Background
The Texas Revolution began on October 2, 1835. By December, all Mexican soldiers had been driven from the province. The Texas General Council authorized the Matamoros Expedition to take Matamoros in the Mexican interior. The General Council alternately gave command of the expedition to James Fannin and Frank W. Johnson. The acting governor, Henry Smith, sent General Sam Houston to try to stop the campaign.
Houston quietly pointed out the difficulties facing the soldiers in Matamoros, and many soldiers deserted. Fannin chose to pull back to Presidio La Bahia at Goliad, leaving about 150 men with Johnson in Refugio. Johnson shared command with his business partner, James Grant. They marched their remaining troops 50 miles (80 km) south to San Patricio, still over 100 miles (160 km) from Matamoros. By late February, desertions had brought their number down to fewer than 100 men.
Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was determined to quell the unrest. By December 1835, Santa Anna had gathered 6,019 soldiers at San Luis Potosi. Santa Anna intended to march the majority of the troops across the center of Texas to retake San Antonio de Bexar. General Jose Urrea would manage the second front of the war, with the goal of retaking Presidio La Bahia at Goliad. On February 17, 1836, Urrea and 550 troops crossed the Rio Grande at Matamoros.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Agua Dulce
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