The River Ran Red: A Story of Kentuckians in the Texas Revolution Against México

By John E. Swindells

It is the summer of 1835 when William Pope DuVal returns to Bardstown, Kentucky, after serving twelve years as governor of the Florida territory. His offspring are spread throughout the state and country, each pursuing their passions. But when México sends a general and hundreds of troops to Béxar to arrest Texian leaders, DuVal and others in his family are left to contemplate whether the American colonists can stand up to the threat.

A desire to help soon leads two of William DuVal’s sons to join a group of young men, known as the Kentucky Mustangs. They leave Bardstown a short time later to join the American colonists in Texas in their resistance against the Mexican dictator, Santa Anna. The adventurous men, enticed by the excitement of war and free land, travel from Louisville to the Texas coast where they join the forces of James Fannin. As the intense fighting begins, all the volunteers pay a high price for securing the independence of Texas a year later and its annexation into the United States in 1845.

In this historical novel, a group of young, adventurous men known as the Mustangs leave Kentucky for Texas in 1835 to join colonists in their revolution against México.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Apr 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781480887602

John E. Swindells

John E. Swindells retired at the rank of colonel after a thirty-year active duty career in the US Army. He served two tours in Vietnam and several in Germany, as well as in the Defense Intelligence Agency. John lives with his wife, Jean, and a houseful of dogs and wild animals in a two-hundred-year-old farmhouse in Bardstown, Kentucky.  He has a bachlor of arts in zoology from the University of Texas, a masters in anthropology from the American University and a masters in science education from George Washington University.

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Copyright © 2020 John E. Swindells.

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ISBN: 978-1-4808-8761-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-8759-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-8760-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020907051

Archway Publishing rev. date: 04/21/2020

Contents

Prologue: San Antonio, Texas

December 14, 1835

The Beginning: Bardstown Kentucky

Summer 1835

Chapter 1:     Governor’s Palace, Durango, México

July 1835

Chapter 2:     Saint Joseph College, Bardstown, Kentucky

August, 1835

Chapter 3:     Nuevo Leon State, México

December 1835

Chapter 4:     DuVal Residence, Bardstown, Kentucky

October, 1835

Chapter 5:     Matamoros City, State of Tamaulipas, México

February 1836

Chapter 6:     Bardstown, Kentucky

November 1835

Chapter 7:     Matamoros, México February 16, 1836

Chapter 8:     Texian Camp at Quintana, Mouth

of Brazos River on the North Shore.

