the American colonists had to surrender the cannon he dispatched Francisco de Castañeda and 100 dragoons to retrieve it. Now understand that Ugartechea realized that the way feelings were running between the Texans and Santa Anna 's Centralist government, it wouldn’t take much to ignite hostilities. So he told Castañeda that if it was necessary he could use force, but to avoid open conflict if possible....

Sorry, but if you want to know how this turns out, you have to listen to the rest of the podcast. Come on now, it's only about 8-9 minutes long ---thanks

If you want more information on Texas History, visit the Texas State Historical Association. I also have two audiobooks on the Hidden History of Texas one which deals with the 1500s to about 1820, and the other one 1820s to 1830s.

You can find the books pretty much wherever you download or listen to audiobooks. Links to all the stores are on my publishers website https://ashbynavis.com.