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The Runaway Scrape Reenactment
The Runaway Scrape Reenactment
videoplayback (10).mp4As you watch the video, listen for the answers to the following questions:
What events caused the Runaway Scrape to begin?
Why was the Runaway Scrape important?
What does civilian mean?
Photograph of Sam Houston
The Road to San Jacinto
The Road to San Jacinto
Sam Houston arrived at Gonzales on March 11, 1836 and found about 370 volunteers waiting. Two days later (on March 13), he found out about the fall of the Alamo. Houston realized he had a choice - fight or retreat. Houston decided to retreat and try to round up more men before he faced Santa Anna's army. He sent word to Fannin to retreat from Goliad immediately.
Houston's army began their retreat on March 13, moving towards the Colorado River. He needed more men and they needed training. They army crossed the Colorado River at Burnham's Crossing and waited 9 days for Fannin's men to meet up with them. As they waited, his army grew to about 600 men.
When word reached Houston of Fannin's surrender, the army retreated even more, backing to the Brazos River near San Felipe. Here, Houston's army grew to around 1000 men. By now, the men were beginning to be resentful of the retreat. They had come to fight and began to complain loudly.
The Runaway Scrape
The Runaway Scrape
As Houston retreated, families living between the Colorado and Brazos Rivers panicked. Settlers were afraid that if they were captured by Santa Anna, they would be executed – and they were right. When the news spread of the massacres at the Alamo and Goliad, American colonists fled their towns in fear. Accompanied by Sam Houston’s army, the civilians of Texas left their homes in a panic. Their goal was to cross the Sabine River and reach the safety of the United States. Women and children experienced terrible conditions as they took everything they could carry and started marching east. The towns of Gonzales and San Felipe de Austin were burned to the ground to prevent the Mexicans from getting supplies. Many died in the months that followed.
Picture of the Twin Sisters
Training the Army
Training the Army
Houston stopped at Groce's Plantation on the Brazos River and spent 2 weeks training his army (until about April 11). At Groce's Plantation, Houston recieved a gift from the citizens of Cincinnati, Ohio - two 6 lbs. cannons named the Twin Sisters. Houston was also getting pressured by President Burnet to attack Santa Anna, but Houston resisted, waiting for his men to train.
Santa Anna was in close pursuit of Houston and his army. He crossed the Colorado River on April 5 and reached the Brazos River on April 7. He arrived at Harrisburg, the new capital of the Republic of Texas, on April 15 but found the Texas government gone. Santa Anna burned down the town. The Texas government had been warned and had left for Galveston.
Primary Source Reading
Primary Source Reading
Reading 1: Letter from David Burnet to Sam Houston
Reading 1: Letter from David Burnet to Sam Houston
The enemy are laughing you to scorn. You must fight them. You must retreat no farther. The country expects you to fight. The salvation of your country depends on you doing so.
Guided Questions: Answer these questions as you read the primary source.
Who was writing the letter? What was his position in the government?
What is Burnet asking Houston to do?
Why does he say this is so important?
Presentation Requirements:
Presentation Requirements:
Your presentation needs to include the following information and address the following questions:
Name of the event
Date for the event
Location of the event
Who was involved in the Runaway Scrape?
Why were people running?
Where were many people trying to go?
What did Sam Houston do during this time?
Add at least 2 pictures to your google slides that you feel represent this event in some way
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