350:. Many of Dimmitt's men left after their arrival, but Dimmitt remained and worked as a scout. Early in the morning of February 23, local townspeople warned Travis that the Mexican army was very near to Bexar. Travis assigned one of his men to stand lookout in the bell tower of the San Fernando Church and warn him if Mexican soldiers appeared. Travis then asked Dimitt and Lieutenant Benjamin Noble to try to locate the Mexican army. At approximately 2:30 that afternoon the church bell began to ring as the lookout claimed to have seen flashes in the distance. Although Travis could still see nothing, since Dimitt and Noble had not returned he sent John Sutherland and John W. Smith on horseback to scout the area where the flashes had been seen. Within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the town, they saw the troops of the Delores Cavalry and returned to Bexar at a run. The Texians were completely unprepared for the arrival of the Mexican army, and scrambled about to gather food and supplies for the anticipated siege. By late afternoon Bexar was completely occupied by about 1500 Mexican troops, who quickly raised a blood-red flag signifying "No Quarter" above the San Fernando Church.
311:. Veisca had been relieved of his duties and imprisoned after questioning Santa Anna's centralist policies. He escaped from prison and made his way to Texas, where he was discovered by Westover's men as they returned from Fort Lipantitlan. Westover took the governor to Goliad, where Dimmitt treated him courteously but refused to recognize his authority as governor. By this time, Dimmitt had decided that he preferred complete independence from Texas rather than a return to the previous Mexican constitution. Austin, who believed Texas was fighting for the Constitution of 1824, immediately removed Dimmitt from office. Dimmitt's men voted to keep him as their commander and released several resolutions in protest of Austin's action.
124:
329:. They returned to Goliad about December 14. On his return, Dimmitt designed a new flag. This flag had a white background and featured a severed, bloody arm holding a sword. It is thought to be the first flag advocating Texas's full independence from Mexico. The flag was raised over Presidio La Bahia after the garrison approved and signed the Goliad Declaration of Independence. Many members of the government, as well as acting army commanders
370:, sent Dimmitt a letter on March 12, ordering Dimmitt to bring his men to Gonzales. By this time Dimmitt had recruited 21 men. By the time they arrived at Gonzales, the Mexican army had already taken possession of the town, as Houston and his men retreated east. Dimmitt's men briefly skirmished with Mexican troops before returning to Victoria on March 19. There, he and his men helped evacuate settlers. When Mexican General
315:
240:
410:. The post was about 15 miles (24 km) from one that had long been operated by William P. Aubrey and Henry Kinney, who dealt in contraband with Mexican troops. On July 4, 1841, Mexican troops raided Dimmitt's post, confiscating merchandise valued at $ 6,000 and taking Dimmitt and several other men captive. Dimmitt and the other men were sent to prison in
276:. Two of Dimmitt's men, John Wiliams and John Toole, had been captured on October 10 and 11 carrying missives to the federalist leaders in San Patricio and were imprisoned at Lipantitlán. Austin did not order an assault, and an angry Dimmitt wrote on October 27 that Williams and Toole had been sent to
353:
Dimmitt and Noble were still scouting the area. As they were returning to Bexar, a local told them that the town was surrounded. Soon after, a servant sent by
Dimmitt's wife found them to tell them not to return or the Mexican army would kill them. The men rode to a nearby location to wait and see if
267:
In a letter to Austin dated
October 15, Dimmitt proposed an attack on Fort Lipantitlán, whose capture would "secure the frontier, provide a vital station for defense, create instability among the centralists, and encourage Mexican federalists". The Mexican soldiers at Fort Lipantitlán intimidated the
251:
Early in his tenure, he designed the flag that eventually became most associated with the Texas
Revolution. His design began with the green, white, and red tricolor of the Mexican flag, but replaced the central eagle with the words "Constitution of 1824", or sometimes just "1824". This signified that
82:
and participated in the final battle which forced Cos to surrender. On their return to Goliad, Dimmitt's men declared independence from Mexico. In honor of their new aim, Dimmitt designed a second flag, a white background with a severed, bloody arm holding a sword. The new Texian Army commanders and
65:
Following the battle, Dimmitt assumed command of the Texian forces that remained at
Presidio La Bahia. One of his first acts as commander was to design a new flag. Similar to the Mexican flag, his version replaced the central eagle with the words "Constitution of 1824", reflecting his loyalty to the
440:
after drugging their guards. Eleven of them were later found and executed, while seven reached safety in the mountains. Dimmitt had been held separately and did not participate in the escape, but he was told that if the other
Texians did not return Dimmitt would be executed as revenge. Unhappy with
223:
in Goliad. They intended to kidnap Cos and hold him for ransom. If possible, they also wished to steal the estimated $ 50,000 that was rumored to accompany Cos. When
Collinsworth and his men stopped in Victoria to recruit more men for their expedition, Dimmitt joined, along with at least 30 other
98:
sent
Dimmitt on a scouting mission to see if the Mexican Army was close. While Dimmitt was out, the Mexican Army surrounded Bexar. Fearing that he would not be able to reach the Alamo, Dimmitt instead returned to Victoria and tried to recruit volunteers to ride to the Alamo's relief. He and his
228:, leaving only a small number of troops to defend Goliad. The Texian force continued on to Goliad, and after a brief fight gained control of the presidio. Although the battle had ended, over the next several days more Texian settlers joined the group at La Bahía.
