Col Domingo de Ugartechea

Today in Texas History On the trail to Texas independence. Dec 07, 1835 – James Fannin was commissioned as a colonel in the regular army by Houston. Neill commissioned as a lieutenant colonel of artillery in the regular army by the provisional government. The Texans captured another nearby house, but Col. Benjamin Milam died from a sharpshooter's bullet. Col. Francis Johnson then directed another night attack that seized the Navarro house. The Lone Star Republic -Don Gray, reporting from San Antonio de Bexar, Texas, December 7, 1835 TEXIAN ATTACK AT BEXAR CONTINUES!!! BEN MILAM KILLED IN BATTLE!!!! The Texian’s attack against General Cós and his Mexican Army troops that began on December 5 continued today in Bexar. Ben Milam's force captured another foothold in the city. However, I am heart-broken to report that our faithful friend and valuable scout Ben Milam was killed by rifle fire while leading the attack. Milam joined Texan volunteers in the Goliad Campaign earlier this year. Soon afterwards, Stephen F. Austin placed him in charge of a company of scouts to determine the safest routes to reach Bexar from Gonzales. Following Milam’s death, Colonel Johnson subsequently took command of both his and Milam's men and continued the street fighting, gradually driving the Mexican Army further back into the city. Mexican General Cos withdrew into the Alamo, where he was joined by Mexican Colonel Ugartechea and 600 reinforcements. Cós has entrenched his position at the Alamo, and Texian artillery is presently pounding the fortified mission. Milam was born October 20, 1788 in Frankfort, Kentucky, where he lived until joining the American forces in the War of 1812. By 1818, Milam was trading with Comanche Indians on the upper Colorado River in Texas. There, he met David G. Burnet, who after an accident was being nursed back to health by the Indians. The two men became close friends. “RIP” Ben Milam! -Don Gray Portraits: Col. James Fannin, Lt. Col. James, Neill, Col. Benjamin Milam, Col. Frank Johnson, Col. Domingo Ugartechea.