December 1835

Chapter 9:     Along the South Texas Coastal Plain

120 miles south of San Patricio, Texas

February 23, 1836

Chapter 10:   Texian Camp at San Patricio

February 9,1835

Chapter 11:   Santa Rosa, Texas

February 22, 1835

Chapter 12:   Matagorda Island, Texas

Late December 1835-Mid February 1836

Chapter 13:   San Patricio, Texas

March 9, 1836

Chapter 14:   Mission Church at Refugio, Texas

March 12-18, 1836

Chapter 15:   Refugio and Coleto Creek

March 16-20, 1836

Chapter 16:   Presidio La Bahía

March 19, 1836

Chapter 17:   General Urrea’s Camp at San Jose

Ranch between Refugio and Goliad

March 19, 1836

Chapter 18:   Prairie near Coleto Creek

March 19, 1836

Chapter 19:   Road from Goliad to Victoria

19-20 March 1836

Chapter 20:   Coleto Battlefield

Evening of March 19, 1836

Chapter 21:   Coleto Battlefield

Morning of April 20, 1836

Chapter 22:   Mexican camp at Goliad

March 26, 1936

Chapter 23:   Prisoner encampment inside Presidio La Bahia

Saturday, March 26, 1936

Chapter 24:   Presidio La Bahia

Sunday Morning, March 27 1836

Chapter 25:   Mexican Camp at La Bahia

Morning of March 27, 1836

Chapter 26:   Along the San Antonio

River Near Goliad

March 27, 1836

Chapter 27:   Along the Brazos River

April-May 1836

Chapter 28:   Along the Mississippi and

Ohio Rivers and Bardstown

June 1836

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Further Reading

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Prologue

San Antonio, Texas

December 14, 1835

D ust rose into the cool December air as the marching feet of a dejected and demoralized Mexican army made their way out of San Antonio under a clear and deep blue sky. On an ordinary day, the march would have been pleasant, but a battle lost to the uncouth Texians had sapped their pride and caused completely unexpected numbers of dead and wounded. Their uniforms reflected their defeat: most wore white trousers and jackets although a few still wore the long-tailed blue jacket used as dress uniform. Some retained their black shakos which had sported a cockade in the green, white and red colors of México. Few had good footwear; many wore sandals. All were dirty. Canteens for water, an essential piece of kit for the dry lands of south Texas, had been lost in the battle. Wagons and two-wheeled carts carried a few lightly wounded while many others had been left behind to be cared for in San Antonio by the Mexican residents.

General Cos, their commander, rode in his elegant carriage pulled by four sleek horses. The horses of the small cavalry unit accompanying the infantry were not so sleek or well fed. Like the soldiers, they were exhausted after so many days of battle with little rest and only poor food. Soldiers carried little on their backs except muskets, cartridge boxes and bayonets which were essential for self protection. The single four pounder cannon allowed by the Texians was pulled by oxen and could be seen in the middle of the column. Cos had also promised not to re-enter Texas under arms. The route they would follow to the Rio Grande put the soldiers at risk of attack by roving bands of Comanche Indians and the one allowed cannon was in recognition of this threat.

The weather this day was cool enough to presage true winter when storms would arrive from the north. Few of the Mexican soldiers possessed adequate clothing for the coming weather and they knew they were in for a long, cold walk, but for now, the day was comfortable.

Three men watched the departing army with great satisfaction. They were among the leaders of the group of Texian volunteers who had attacked General Cos’ forces in San Antonio and persuaded that worthy he could not be re-supplied or reinforced. The Texian campaign had begun in October and, after an initial success south of the town, had stagnated until a well-known fighter named Ben Milam had rallied the volunteers and stormed the town. Milam lost his life in the effort, but in house-to-house fighting, the Mexicans were pushed back until they occupied only the old mission called the Alamo. It was from here that General Cos had concluded that he could not win and raised a white flag of truce and the capitulation was signed on December 10 that allowed Cos to withdraw with 1105 men, marching for the Rio Grande. Texian forces took possession of the Alamo and the town of San Antonio.

The commander of the Texian forces had departed to report to the Government and Francis W. Johnson was left in command of the garrison remaining in San Antonio. Johnson was a 36 year old Virginian who had come to Texas in the 1820s, becoming a surveyor for the colony of Stephen F Austin and occupying various other political positions as a close supporter of Austin. As a captain of militia, he acceded to command of the force that accepted General Cos’ surrender.

What a pleasure it is to see General Cos off. He is a thoroughly reprehensible person. The nerve he had to demand that we surrender our leaders without a fight. He knows better now. I don’t think we’ll see him again.

Beside him stood James W. Grant, a Scot, of long residence in México. Grant was a bluff and ruddy man and given to strong opinions, loudly expressed. He had held extensive lands in México and had become a member of the state legislature of Coahuila. He was also appointed a Colonel of Mexican militia and had fought against General Cos during the armed political rivalry between Centralism and Federalism. Centralism, in the person of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, had won out and Santa Anna now commanded both the Army and the country as president. Grant and the State governor had fled Santa Anna’s forces and, finding himself in San Antonio when the fighting broke out, joined the incipient Texas rebellion. From his remaining contacts in México, he had learned the Santa Anna was assembling a large force to enter Texas and expel all the Anglo settlers.

