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Battle of Gonzales

September 31, 1835

There is a brief incident involving a cannon, and it's occurring because Santa Anna is refusing to follow 

the Constitution of 1834. When Texas was still prone to attacks by Native Americans, the Mexican 

government gave us a cannon to protect ourselves. Now they want the cannon back. We have refused, 

and we then buried the cannon in an orchard. We've removed the ferry that had previously crossed the 

Guadalupe River when we heard that Mexican soldiers were coming to get the cannon back. When I 

heard that there was going to be a battle, I traveled to Gonzales immediately because I might be needed 

to tend to the wounded.

October 2, 1835

Today the Texan soldiers, which numbered about 140, attacked the Mexican force of about 100 men. To 

mock the Mexicans, we made a flag that said, "Come and take it." and we waved it above the cannon. 

The battle was brief, and although visibility from both sides was limited, at least one Mexican soldier 

wasn't moving.

October 4, 1835

Apparently, word about the Battle travels fast because upon hearing about it, General Martin Perfecto do 

Cos ordered 300 more soldiers to stop the settlers and get the cannon back. George Collinsworth is 

gathering a volunteer army, and so far he commands the Texan force of about 50 settlers. He is being 

assisted by Ben Milam.

                                                                                                   -Cain

March of San Antonio, Battle of San Antonio, Grass Fight

October 11, 1835

I'm still in Gonzales because the volunteers are setting up their plan to attack San Antonio. Stephen F. Austin is our 

general, and the march to San Antonio will be tomorrow.

October 25, 1835

We've set up camp on the outskirts of San Antonio, and we're being aided by more than 100 Tejanos -including Juan 

Seguin- because they were mistreated by the Mexican soldiers. Our army is ill-trained and ill-equipped, I'm basically the 

only doctor there, since all the others don't have sufficient training and practice. Anyway, the army's grown to 600 soldiers 

-most of which are infantry. Austin has sent a search party of 90 men to find a suitable location to attack the Mexicans.

October 28, 1835

 The search party was attacked by 400 Mexican soldiers at the Mission Concepcion. James Bowie, James Fannin, and 

Andrew Briscoe -who led the party- had camped in a good defensive position. We clearly won this battle. After the victory, 

we lay siege on San Antonio. We thought that the siege was having little effect, so some soldiers began to desert. I was 

there, so when some soldiers began to develop illnesses, I had to cure them.

November 26, 1835

A scout rode into camp today declaring that more then 100 Mexican soldiers were headed to San Antonio. An -obviously 

false- rumor was quickly spread that the Mexicans were carrying silver. Our soldiers fought out of greed, and won. After the 

battle when our soldiers opened the bags they found grass. 

December 4, 1835

The siege has worn down the Mexicans. Today Milam caused quite the commotion after hearing this. He turned to us and 

yelled, "Who will go with old Ben Milam to San Antonio?"

December 10, 1835

Although I didn't go to San Antonio, I heard about the events from a soldier who described them to me. The fighting lasted 

four days, but on the third day Milam was killed. The battle was in our favor; we were forcing the Mexicans to retreat. 

Yesterday the Mexicans were forced out of San Antonio. Today both sides agreed to the terms of the Mexican's surrender, 

and they were led out of Texas.  

                                                                                                                                  -Cain                

Siege of the Alamo

January 9, 1836

As I was walking though San Antonio today, there seemed to bee some sort of celebration occurring over a man. Some one fired a cannon, 

so this guy must have been an important figure. Later on I found out that man was a legend named Davy Crockett.

January 19, 1836

James Bowie has arrived in San Antonio with a pathetic amount of men. He arrived with 25 men, and then proceeded to inspect the fort, 

and make improvements. Bowie also wrote a letter, which resulted in us getting reinforcements of 30 men from William B. Travis. As word 

spread of the rebellion, U.S. volunteers came to Texas to help fight. When Colonel Neil left to care for an ill family member,Bowie and Travis 

fought over who would be in command, and eventually decided to share the position.

January 20, 1836

The Mexicans are coming, and we're strengthening the Alamo. At this time there are about 150 soldiers here. We have heard from Juan 

Segiun's scouts that Santa Anna's troops are approaching.

February 23, 1836

Santa Anna's army is here! He wasn't supposed to be here until March! There's a state of restrained panic here. Everyone is gathering food 

and supplies. People are rushing to get in the Alamo before the Mexicans arrive. 6000 Mexican soldiers are here! They've demanded our 

surrender, and we've fired a cannon in return. Now they've raised a red flag, which means "no survivors".

February 24, 1836

Mexican forces are firing upon us. I can hear the cannons going off for the hospital. Bowie has collapsed, and Travis is in charge now. Travis 

has ordered the soldiers to stop shooting to save ammunition.

February 28, 1836

No help has come, despite Travis's requests.

March 1, 1836

32 volunteers form Gonzales have come to the Alamo led by Captain Albert Martin. They came in the morning. No other help has come. We 

now have 189 soldiers.