425:. Within weeks, Lamar had sent Kinney to Mexico to petition for Dimmitt's release. The request was unsuccessful; the Mexican government was still angry with Dimmitt for his role in the Goliad Declaration of Independence and had no intention of releasing him.
345:
About
January 24, Dimmitt and thirty volunteers arrived in San Antonio de Bexar to reinforce the Texians garrisoned at the Alamo. He was named army storekeeper. Additional reinforcements from the regular army arrived on February 3, under the command of
296:. The removal of Mexican army oversight encouraged the federalists in San Patricio to become more active. These men soon gained control of the municipal government, formed a militia, and elected delegates to represent them at the
453:
Dimmitt had two children, Antonio Alamo
Dimmitt and Texas Philip Dimmitt. In 1858, Texas created a new county which they named for him. Due to a mistake in the bill authorizing the county's creation, it is known as
381:
On April 15, Dimmitt arrived at
Matagorda Island with more recruits for Houston's army. On April 22, Dimmitt joined Houston, bringing with him reinforcements and much-needed supplies. The reinforcements missed the
421:, had asked Ampudia to eliminate the competition. Aubrey and Kinney were eventually arrested and charged with treason, but were acquitted on August 22, probably due to pressure from Texas President
292:
in the Mexican interior, Cos was unable to quickly request or receive reinforcements or supplies. According to historian Bill Groneman, this likely contributed to Cos's defeat in the
78:. Their success meant that the only remaining group of Mexican soldiers in Texas were Cos's men in Bexar. Dimmitt and a few of his men left Goliad in early December to join the
362:
After leaving Bexar, Dimmitt returned to Victoria, where he began trying to recruit others to help relieve the Alamo. After hearing that the Texians had been defeated at the
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and John Linn, had begun advocating a plan to seize Cos at either Copano or Goliad. The plan was abandoned in late September as instead colonists flocked to
236:, ordered that 100 men remain at Goliad under Dimmitt's command, while the rest should join the Texian Army in marching on Cos's troops in Béxar.
288:, the Texians had defeated all of the Mexican forces within Texas except those commanded by Cos at Bexar. Without an easy means of communication with
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prepared to enter Victoria on March 21, Dimmitt and his men joined the settlers in fleeing east. The mass evacuation was later termed the
354:
it would be safe to return to the Alamo. After several days, Dimmitt concluded that the wait was in vain and he and Noble left the area.
111:. The post was raided by Mexican soldiers in July 1841 and Dimmitt was taken captive. He committed suicide in captivity later that year.
417:
The troops did not approach Aubrey and Kinney's post. Some newspapers speculated that Kinney, who was friendly with Mexican general
325:
In early December, Dimmitt and a few of his men joined Austin's army at Bexar, where they participated in the final fighting at the
30:. Born in Kentucky, Dimmitt moved to Texas in 1823 and soon operated a series of trading posts. After learning that Mexican General
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were angry with the premature declaration and instructed Dimmitt to lower his flag. He resigned his command in protest.
766:, Centennial Series of the Association of Former Students, No 59, College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press,
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either alternative—execution or extended imprisonment—Dimmitt committed suicide by taking an overdose of
34:
was en route to Texas in 1835 to quell the unrest, Dimmitt proposed that the general be kidnapped on his arrival at
280:, beyond the reach of the Texians. Dimmitt chose to act without orders from Austin and on October 31 sent Adjutant
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123:
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The Alamo and the Texas War of Independence, September 30, 1835 to April 21, 1836: Heroes, Myths, and History
171:. In 1835, Dimmitt purchased land in the Power and Hewetson colony, but he continued to live near Victoria.