Grant replied to Johnson: Don’t count on him keeping his promise not to fight us again. Word of honor counts only with honorable people, and Cos is not one of them.

The third man, LTC James C. Neill, 43 years of age, had come to Texas from North Carolina in 1831. He had become knowledgeable of artillery and was in charge of the Texian artillery at San Antonio which had consisted of a single gun but, with the surrender of General Cos, now had become a large force of some 30 guns. Neill was not a volunteer but an appointed officer in the regular Army of Texas and, as such, volunteer forces were unlikely to obey his orders if they did not like them. This problem of divided command would continue.

Grant voiced their common thought: Cos will be back and next time he’ll come with Santa Anna and a bigger army. Santa Anna won’t stand for this sort of embarrassment.

Grant rubbed his forehead and continued: All right fellas, we ran the rabble out of San Antonio. I know Cos, he’ll have a head so big his hat won’t fit. Oh yeah, he’ll be coming for sure. Here’s what I think: we need to carry the war to México, confuse Santa Anna. If we attack Matamoros, he’ll have to divert some forces over there. We can count on some Federalists there to join us also.

I guess you’re right, James, said Johnson. But we don’t have that many men. Worse, we don’t have horses and most of the Mexican army looks like cavalry.

Their horses aren’t all that good, replied Grant. We can get horses for our own troops. We need to go to Goliad to pick up whatever troops are there. While we do that, some of us can go south. There are lots of wild horses on the plains and Mexican ranchers have more. I say we can put together a remuda to mount all our men. Then a quick sprint to Matamoros before any Mexican army can get in our way.

Johnson thought a moment and then replied: All right, all right. Right now, though, we don’t have legal authority to do this. While you go to Goliad with our volunteers, I can go to San Felipe and see the Council. They will give me written orders for you and me to organize the volunteers and head for Matamoros and, by the time you get to Goliad, there may be more volunteers like the New Orleans Grays that helped us here. They were well equipped and did good work in our fight. We can expect them to come ashore at Quintana, Velasco or Cópano. We will need to get some troops down to protect Cópano—it is too close to Matamoros.

Sounds good to me, said Grant. Let’s get busy; we need to move fast to get to Matamoros before Santa Anna can send more troops there.

Neill looked at the two men with astonishment. He was fully committed to the defense of the Texas colonies against the Mexican invasion but he commanded no troops beyond his artillery crews and was soon to be left in command of the Alamo with very few troops, no supplies, food or funds with which to purchase them.

Thus began what became a string of disasters for Texian military forces.

Johnson departed for San Felipe to see the Council while Grant took charge of the volunteers. Virtually all the fighters at San Antonio were volunteers, not regular Army soldiers subject to the command of Army officers. Volunteers elected their own officers and Grant quickly moved to have himself named commander. He spoke to the assembled men in tone and language resembling that of an evangelical preacher: We have defeated General Cos and now we must defend ourselves and our families against the evils of the monster, Santa Anna. Rape and pillage will be his tools and fire his method. We have reports of ten thousand men being formed up under his command to invade Texas and drive all colonists back across the Sabine River into the US. Our lands, our fortunes and our children are threatened. If we take the offensive, invade first into México, Santa Anna must move to counter us and cannot invade Texas. Who will follow the flag and come with me to Matamoros?

The response was overwhelming. Neill was left in command of Texian forces remaining in San Antonio but Grant and Johnson stripped the Alamo of all moveable supplies—ammunition, food, clothing, blankets and weapons— then marched away with the majority of the volunteers. Neill was left with less than 100 men to defend San Antonio from within the walls of the Alamo.