March 6, 1836

The Mexicans have entered the Alamo by the hundreds. At least 182 Texans are dead. There are survivors, namely Susanna Dickinson, her 

baby, and I. We hid in the hospital closet. Santa Anna only spared noncombatants. I am grateful, although I expected to die.                                                         

-Cain

Texas Declaration of Independence and Constitution of 1836

March 20, 1836

I returned to Goliad with Mrs.Dickinson last week, and while I was there I overheard 

pieces of information which I pieced together. The Convention of 1836 was held at 

Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 1. there were 59 delegates, and many had served 

in the U.S. government. Lorenzo de Zavala had served in the Mexican Congress. The 

vote for independence passes quickly. George C. Childress chaired the committee in 

charge of drafting the document declaring independence. The declaration listed the 

complaints against Santa Anna's government, and it stated that they had been denied 

many rights guaranteed under the Constitution of 1824. The declaration was 

presented to the convention and the vote in favor was unanimous. Many Tejanos 

opposed the declaration, and some left the army. A few days later the   delegates 

heard about the Alamo. many wanted to aid the defenders, but Sam Houston urged 

them to stay and create a constitution for the new republic. The legislative branch 

makes the laws, which are carried out by the executive branch. The judicial branch 

provides a court system. The Constitution of 1836 contained a bill of rights, which is a 

statement of basic rights that the government can't take away. The constitution 

ensured slavery as a legal institution, since the economy depends on slavery so much. 

The delegates set up an an interim. Lorenzo de Zavala is the vice president.

                                                                                                      -Cain

Runaway Scrape 

March 6, 1836

I have heard that Houston is short on supplies, and that he's left 

Washington-on-the-Brazos to go to Gonzales.

March 12, 1836

Apparently, when Houston arrived in Gonzales, he was greeted by rumors of 

the Alamo's fall. That's why I'm being escorted to Houston and having to tell 

my story about what happened at the Alamo.

March 13, 1836

Santa Anna is heading towards Gonzales with 700 men. Houston's ordered a 

retreat, but he didn't need to tell me.I'm heading to Harrisburg -along with 

most of the Texas population- to avoid Mexican soldiers. Jeff Parson, a slave 

that I met wrote down what he saw as we walked together. Living conditions 

were made worse by heavy rains and flooding. Many here have died from 

illness, disease, and hardships.

                                                                                     -Cain

Goliad Massacre

March 19, 1836

A scout has arrived and after a bit of persuasion on my part, he told me what's 

happening in other parts of Texas. Mexican General Jose de Urrea is slowly moving 

northeast while defeating Texan troops along the way. On March 14 Urrea won the 

Battle of Refugio, and Urrea's next target was Fannin's army at Goliad. On the same 

day Fannin received an order to withdraw to Victoria, which he ignored.

March 23, 1836

Another scout has come to tell us about the events currently happening. On March 19 

Urrea's army of about 450 troops surrounded Fannin's army of 300 troops. Fannin 

chose to stand and fight. The next morning several more hundred Mexican troops 

arrived, causing Fannin to surrender, and he and his army were marched back into 

Goliad. The prisoners are currently being held in Goliad.

March 28, 1836

A scout came with an urgent message which caused fury when heard. Santa Anna 

ordered the soldiers at Goliad executed. Yesterday the Mexicans shot more then 400 

Texans outside of Goliad. Luckily Francita Alavez, who was traveling with the Mexican 

army helped Texans escape. We are referring to her as the "Angel of Goliad" now.                          

                                                                             -Cain

Battle of San Jacinto

April 18, 1836

The Texas army has arrived in Harrisburg, and they brought information about what happened 

after Goliad. One soldier told me that with news of Goliad, some Texans demanded an attack on 

the Mexicans, but even with more than 1200 men Houston believed his army was too small and 

untrained to take on the Mexicans. He continued to retreat eastward towards the Brazos River, but 

the Mexicans were close behind. Many texans rebelled against Houston openly, as well as President 

Burnet, who challenged Houston to a fight. The same soldier told me later that day that the 

Mexican army had crossed the Brazos River and were camped not far from Harrisburg.

April 20, 1836

I've decided to travel with the Texas army. We've camped in a grove of trees, with a wide field in 

front of us. The Mexicans have set up camp in a vulnerable spot, and are exposed, while we are 

hidden by the trees.

April 21, 1836

In the early afternoon the Texan army attacked the Mexicans (which had been sleeping) with 

shouts of, "Remember the Alamo!", and, "Remember Goliad!". The battle lasted 18 minutes. Only 9 

Texan soldiers were killed, but over 600 Mexican soldiers died and the rest were captured as 

prisoners, but we still haven't found Santa Anna.

April 22, 1836

Soldiers found Santa Anna hiding in the marsh. Most soldiers wanted Houston to order his 

execution, but he let Santa Anna live if he signed over Mexico's right to Texas and acknowledge 

their independence. Santa Anna agreed, and Texas is now a separate country!    -Cain                                                                

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