Battle along the Nueces River on November 4, 1835 between the Mexican Army and Texian insurgents
Texian capture of Fort Lipantitlán gave them full control of the Texas Gulf Coast, isolating Mexican forces at San Antonio to overland supply lines only.
Key Facts
- Date
- November 4, 1835
- Mexican soldiers killed
- 3–5
- Mexican soldiers wounded
- 14–17
- Texian casualties
- 1 injured
- Fort outcome
- Dismantled by Texians on November 4
- Mexican retreat destination
- Matamoros
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the Texian victory at the Battle of Goliad, only two Mexican garrisons remained in Texas. Texian commander Philip Dimmitt feared Fort Lipantitlán could serve as a base to retake Goliad and was angered that two of his men were imprisoned there, prompting him to order Captain Ira Westover to capture the fort.
Westover's force arrived at San Patricio on November 3 and persuaded the reduced garrison to surrender while commander Nicolás Rodríguez was away on expedition. The Texians dismantled the fort the next day. As they crossed the swollen Nueces River, Rodríguez's returning troops attacked, but the Mexicans soon retreated after a brief engagement.
The Mexican garrison retreated to Matamoros, leaving Texians in full control of the Texas Gulf Coast. This cut Mexican forces at San Antonio de Béxar to overland resupply only, a factor historians link to the eventual Mexican defeat at the siege of Béxar and the expulsion of all Mexican troops from Texas.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Captain Ira Westover, Philip Dimmitt.
Side B
1 belligerent
Nicolás Rodríguez.