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The Beginning

Bardstown Kentucky

Summer 1835

W illiam Pope DuVal sauntered along Main Street in Bardstown enjoying the blue sky and cool morning breeze. He had first arrived in Bardstown around 1800 with a goal of becoming a lawyer but without any good idea of how to go about it, but he soon found help in the person of Henry Broadnax. Ahead he saw a sign hanging over the sidewalk: Judge Henry P Broadnax, Attorney at Law. William had intended to call on the Judge upon his return from Florida several weeks ago. Today, he had time on his hands and decided to make the belated call on his mentor and friend. Broadnax had seen something promising in the young man and invited him to enter the reading of law in his own office. Broadnax’s extensive law library had lifted William over the educational deficiencies which he brought from Virginia. His gratitude to his mentor knew no limits.

Entering the office, he saw Broadnax’ clerks hard at work at their high desks. Calling to one, he asked: Is the Judge in? Before any answer was forthcoming, the inner door opened and a deep voice called, William DuVal get your butt in here!"

William stepped into the inner office to see Judge Broadnax (who at an advanced age more and more resembled his name) seated at a partners’ desk with piles of paper on both sides. Get over here and sit down, William. You should have been in to see me before now. I haven’t seen you since you came back from Florida. I want to hear all about your family and your legal practice.

DuVal sat at the desk across from Broadnax. Crossing his right leg over his left knee, he began: Well, after 12 years in Florida, I may have forgotten too much about Kentucky law. My practice here isn’t growing very fast and it seems like too few people know me even though I probably know more about land law and titles than anyone in the county. I’ll keep going a while longer, though.

Keep going? Of course you will. William, you have been back in Bardstown less than a month. People have to get to know you again.

You are probably right, but we have to eat in the meantime.

How about all those offspring of yours? asked the Judge, puffing on an empty pipe. He noticed the problem and, pulling out a tobacco pouch, began to refill the pipe.

Burr left Saint Joseph two years ago and now travels around the state with his uncle making speeches. My brother, John, has come to town and taken up the cause of Texas in a big way. He makes speeches wherever he goes, stirring up folks against the evil Mexican government.

I thought I saw your brother John in town ten days ago. Why is he here?

He came back when I did. Said he wanted to get his kids a good education and he likes all the schools we have in Bardstown. I had tried to get John a government job in Florida but it didn’t work out. He seems to have gotten very interested in the situation with the American colonists in Texas. More than interested, fanatic even. Burr spends a lot of time with him.

Thomas graduated from Saint Joseph two years ago and is now reading law with Mr. Wickliffe. I think he is about ready for the bar exam. Can I count on you to vote for him when the time comes?

Of course, replied the Judge, Tom seems a very serious and down to earth young man. I feel sure he will do well. Does he want to be a litigator?"

I doubt it, said William. I suspect he will pay more attention to land law like I did. There is still plenty of that work to do, Kentucky titles remain a big mess, as I’m sure you know.

True enough, said Broadnax. Isn’t there a third boy?

Certainly, he is named John Crittenden DuVal and is a Saint Joseph student. He is more the adventurous type and learned a lot of woodcraft from an Indian Chief who lived where we built Tallahassee. He is a crack shot and a strong runner. He seems to have some talent for languages and it shows up in his studies of Spanish at Saint Joseph.

That college is doing well for itself and for Bardstown, said the Judge. This is the fifteenth year since Bishop Flaget and Father Elder started it up. I’m glad Father Elder has come back. He seems to get along with the boys and with the other churches in town better than that other guy did.

I understand from John that they have students from all over now, even from foreign countries.

That is good for Bardstown and for Kentucky, remarked the Judge. I hope the nuns can keep Nazareth growing also.

They have their nursing duties as well, said DuVal. That hospital they opened in Louisville helped a lot with the last epidemic. We would be growing a lot faster if it weren’t for cholera and yellow fever.

That is sadly so, replied Broadnax.

How is your own practice going ? asked William.

Keeping me busy, mostly with land title arguments. I have even come up against Wickliffe on one case. Strange to see your son Tom sitting with him in court.

Wickliffe has been almost as good for Tom as you were for me, said DuVal. Tom will be finished later this year.

How about your girls?

They are taking turns at Nazareth. So far, none has stayed there very long. They all seem to be looking for husbands, even the little ones."

