Gen José de Urrea

Today in Texas History On the trail to Texas independence. The Lone Star Republic -Don Gray, reporting from Saltillo, Mexico, January 15, 1836 SANTA ANNA DISPATCHES GENERAL URREA TO PROTECT MATAMOROS FROM TEXIANS Mexican mail couriers arrived at Saltillo and reported rumors of an upcoming Texian attack on Matamoros. In response, Santa Anna ordered General Jose Urrea to move troops to Matamoros to intercept the Texian offensive, and then to follow by entering Texas to secure Goliad and then advance to Bexar. Capturing Matamoros could possibly bring independence to Texas. Rather than wait at Goliad for the Mexican Army to attack via the coastal route into Texas, the Texians could advance to Matamoros and be on the offensive. If the Texians controlled the Port of Matamoros, Texas could collect the port customs paid at Matamoros to finance the Texian army. Further, if the people of Matamoros supported the Constitution of 1824, they could aid in trying to overthrowing the government of the state (Tamaulipas) which might cause Santa Anna to divert his attention away from Texas to hang on to Tamaulipas to keep the revenues produced for the government by the Port of Matamoros and hang on to his supply lines to the Gulf of Mexico. But there are some Texan leaders such as Governor Smith and Sam Houston who oppose efforts to attack Matamoros. -Don Gray Portraits: Antonio Santa Anna, Jose Urrea, Sam Houston, Henry Smith