HistoryData
war1835

Second skirmish of the Texas Revolution

October 10, 1835

The Texian capture of Presidio La Bahía cut off General Cos's forces in San Antonio from coastal supply and reinforcement routes during the Texas Revolution.

Quick Facts

Year
1835
Category
war

Key Facts

Date
October 9, 1835
Mexican casualties
1 killed, 3 wounded
Texian casualties
1 wounded (Samuel McCulloch Jr.)
Provisions confiscated
$10,000 worth of provisions and several cannons
Battle duration
Approximately 30 minutes

By the Numbers

91,835
Date
1
Mexican casualties
1
Texian casualties
10,000
Provisions confiscated

Location

Map of Goliad, MexicoMap of Goliad, MexicoGoliad, Mexico

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Following the Texian victory at the Battle of Gonzales, Captain George Collinsworth led militia from Matagorda toward Goliad. Originally intended to kidnap General Martín Perfecto de Cos, the mission continued even after Texians learned Cos had already departed for San Antonio de Béxar, as the undermanned Mexican garrison at Presidio La Bahía remained a strategic target.

Event

In the early hours of October 9, 1835, Texian militia used borrowed axes to break through a door into Presidio La Bahía before most of the garrison could respond. After roughly half an hour of fighting, the Mexican garrison under Colonel Juan López Sandoval surrendered. Mexican soldiers were ordered to leave Texas, and Texians seized $10,000 in provisions and several cannons.

Consequence

The captured cannons and provisions were transported to support the Texian siege of Béxar. Critically, the fall of La Bahía severed General Cos's forces in San Antonio from the Texas coast, compelling them to rely on a lengthy overland route for any supplies or reinforcements, weakening their strategic position significantly.

Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis

Side A

1 belligerent

Texian militia
Estimated Casualties1
Key Commanders

George Collinsworth.

Side B

1 belligerent

Mexican Army garrison at Presidio La Bahía
Estimated Casualties4
Key Commanders

Juan López Sandoval.

Total Casualties (all sides)
5
Outcome
Texian victory; Mexican garrison surrendered and was expelled from Texas

Timeline Context

Timeline around 183518351832183318341836183718381835 treaty in the First Carlist War1835 riot in Wolverhampton, EnglandViolent 1835 reaction to a bank failureNaval battle between Texas and Mexico1835 first military engagement of the Texas RevolutionBattle of the Texas Revolution, October 28, 1835Battle along the Nueces River on November 4, 1835 between the Mexican Army and Texian insurgents1835 battle during the Texas Revolutionbattle-of-goliad-1835