They are beautiful ladies; I’m sure they will do well like you. You have done pretty well for a fellow who ran away from home at 15. You were admitted to the bar at 19, fought a war, got elected to Congress and then appointed Territorial Governor three times. That looks like success to me.

When you put it like that, it sounds well enough. I sure wish I had been able to put a little more money in the bank for my family.

If John spends his time making speeches about Texas, what does he use for money?

He managed to bring a little from Florida and we feed them almost every day. Beyond that, he has no income.

What do you think will happen with the Texas situation?

Difficult to say. I have letters from old Sam Houston. He has gone to Texas to take charge of their army. He also started a land company in Nashville or Memphis, I’m not sure which, but he will come away with a profit, I am sure.

I see in this week’s Herald that México has sent a General to arrest the Texian leaders. He is on his way to Béxar with hundreds of troops. How can the colonists stand up to that?

I don’t know, said DuVal, but I’ll bet they do. There are a lot of Kentuckians among them and they won’t take kindly to the Mexican army pushing them around. If I had to bet, I’d bet on a war coming and the Texians winning it with some help from the USA.

You didn’t like that war with the English, much. Did you?

No. It was so cold on the way home in that February, I thought I would lose my feet to frostbite. Us Kentucky boys just didn’t have enough clothes for that winter up north. What do you think about the Texas land question?

Broadnax looked thoughtful before replying, I had a letter from a land company in New York wanting me to invest in Texas lands. I don’t know how they can get title to lands in another country. Anyway, I didn’t invest. Maybe they can get their hands on some acres, but more likely, the titles won’t prove up in whatever government they have in years to come.

I guess it depends on what status Texas has in the Mexican state in the future. If the Mexican government is sending Generals, then any thoughts of rebellion will be put down. It may be that the Kentuckians living down there in Texas are in for another conflict. At least a war down there would be warmer than Illinois and Michigan.

William thought about the Judge’s comment about investment in Texas lands. Could Texas land be a way to create an estate for his family?

I am not sure what Bardstown holds for me now, said William. Perhaps I should return to Florida. Things are about to heat up there.

Broadnax folded his hands over his substantial midsection. Bardstown is growing, William; surely there is a place for the DuVal family here.

Perhaps so, perhaps not, replied William, rising to his feet. I enjoy talking to you. You know how much I appreciate what you did for me. I would never have been able to do the things I have done without your care and guidance. Now, I better get going. Nancy will not want me to be late for lunch. I will let you know what my decision is about relocating.

Goodbye, William. You will always be in my thoughts, said Broadnax.

William returned to the street and turned south toward the square and his home. He walked slowly examining the displays in the windows of various merchants along Main. The sun was past the zenith and shadows were beginning to extend from building facades out over the sidewalk onto the street.

Looking ahead, he saw two men emerge from a doorway he knew to be that of a tavern. One was quite tall while the other barely came up to the shoulder of the taller. The tall man moved somewhat unsteadily and the smaller held the man’s arm as if to support him. Approaching, William recognized the taller man as Jeff Merrifield, the son of one of William’s friends whose family occupied a farm just northeast of town and were quite prosperous. Jeff’s apparent inebriation was no surprise. He was well-known to be too fond of a local Kentucky product—bourbon whisky.

Jeff and his supporter came to a halt at the edge of the street where Jeff leaned against a convenient lamp post. William stopped beside the two men and offered a greeting.

Hello Jeff, he began. Seems pretty early in the day for all that hard drinking.

Bleary-eyed, Jeff recognized William nonetheless. Hello, Mr. DuVal. You are right, but it is jus’ what I do. My father’d like me to stop, but it has a real hold on me.

The shorter man spoke, Mr. DuVal, I am George Daniel. I guess we haven’t met but I am good friends with John. I was also in school with Thomas for a while, but it didn’t suit me so well and I quit. I’d like to help Jeff here, but I don’t know what to do for him.

