The Struggle for Independence, 1835-1836
The situation now became complicated beyond measure. General Houston protested that the Council had encroached upon his authority as commander in chief; Fannin issued a ringing call for volunteers on January 8; Johnson countered two days later with a similar sum- ·mons and designated San Patricio as the place of rendezvous and the date of departure for January 20. At the height of the controversy, on January 9, a letter from Colonel John C. Neill, in command at San Antonio, was received by Governor Smith. Neill painted vividly the destitute condition of the garrison left in the Alamo. It was im- possible to hold this important post, he declared, for Grant and John- son had taken three hundred men and all the available supplies. Governor Smith was furious. He upbraided the Council the next day. The Council impeached the Governor, and named Robinson in his place. Fannin would not join forces with Johnson, and Houston set out for Goliad to wreck the Matamoros expedition. 36 Johnson and Grant had gone to San Patricio with their forces to await Fannin, who was at C6pano, forty miles away. Fannin, however, marched his force, now almost five hundred men, to Goliad. Because they knew Fannin needed horses, and in order to secure his coopera- tion, Johnson and Grant crossed the Nueces early in February and advanced as far the Colorado Creek along the road to Matamoros to get horses. After successfully raiding the country and securing several hundred horses, they started back to San Patricio. But on the return march Grant learned of another herd of horses not far from the road, and he and about half of the little band decided to go after them in spite of Johnson's warning that it was best to hurry, as the enemy knew of their activities and was reported in pursuit. The two com- manders parted, never to see each other again. Johnson and about half of the men returned to San Patricio, where they arrived on February 25. General Jose Urrea, in command of the right wing of the Mexican army, had crossed the Rio Grande on February 17 at Matamoros. By forced marches he reached San Patricio ten days later. He had been in hot pursuit of Johnson and Grant. According to his own account, Urrea attacked the fort at 3 :30 in the morning, immediately upon his arrival. In spite of the determined resistance, the door of the fort was battered down and the Texan force was overpowered. Sixteen were killed and twenty-four were taken prisoners. Johnson, who escaped with David J. Toler, John H. Love, from Georgia, and Miller, from
36 Williams, o'fl. cit., XXXVI, 260-265; Johnson, o'fl. cit., I, 363-369.
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