Old Cemetery on the Hill San Patricio

Today in Texas History On the trail to Texas independence. Feb 27, 1836 – The Battle of San Patricio - During a freezing cold and rainy norther, Gen. José de Urrea cautiously surrounded the town of San Patricio. He surprised Col. Frank Johnson's men at three o'clock in the morning and defeated them quickly. The battle occurred as a result of the outgrowth of the Texian Matamoros Expedition. The battle marked the start of the Goliad Campaign, the Mexican offensive to retake the Texas Gulf Coast. Legend tells the story that Urrea sent word ahead to loyalists to leave a light burning in their homes and they would not be molested. It so happened that Johnson was working late—with a light. Johnson was among those who escaped to Refugio; the remaining survivors were sent to Matamoros and imprisoned. Urrea then backtracked to find the remaining Texans. Of the thirty-four Texans at San Patricio eight were killed, thirteen taken prisoner, and six escaped. At least seven of them were Mexicans. Possibly two other Texans, whose names have not been uncovered, were also killed. Urrea reported that "the town and the rest of the inhabitants did not suffer the least damage." It was reported that those killed were "interred next day by the Rev. T. J. Malloy in the church yard of the same place." Legend also tells that the dead were buried in the Old Cemetery on the Hill. Portraits: Gen. José de Urrea, Col. Frank Johnson; Photo: Old Cemetery on the Hill, San Patricio