Seems to me, said William, that if you can just keep him out of the taverns, that will help. More like a doctor is needed, though.

Maybe I can get some other fellows and take him on long hikes in the country. That ought to help some.

Sounds right to me, said William.

I am pleased to meet you, George. Good luck with your efforts on Jeff’s behalf. Good day to you.

Entering the town square, he stepped out of the way for a stagecoach to pass around the courthouse and pull up at the Old Stone Inn. As the dust settled, he saw his brother, John Pope DuVal, exit the coach. The assistant driver tossed a valise down to him.

Ho, John, called William. Welcome home.

Well thanks, brother, said John."

That looks like the Lexington coach, have you just come from there?

Sure I have, replied John. Busy doings there.

What doings? asked William.

There was a big meeting about Texas. Lots of speeches. I even spoke myself.

That’s a surprise. Why are Lexington folks so interested in Texas?

The colonists in Texas are Americans, said William, and they are having problems with the Mexican government. There has been some shooting and more to come, from what I understand.

What does that have to with Lexington? asked William.

They are going to need our help, said John. They can’t fight off thousands of Mexican soldiers. They are going to need money and soldiers to come from the USA.."

I have heard from Sam Houston about the situation, said William. But I think we should stay out of it. Besides, there are some legal prohibitions about fighting in foreign wars.

I know that, replied John, but volunteers can go on their own.

I would hate to see that.

There is another meeting planned in two months over in Lexington. I’ll be planning to go over and help as I can, said John.

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Chapter 1

Governor’s Palace,

Durango, México

July 1835

T he rays of the afternoon sun passing through the window in the thick stone wall illuminated dust motes floating in the hot air. They also reflected from the epaulettes and gold embroidery of the uniform coat worn by an Army officer seated at a massive carved desk. The epaulettes were fastened with a strap held by a single loop indicating his rank. Shiny bullion fringes dangled from the epaulettes as yet unmarked by the dulling that came with wear. He wore a single breasted, short dark blue coat trimmed with scarlet cuff turnbacks while a green sash encircled his waist at the bottom of the undress coat. General José Cosme de Urrea was both governor and military commander of Durango, a northern state in the Republic of México. He regarded the gold-trimmed paper on the front corner of his desk with an inner smile of satisfaction. It was, in fact, his commission as General of Brigade waiting to be framed for display on his office wall. Directly in front of him lay another stack of papers, these headed with the title of Presidente of the Republic. Looking up, he called:

"Hola, Carlos, ven aquí, por favor"

Sí, jefe. Ya voy, came the reply from the outer office.

General Urrea could see the Calle 5 de Febrero from the window in his corner office where carriages of the affluent mingled with the burros and mules of ordinary people. The building had been built of quarried stone at the end of the last century with arches on stone columns forming the exterior of the first floor. Government offices were located at the second level, as was his own. The room was rather Spartan with only the desk and a crude sideboard where his hat rested. He had only recently moved into the office and was not given to decorating his workspaces. This was a far different setting from that in which General Urrea usually conducted military business. Urrea was a field soldier and had commanded the Regiment of Cuahtla operating against Indian raiders in Durango during the first half of the year. He had been in uniform since age 14 when he enrolled as a cadet in the presidial company of San Rafael Buenavista near his birthplace of Tucson. As a soldier of the Spanish crown, he had fought against revolutionaries seeking independence from Spain before switching support to Augustin Iturbide who became the first ruler of an independent México in 1821. Urrea’s dark hair was worn short with sideburns descending below the ears. Heavy eyebrows accentuated a symmetrical face with piercing black eyes and full lips. At five feet and nine inches he was taller than the average Mexican soldier. To most of his colleagues and subordinates, he appeared always serious and stern although he was possessed of a good sense of humor. His experience in combat was extensive and his study of military art and science exceptional for the mid-nineteenth century.

