Gen Martín Perfecto de Cós

Today in Texas History On the trail to Texas independence. Dec 05, 1835 – Under Ben Milam, Frank Johnson, and others, the Texians launch an assault on San Antonio de Béxar. Because of limited supplies and approaching winter, Burleson had considered a withdrawal to Goliad at the beginning of December. Information on Mexican defenses from Texans who were allowed to leave San Antonio led to new attack plans. But fears that the Mexican army had learned of the assault brought a near breakup of the Texan army. When a Mexican officer surrendered with news of declining Mexican morale, Benjamin R. Milam and William Gordon Cooke gathered more than 300 volunteers to attack the town, while Burleson and another 400 men scouted, protected the camp and supplies, and forced Cós to keep his 570 men divided between the town and the Alamo. James C. Neill distracted the Mexican forces with artillery fire on the Alamo before dawn on December 5, while Milam and Francis W. Johnson led two divisions in a surprise attack that seized the Veramendi and Garza houses north of the plaza in San Antonio. Mexican cannon and musket fire kept the Texans from advancing farther during the day and silenced one of their cannons. Portraits: Col James Neill, Col William Cooke, and Gen Martín Perfecto de Cós.