Battle of Agua Dulce

Unveiling the Battle of Agua Dulce Creek

The battle of Agua Dulce Creek was a pivotal skirmish during the Texas Revolution, a conflict that would shape the destiny of an entire region. Imagine, if you will, a small group of Texians facing off against a much larger force of Mexican troops in a creek bed, their fate hanging by a thread.

The Prelude to Conflict

General José de Urrea led his contingent into Texas with the aim of neutralizing rebels along the coast. His strategy was simple yet effective: divide and conquer. On February 26, he easily defeated Johnson’s small force at a skirmish that would later be known as the Battle of San Patricio. Just three days later, Urrea ambushed Grant’s group, killing Grant and eleven men under his command.

The Aftermath

Six Texians were taken prisoner but spared execution, while six more escaped to join Fannin’s garrison at Goliad, only to be killed in the infamous Goliad massacre. The commander of the volunteer army, Johnson, and his aide James Grant took the bulk of the army to Goliad to prepare for an expedition.

Historical Speculation

Historian Stuart Reid believes that Grant was a British secret agent. This theory adds another layer of intrigue to the battle, suggesting that foreign interests were at play in this conflict. The Mexican Congress had already declared that foreigners fighting against Mexican troops would be considered pirates, setting the stage for a complex web of alliances and betrayals.

The Battle Itself

Urrea reached Matamoros on January 31 and convinced other federalists that the Texians’ goal was secession. Despite rumors of the Mexican Army’s approach, Grant and Johnson searched for horses in Tamaulipas territory. Their party was defeated by Mexican troops on February 26, and Grant began a march northward to San Patricio with his men.

At El Puerto de los Cuates de Agua Dulce, Urrea’s troops engaged Texians led by Plácido Benavides near San Patricio. The Mexicans attacked at 10-11 am, catching the Texans off guard and taking many by surprise or killing them as they fled on horseback. Grant, Benavides, and Brown fled on foot after losing their horses to Mexican cavalry.

Brown threw his empty pistol at a Mexican officer, then grabbed a lance to defend himself. He was lassoed and surrendered. Brown recalled seeing a severely injured Texian, Joseph Carpenter, being shot by a Mexican soldier. Between ten and twelve Mexican soldiers surrounded Grant, and he died after being pierced multiple times.

The Aftermath

After the battle, 12-42 Texians were killed (history estimates), six taken prisoner, five of whom later joined Fannin’s garrison at Goliad and were killed in the Goliad massacre. No reports of Mexican losses were found.

The Battle’s Significance

The battle marked the end of the Matamoros Expedition, a failed attempt by Texians to secure support from Mexico for their cause. News of the battle reached Fannin on March 4, and Urrea’s imminent arrival worried him, fearing being trapped between Mexican forces.

Fannin delayed making a decision, finally choosing to leave Goliad on March 19. Urrea’s troops trapped Fannin’s men on an open prairie, leading to their surrender and execution in the Goliad massacre. The battle of Agua Dulce Creek was more than just a skirmish; it was a turning point that would echo through the annals of Texas history.

The battle of Agua Dulce Creek was a microcosm of the larger conflict, a small but significant chapter in the struggle for Texas independence. It serves as a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming odds, the spirit of freedom can prevail.