Runaway Scrape

The Runaway Scrape was the name given to the flight of Anglo and Tejano settlers from their homes in Texas when Antonio López de Santa Anna began his march through the eastern part of the state between the fall of the Alamo in March 1836 and Sam Houston's victory at the Battle of San Jacinto.

History

When Sam Houston arrived in Gonzales on March 11, 1836, he was informed of the fall of the Alamo on March 13 when Susanna Dickinson made her way to Gonzales after being released by the Mexican Army in San Antonio. Deaf Smith, Henry Wax Karnes and R. E. Handy found Mrs. Dickinson and Karnes hurried back to tell Houston of the news. Houston decided to retreat, and he asked Henry Karnes to burn Gonzales to prevent the Mexicans from finding anything they could use in the war. The retreat of Houston and the Texian Army left settlements unprotected.

Settlers soon heard of the fall of the Alamo, the retreat of Houston and an order by Santa Anna to kill all settlers. The settlers left everything and made their way to the Sabine River and safety in the United States. The flight was marked by lack of preparation and by panic caused by fear of both the Mexican Army and of Indians.

The spring of 1836 was wet, and many roads were washed away. The rain, cold and lack of food and shelter made the settlers susceptible to many diseases such as whooping cough and dysentery. Many persons died and were buried where they fell. They also faced outlaws and looters who wanted what little the settlers may have fled with.

The rivers were flooded, so the refugees made crude rafts to try to cross the swollen waterways. Some tried to cross without rafts and many died. The Runaway Scrape continued for about six weeks until news spread of Houston's victory in the Battle of San Jacinto.

ee also

*Timeline of the Texas Revolution

References

*The Runaway Scrape, Yoakum's 1855 History of Texaswww.lsjunction.com/events/runaway.htm

External links

* [http://www.sonofthesouth.net/texas/runaway-scrape.htm The Runaway Scrape]