Tiu Development of Friction, r820-r835
249
mante. The deliverers of Jack and Travis felt the need of justifying their action and took advantage of the immediate situation in Mexico. Before the party with the cannon could return, the whole matter was settled without bloodshed, thanks to a series of fortunate coincidences. Colonel Piedras, hearing of the difficulties, came from Nacogdoches with a respectable force. The colonists presented their case to him. He agreed to have the prisoners released to the civil authorities for trial, to pay for the supplies taken by Bradburn, and to use his in- fluence to have Bradburn removed. The stubborn Kentuckian was induced to ask to be relieved. When Colonel Subaran shortly afterwards suc- ceeded in having the garrison declare for Santa Anna and agree to sail for Mexico, the colonists were satisfied for they were rid of the new outpost. In the meantime, John Austin and the small band sent for the cannon went to Brazoria, obtained reinforcements, loaded three cannon on a schooner, and started down the Brazos for Galveston Bay. As they reached the mouth, Colonel Domingo Ugarte- chea, in command of the fort at Velasco, attempted to stop them, A furious battle ensued in which both sides suffered severe losses until the Mexican troops ran out of ammunition. Colonel Ugartechea had no choice but to surrender and agree to withdraw his soldiers from Texas. Encouraged by this initial success, colonial sympathizers of the liberal revolution in Mexico forced Colonel Piedras and his gar- rison to leave Nacogdoches in the summer of 1832. ColQl'lel Francisco Ruiz was now the only commander left in Anglo-American Texas. He wisely chose to withdraw with his troops from the post at Tenox- titlan on the Brazos crossing of the Bexar-Nacogdoches road. He retired to San Antonio. Thus, by the end of the summer of 1832 every fort established by Teran to guard the approaches to the colonies was aban- doned. Not a Mexican soldier remained in the area. 58 The Velasco clash. Tiu Fisher incident. In anticipation of the expiration of the duties exemption in September, 1830, George Fisher arrived on May 7. This Serbian soldier of fortune and naturalized citizen of the United States (1822) obtained the appointment of collector of customs for the port S&The summary of the incidents leading to the expulsion of Mexican troops from Texas is based on Barker, Texas and tlfexico, 1821-35; Edna Rowe, "The Disturbances at Anahuac in 1832," T/16 Quarterly, IV, 262-299; N. D. Labadie, "Narrative of the Fight at Anahuac, or Opening Campaign of the Texas Revolu- tion," Th, Texas Almanac, 1859, 30-36.
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