It has come to my attention that many of our friends do not know what the
Battle of Velasco was about; several, much to my surprise, had never heard
of it. So, I have established a brief explanation of the events and
their context in Texas history.
In 1828, Mexican General Meir y Teran headed a Border Commission expedition
across Texas to verify the northeastern border between Mexico and the United
States of the north. He noted a preponderance of wealthy, autocratic
anglos and realized that Mexico would soon lose her hold on this very valuable
province. As a result, and in part to head off the anticipated separation,
Teran made several suggestions to the Mexican Legislature which were later
incorporated into the Law of April 6, 1830.
In 1830, the Mexican Legislature enacted the Law of April 6. This
law prohibited slavery throughout Mexico (including Texas), established customs
houses and garrisons at key entry points to Texas, halted anglo immigration
from the United States of the north, terminated unfulfilled empressario contracts,
and established tariffs.
Reaction to the Law of April 6, 1830, among anglo settlers in Texas was
furious. Some colonists were invigorated in their call for separate
statehood for Texas (as opposed to the state of Texas and Coahuilla), while
others clamoured for revolution and an independent Texas republic. Most
colonists did not realize that Austin's and McGloin's colonies were relatively
unaffected by the law since their contacts were completed and legal land
titles were only a matter of paperwork away. The establishment of customs
houses created a great deal of political strife, due mainly to poor choices
in customs officers, and made it a bit more difficult to do business in some
instances. The establishment of garrisons and building of fortifications
caused an uproar, especially when colonists learned garrisons were to include
inmates from Mexican prisons (this did materialize and did cause some problems,
but only in a very small percentage of the overall garrison force in Texas).
In June of 1832, three illegal aliens -- from the United States of the
north – were arrested by Col. Juan Bradburn, in charge of the garrison at
Anahuac on Galveston Bay. When it finally came to charges, they were
accused of illegally being in Mexico and of practicing law in Mexico without
benefit of a license. When civil authorities attempted to intervene,
Bradburn declared them illegal under the Law of April 6, and held his prisoners
for military trial. Revolutionary activists then took over the action
and minor skirmishes ensued. A stalemate was reached when Bradburn
withdrew into an unfinished brick fortification. Realizing they could
not take the Mexican position without artillery, the Texians under William
McAlpin Robertson sent to Brazoria for cannon. At about the same time,
Samuel Williams, Austin's secretary in San Filipe, dispatched Texian militia
to Anahuac in support of Bradburn (they did not arrive until the situation
was resolved). At Brazoria, colonists organized a militia, commandeered
a schooner and loaded it with cannon, and headed down the Brazos River to
Velasco and Anahuac. Col. Domingo Ugartechea, in command of the garrison
at Velasco, refused passage since the colonists intended to attack the Mexican
post at Anahuac. The Texians reorganized into companies under John Austin
and Henry Smith, fortified the schooner, and made plans to attack Fort Velasco.
The plan was for Austin's company to attack from the north, while Smith
circled between the fort and the shoreline and attack from the driftwood
piles; the schooner was to drift downriver into cannon range and bombard
the fort. About midnight, before everyone was in position, a colonist
under Austin had the misfortune of having his gun discharge and became the
first casualty of the action. Ugartechea fired 109 of 113 rounds for
his main cannon before surrendering due to a lack of ammunition and no hope
of reenforcements; the Texians were receiving both supplies and additional
men all the while. Ugartechea surrendered with the Honours of War –
his men retained their assigned arms and minimal ammunition – and was removed
with his garrison across the river to Quintana, where they were to await
transport to Matamoros. Hearing the news of the Velasco defeat, Bradburn
knows he cannot hold out; he awaits the arrival of Col. Jose de las Piedras
from Nacodoches to turn over his command and flee for the Sabine. With
Velasco and Anahuac cleared of their garrisons, and Piedras soon recalled
to Mexico, Texas was left with virtually no official Mexican presence.
Several months after the battle, when Mexican authorities visited Velasco
to inquire into the matter, the colonists declared they had acted in support
of Santa Anna, then campaigning in central Mexico against President Bustamente.
No one was fooled, but it was enough to satisfy the Mexican government – until
the problem of anglo predominance could be dealt with. Many colonists
were dismayed at the lack of support from the United States; with that support,
they could have pitched their lots for independence.
During the conflict, S.F. Austin was in Mexico City, lobbying for repeal
of the more odious provisions of the Law of April 6; covertly, he was wrangling
for separate statehood for Texas. Three years later, he would lead another
militia into Bexar at the start what would become the revolution of 1836.
