Phil C
03-17-2011, 10:18 AM
This battle is one in the Texas Revolution in 1836 and is often overlooked in comparison to Goliad, the Alamo and Jan Jacinto among other battles but it did take place at the mission just right by the Mission River. It is where you come in from the South on Hwy 77 just north of the Mission River where the Catholic Church is today. I posted about it before but unfortunately I can't find my post or I would include it here. But the March 10, 2011 issue of The Portland (TX) News had another story on it on page 2 of that issue. I will write as the article is written which was under Evolution of Texas:
"March 12, 1836
The Battle of Refugion begins when Amon B. King and 29 men attempt to take on Carlos de la Garza and apporximately 80 rancheros who were serving under Mexican General Jose de Urrea's army after being sent to Nuestra Senora del Refugio Mission in Refugio to help families trappped there by Garza and his men to escapte to Goliad. Garza and his rancheros won, forcing King, his 29 men and the families they were charged with bringing to safety to return and take refuge back at the mission. As a result, James W. Fannin, Jr. dispatched Lt. Col. William Ward and the Georgia Battalion along with men from Peyton S. Wyatt's command to help King and the others reach Goliad. Ward abated the siege, but things went down hill from there. Ward and King butt heads on rank. They also disagreed on stragedy; King once again set out to fight Garza and the rancheros while Ward and some of the others remained at the mission. Those who stayed were soon surrounded by Urrea and 1,500 of his men. Ward and his party fought valiantly by all accounts but, with the exception of those kept on as laborers, were executed on March 27, 1836 after they surrendered to Urrea and forced to march to La Bahia (near Goliad). King, along with those who chose to fight with him, were also taken as prisoners and exectued by Urrea (among King's party, only three men were spared)."
"March 12, 1836
The Battle of Refugion begins when Amon B. King and 29 men attempt to take on Carlos de la Garza and apporximately 80 rancheros who were serving under Mexican General Jose de Urrea's army after being sent to Nuestra Senora del Refugio Mission in Refugio to help families trappped there by Garza and his men to escapte to Goliad. Garza and his rancheros won, forcing King, his 29 men and the families they were charged with bringing to safety to return and take refuge back at the mission. As a result, James W. Fannin, Jr. dispatched Lt. Col. William Ward and the Georgia Battalion along with men from Peyton S. Wyatt's command to help King and the others reach Goliad. Ward abated the siege, but things went down hill from there. Ward and King butt heads on rank. They also disagreed on stragedy; King once again set out to fight Garza and the rancheros while Ward and some of the others remained at the mission. Those who stayed were soon surrounded by Urrea and 1,500 of his men. Ward and his party fought valiantly by all accounts but, with the exception of those kept on as laborers, were executed on March 27, 1836 after they surrendered to Urrea and forced to march to La Bahia (near Goliad). King, along with those who chose to fight with him, were also taken as prisoners and exectued by Urrea (among King's party, only three men were spared)."