So I'm back!! Sorry for the long absence, real life problems, work etc.
I intend to respond to everyone's questions in due course.
But first a little update:
The
Texan Border Wars were a series of disputes and armed conflicts in what was the northern provinces of Mexico, between the breakaway republics of Texas and Rio Grande, and the forces of the Centralist Republic of Mexico. The disputes had their origins in the Texas Revolution, which had established Texas as a
de facto independent nation under British protection, although Texas also claimed the Mexican province of New Mexico, and the formation of the Republic of the Rio Grande in 1840. The wars lasted intermittently for nearly five years, resulting in the
de facto Texan annexation of New Mexico, and contributed directly to the outbreak of war between Mexico and the British Empire in 1846.
Historians generally agree that the border wars began with a government sponsored expedition to Santa Fe to secure the region for Texas, which began on 19 June 1841. The expedition, which was accompanied by British American volunteers under Stephen Kearny, was initiated by the then President of Texas, Mirabeau B. Lamar, in an attempt to gain control over the lucrative Santa Fe Trail and further develop the trade links between Texas and New Mexico. The initiative was a major component of Lamar's ambitious plan to turn the fledgling republic into a continental power. Upon arriving in Santa Fe in September 1841, the expedition found an ill-equipped and unprepared detachment of the Mexican Army led by the governor of New Mexico, Manuel Armijo, who promptly surrendered the town to the Texans. The Mexican troops were allowed to keep their weapons, and guaranteed safe passage and an escort to the Mexican border. Although some soldiers would make the 2,000 mile march to Mexico City, many remained to fight a guerrilla war against the Texans which continued in the hinterlands of New Mexico until 1848.
South of the Rio Grande River, the Republic of the Rio Grande had acted as a buffer against any direct Mexican invasions into its northern neighbour. However the southern republic had suffered numerous raids and invasions by forces aligned to the Mexican central government, which had significantly weakened the nation. The decisive Battle of Saltillo on 25 October 1843 brought about the end of the Rio Grande Republic, as Mexican forces under General Rafael Vasquez defeated the remaining Rio Grande militia. Shortly after the defeat, General Antonio Canales surrendered to Mexican forces and President Jesús de Cárdenas sought refuge in San Antonio, marking an end to the southern republic. In early 1844, emboldened by the collapse of the Republic of the Rio Grande, Franco-Mexican commander Adrián Woll began a coordinated campaign to invade and retake Texas. In August 1844 an expedition led by Rafael Vasquez captured San Antonio and took the city from an insignificant Texan force without a fight, whilst forces under Pedro de Ampudia launched numerous raids across southern Texas, specifically the Nueces strip, from their base in Ciudad Mier.
In September 1844, Mexican forces under Adrián Woll arrived in San Antonio and held the city for two months until they were routed from Texas at the Battle of Salado Creek. Texan forces pursued the Mexicans to the Rio Grande, resulting in the Battle of the Arroyo Hondo between Texas Rangers and the retreating Mexicans, but the Mexicans retreated across the border. Despite the retreat of the Mexicans from Texan territory, raids and small-scale invasions would continue for the next year. The final distinct engagement in the border wars began in November 1845, when an expedition of 700 men left San Antonio with the intention of retaking Laredo and advancing on the Mexican base at Ciudad Mier. On 20 December 1845, the expeditions approached Ciudad Mier, unaware of the 3,000 Mexican troops in the area outnumbering them ten to one. Despite inflicting heavy casualties on the Mexicans, the Texans were forced to surrender, and 243 Texans were taken prisoner and marched to Mexico City. An escape attempt in February 1846 saw 181 Texans escape, but 176 surrendered or were recaptured and ordered to be executed by Santa Anna. The resulting "Black Bean Episode" saw 17 Texans executed on 25 March 1846, whilst the remaining prisoners were held by Mexico until the 1848 Treaty of Toluca.
Tensions continued between Texas and Mexico until 25 April 1846, when a Mexican force crossed the disputed border along the Rio Grande and engaged a British-Texan force, killing 12 men and taking 52 prisoners. The incident, known as the Thornton Ambush, resulted in the British Empire declaring war on the Centralist Republic of Mexico, and marked the beginning of the Mexican War.