A sus ordenes, mí General said the secretary stepping into the inner office. Although dressed as a soldier of the Cuahtla Regiment, he was, in fact, an employee hired by the General from his home town of Tucson to perform secretarial duties. Having not been issued a weapon and having no desire to use one, he was content to wield pen and ink for his keep and travel with the General wherever duty took them. The regiment had made forays into neighboring Coahuila to the north and Chihuahua to the northwest in pursuit of the elusive Apache. They had met with little success but now things were about to change as the orders on the General’s desk indicated.

"Is Teniente Martínez in the building?" asked Urrea.

I believe so, replied Carlos.

I need to see him, send for him at once.

Sí, immediatamente. Whereupon Carlos turned and vanished through the outer office into the hallway.

Urrea looked again at the commission as General of Brigade and remembered with pleasure his interview with El Presidente Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. A summons had come or him to report to Santa Anna at San Luis Potosí. The order arrived at the end of May when Urrea and the Cuautla regiment were campaigning near the city of Torreón. San Luis Potosí was about three days’ journey directly east and he wasted no time in covering the leagues as quickly as possible taking only a small escort of four cavalry troopers with him.

Upon his arrival, he was ushered directly into Santa Anna’s presence and found his commander dressed in a new uniform: a richly tailored dark blue double-breasted tailed jacket set off by scarlet cuffs and front. The collar, also scarlet, was high, extending upward over the line of his lower jaw and almost to the ears. Fringed epaulettes of pure gold bullion adorned each shoulder and were held in place by a strap with two stars indicating his nominal rank as General of Division, the highest rank in the Mexican Army. Contrasting with most Mexican officers, Santa Anna wore no mustache and his hair was cut short. At five feet and ten inches tall, his dark hair and dark staring eyes gave him an intimidating presence. Santa Anna paced nervously about the sparsely furnished room shoving at the papers lying on his desk each time he passed near and reversing direction abruptly when he crossed the room. The building he occupied, belonging to a banker who had remained loyal to the Spanish crown, had been seized by the revolutionary government after Mexican independence in 1821.

The similarities between the lives of the two men were as remarkable as their differences. Antonio de Padua Maria Severino López de Santa Anna y Perez de Lebrón was born in 1794 making him three years older than Urrea. Urrea had entered military service at age fourteen while Santa Anna had become a cadet at 16. Santa Anna was born in the town of Xalapa in the coastal state of Vera Cruz. Because Xalapa was located in the highlands, the danger of yellow fever which devastated visitors to the coastal lowlands was not as high; however, Santa Anna’s exposure in the coastal city of Veracruz as a child had rendered him immune to the disease. This proved to be a distinct advantage when fighting in the mosquito infested lowlands of the coast. Armies were routinely decimated when they dared to enter the area where vómito negro was prevalent. He had entered the army as a cadet at Veracruz and fought for the Spanish crown against the Mexican revolutionaries until he changed sides in 1821 just before the revolution succeeded in ousting the Spanish. He had continued in military service but had also become a clever politician, changing parties as the wind seemed to be blowing. Maneuvering himself into the Federalist party, he had been elected president in 1833 and almost immediately was faced with insurgencies on all sides. Personally leading the Army, he had brutally put down a revolt in the state of Zacatecas.

In his early life, Urrea had no political ambitions and had not cultivated the connections that Santa Anna had developed. Devoting himself instead to his profession of arms, he had become a highly skilled officer and tactician. His orders had taken him to Zacatecas in April of 1835 to serve under Santa Anna in the fight against rebellious governor Garcia where, following Santa Anna’s orders, he led his cavalry regiment of Cuautla against the governor and, by early May, had routed the rebel force. Following the battle he had discovered that his ethics and morals differed substantially from those of Santa Anna. José de Urrea held to the highest ethics and morals of the military profession and the honor of the country while Santa Anna looked to his own advancement and power and made his choices and alliances accordingly. Such alliances frequently included women; he was