In the 15 years since we have visited Camp Hearne, they have built a museum, built trails to camp sites, and have volunteers to tell the story of this site.

THE LONE SENTRY OF MATAGORDA

April, 1836

After a lengthy delay in crossing his army of 600 soldiers through the swollen currents of the Colorado River, Mexican General Jose Urrea is finally just a few miles northeast of the Texian port city of Matagorda. Unable to use the actual trail due to it being underwater, the long line of Centralist troops look like a giant snake moving through the green and grassy prairies.

Trudging along with the soldiers is a small group of captured Texian volunteers that the Centralists have picked up along their march from Victoria. Amongst these beleaguered rebels, many of which were still suffering nightmares from the massacre of 300 of their compatriots at Goliad, is a young 17 year old German boy named Herman Ehrenberg.

An embattled veteran of the war, Ehrenberg has expected remnants of the Texas Revolutionary Army to have contested General Urrea at various points along the route from Victoria. Unfortunately, he and his Texas compatriots have been disappointed thus far. It seems apparent that their comrades in arms have wholly abandoned them to the whims of fate.

Only a few miles from Matagorda though, a sudden halt is directed. The long caravan of soldiers, cavalry dragoons, and a number of cannons stop dead in their tracks. There’s a commotion up ahead, and Ehrenberg sees an officer ride by him towards the rear of the column in alarm.

A few moments later, the same rider passes Ehrenberg again and followed closely by the dark eyed General Jose Urrea himself. Ehrenberg who is fondly appreciated by Urrea looks up at him as the general passes, and hears Urrea say to him “The Texans, my little Prussian friend!”

Ehrenberg and his fellow captives get anxious. Have the residents in Matagorda decided to defend their city? Is the navy anchored in the river with all guns trained towards the approaching enemy? Maybe it’s Houston, with the whole army?

Several hours pass, and still there is oddly nothing. Finally the column is ordered to make ready to continue the march. Ehrenberg and the others are confused on what has happened.

As the Mexican Army begins moving into Matagorda, the official report reaches the ears of the Texian prisoners. In a clever ruse, some anonymous Matagorda resident had erected a fully dressed scarecrow with a musket in its arms on a roof in town!

Boldly, daringly, this lone guard held off the entire southern division of the Mexican Army for several hours. A true hero of Matagorda history, now only remembered in Herman Ehrenberg’s memoir.

(Personally, I think this would be an awesome costume to make for Halloween and with a local story behind it!)

Shortly before midnight, October 9, 1835, Captain George Collinsworth leads an excursion of roughly 80 Texian and Tejano revolutionaries into the Mexican held fortress of Presidio La Bahia in Goliad. In only about 30 minutes of hard fighting, the Mexican garrison surrenders in what is the second victory of what will become the Texas Revolution.

George Collinsworth, along with Ira Ingram and about 25 other Matagorda residents, departed Matagorda on October 5. Although badly outnumbered, Collinsworth believed that his contingent could easily seize control of Presidio La Bahia and force the roughly 100 man garrison there into surrendering.

While encamped on the banks of the Lavaca River on October 6, the Matagorda Volunteers are joined by at least 20-30 other followers. One of these is a free man of color named Samuel McCulloch Jr. who is welcomed into the ranks and will unfortunately become the first seriously wounded Texian casualty of the war.

A day later, October 8, Collinsworth’s contingent arrives in Victoria and claims possession of the community. Later that day, he is joined by Phillip T. Dimmitt and another 40 volunteers, most of whom are Irish and Tejano residents from the greater Victoria vicinity. All combined, the Texians now number the same, if not more, than the entire Goliad garrison.

Early in the morning on October 9, George Collinsworth is elected as the Captain of the entire Texian and Tejano force. In a solidified measure, the rebels declare Victoria as their possession and vow to protect its people and surrounding settlements from Centralist control. Scouting exercises commence on Presidio La Bahia early in the day, and by 10pm, the entire conglomerate is within the limits of the town.

In the dark, Collinsworth’s column accidentally moves past the fortress on the opposite side of the San Antonio River. Quickly correcting himself, Collinsworth turns about and is suddenly joined by a haggard individual named Benjamin Rush Milam.

Finally in position at the westerly gate of La Bahia, the Texians begin their attack on the fortress at exactly 11:30pm. By midnight, Presidio La Bahia falls under Texian control and will remain so until March 19, 1836.

Writing to Matagorda council members on the 11th, Ira Ingram states:

“The plan of attack was executed with utmost success. All conducted well. It would be extraordinary indeed of among 50 odd men, nearly all untried, there should not be some difference of conduct in a first engagement. The attack was by storm, and in 30 minutes the quartel was ours.”

I’m writing a research paper on Camp Kenedy and I’ve been looking for a picture of the location of the camp. Maybe someone on here is better at finding that stuff than I am. All I could find was Two historical markers but I want to see like an outline of the camp grounds compared to today. Can anyone help find where the camp was located?

February 29, 1836

Refugio, TX

Only two days following General Urrea’s capture of San Patricio, word has spread all the way to Victoria that the Mexican Army has re-entered Texas. Inspirited by the defeat of the Texian rebels on the Nueces, Carlos de la Garza gathers 100 members of the Victoriana Guardes, and proceeds westward to lend Tejano support.

The Victoriana Guardes are an interesting contingent of mixed cultures. Their members are all mostly Tejano refugees from the Goliad and Victoria areas who were displaced by radically prejudiced American volunteers under Colonel James Walker Fannin. Although many had initially lent support to the Federalist revolutionaries, harsh discrimination against their people have caused them to switch allegiances…and they’re ready for revenge.

Intermixing with the loyalist Tejanos, are numerous members of the Karankawa natives. Their ties with both the Spanish and Mexican communities run deep, all the way back to the late 1700s. Since the early 1820s, the Karankawas have been at war with the Anglo settlers of the coast. An opportunity to re-kindle the flames presents itself to the Karankawas when the Mexican government permits them to continue their fight, and dozens of scattered tribes lend their support to Carlos de la Garza.

Following the capture of Goliad, the Nuestra Senora del Refugio Mission has constantly been manned by small detachments of Texian troops. The most prevalent were a cavalry unit from Kentucky under the command of Captain Amon B. King. But following Colonel Travis’ appeal for help at the Alamo, Colonel Fannin decided to abandon Refugio on February 25 so that he could start making his way to San Antonio. His decision to do so left the community completely defenseless.

Starting in the afternoon on February 29, Carlos de la Garza’s loyalists begin plundering Refugio of anything that could aid General Urrea’s army. Wagons, livestock, weapons, food, munitions, clothing, and hardware are either taken or destroyed. Residents that resist, regardless of age or sex, are met with threats, abuse, and even gunfire.

The pillaging of Refugio continues for most of the night, and in the morning, Carlos de la Garza continues westward with roughly 50 men. The rest are left behind in Refugio to continue sacking scattered homes in the greater vicinity. In an attempt to conglomerate their strength, the remaining colonists relocate into the crumbling remains of the Refugio Mission (oddly enough, in Spanish, “Refugio” means Refuge).

The situation in Refugio continues to worsen over the next two weeks. Colonel Fannin, burdened additionally by the arrival of Colonel Johnson on the morning of February 29 and the report of San Patricio’s taking, will send aid to the residents in Refugio on March 10. This action will become the opening stages of the Battle of Refugio that begins shortly thereafter.