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THE
RUNAWAY SCRAPE
by Archie
P. McDonald, PhD |
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Texans love the
story of the Alamo.
Although it was a battle lost, remembering the courage of its defenders
thrills later Texans, even "adopted Texans," yet. Less well recalled
is the Runaway Scrape produced by the fall of the Alamo
and the massacre at Goliad a
couple of weeks later.
The Runaway Scrape was a mad dash to safety by civilians, even government
officials, to escape the Mexican army in the aftermath of these two
bloody losses. Previous military clashes between Texans and Mexican
military forces resulted in decisive, even one-side victories at Velasco
and Nacogdoches in 1832 and Anahuac, Gonzales, and San Antonio in
1835. Given the times, many Texans considered victory over Mexico
inevitable. They reckoned without the overwhelming numbers Santa Anna
brought to Texas to deal with rebelling subjects. With over 6,000
troops in Texas, about two-thirds of them in San Antonio facing 180-something
Alamo defenders and the other third at Goliad to conquer James Walker
Fannin's 500 or so men, Santa Anna simply overwhelmed Texan forces.
When news of the Alamo's fall reached Gonzales, made worse by the
loss of some member of every household in the community who had gone
to the Alamo's defense after the siege began, grief overwhelmed the
nearly 400 men who had gathered there on the way to fight in San Antonio.
Some wanted to attack Santa Anna immediately, but Sam Houston knew
that rashness and bravery would not overcome Santa Anna's great numbers.
He ordered his "army" eastward. Within days, Texans learned of the
loss of Fannin's command at Goliad.
The Runaway Scrape, then, resulted from three items of bad news in
close proximity: losses at the Alamo and Goliad and the only remaining
Texan military force in retreat. Settlers joined the migration and
became refugees. As more and more crowded roads, panic increased.
Food, ready to eat, was left on tables. Keepsakes hastily packed in
saddlebags, valises, or wagons were cached or simply abandoned along
the way when panic forced a quicker pace. Spring rains enlarged streams,
which created bottlenecks at crossings. The Runaway Scrape was an
unpleasant experience.
Some traveled all the way to Louisiana, considered beyond the reach
of the Mexican Army, especially after President Andrew Jackson stationed
US militia commanded by Edmund Gaines there. Some stopped in Nacogdoches
or east of Harrisburg to await developments. Word of Houston's victory
at San Jacinto brought relief and the opportunity to return to homes
sometimes more likely to have been burgled by other, less scrupulous
Texans than sacked by Mexican soldiers. No wonder Texans do not like
to remember the Runaway Scrape. It does not fit their self-image.
All
Things Historical March
3-9, 2002 column
(Archie P. McDonald is Director of the East Texas Historical Association
and author or editor of over 20 books on Texas) |
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