71:
74:. Against the wishes of the commander of the Texian Army, Dimmitt also authorized a group of his men to
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Dimmitt was temporarily relieved of his command on November 18, 1835, after an incident involving
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on September 20 and arrived in Goliad on October 2. As early as September 18] Dimmitt, along with
994:
898:
Alamo Sourcebook, 1836: A Comprehensive Guide to the Battle of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution
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159:. He supported his family by operating three trading posts. One was located near Victoria on the
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by only a day. Later on April 22, Santa Anna was taken prisoner, and the war essentially ended.
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demanded that the flag be lowered. An angry Dimmitt resigned his command in mid-January 1836.
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settlers. One of Dimmitt's contacts in Goliad informed him that Cos had already departed for
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882:, Fred Rider Cotten Popular History Series, Austin, TX: Texas State Historical Association,
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Stephen F. Austin had resigned from the Texian Army in November 1835. His replacement,
147:, where he worked as a commissary contractor for the Mexican soldiers garrisoned at the
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Dimmitt and his friends, along with 19 other men from Texas who were imprisoned in
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167:. The largest, which included a wharf and a warehouse, was at Dimmitt's Landing on
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42:, but by early October, 1835, it had been resuscitated by a group of volunteers at
27:
402:. By May, he had formed a trading post with James Gourley Jr. near what was later
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660:, resigned following the Siege of Bexar and was replaced by Johnson and Grant.
219:, under George Collinsworth, decided to implement Dimmitt's plan and march on
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with a force of 35 men to take Fort Lipantitlán. Following the
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and became a justice. In 1841 he purchased part of a ranch on the
923:
Captain Phillip Dimmitt's Commandancy of Goliad, 1835–1836
803:
Texian Iliad – A Military History of the Texas Revolution
314:
239:
107:. Following the war, Dimmitt opened a trading post near the
90:
Soon after, Dimmitt joined the Texians garrisoned at the
151:. After marrying Maria Luisa Lazo, Dimmitt settled near
58:. Dimmitt joined them en route, and participated in the
896:
Todish, Timothy J.; Todish, Terry; Spring, Ted (1998),
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volunteers eventually joined the Texian Army, under
764:
Texas Boundaries: Evolution of the State's Counties
256:, which Santa Anna had nullified. By November, the
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300:, which served as a provisional Texas government.
243:Dimmitt designed this flag supporting the Mexican
70:, which had been repudiated by Mexican President
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46:. Not knowing that Cos had already departed for
975:American military personnel who died by suicide
436:in August 1841. Eighteen of the men escaped in
215:On October 6, members of the Texian militia in
38:. The plan was shelved when fighting broke out
829:Alamo Traces: New Evidence and New Conclusions
980:People who died by suicide in prison custody
965:Military personnel from Louisville, Kentucky
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196:to quell the unrest in Texas. Cos landed at
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318:Dimmitt designed this flag supporting the
94:in Bexar. On February 23, Alamo commander
805:, Austin, TX: University of Texas Press,
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22:(1801–1841) was an officer in the
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955:Army of the Republic of Texas officers
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878:Remember Goliad! A History of La Bahia
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784:, Plano, TX: Republic of Texas Press,
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50:, this group decided to corner Cos at
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139:. In 1823, he moved to the Mexican
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320:Goliad Declaration of Independence
260:had ordered that all ships in the
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192:sent his brother-in-law, General
232:, commander of the newly formed
188:of June 1835, Mexican President
143:. For several years he lived in
970:Drug-related suicides in Mexico
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212:officially began on October 2.
135:Dimmitt was born about 1801 in
103:on April 22, the day after the
950:People of the Texas Revolution
827:Lindley, Thomas Ricks (2003),
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384:final battle of the revolution
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1:
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118:
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258:Texas provisional government
7:
900:, Austin, TX: Eakin Press,
835:: Republic of Texas Press,
274:Antonio López de Santa Anna
190:Antonio López de Santa Anna
72:Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
10:
1011:
990:People from Refugio, Texas
307:, the deposed governor of
137:Jefferson County, Kentucky
699:Edmondson (2000), p. 299.
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179:
127:Philip Dimmitt letter to
925:, Von Boeckmann-Jones Co
874:Roell, Craig H. (1994),
860:: Combined Books, Inc.,
340:
780:Groneman, Bill (1998),
625:Groneman (1998), p. 37.
542:Goliad Campaign of 1835
394:Dimmitt later moved to
921:Huson, Hobart (1974),
762:Gournay, Luke (1995),
748:Gournay (1995), p. 77.
739:Lindley (2003), p. 90.
730:Lindley (2003), p. 89.
690:Lindley (2003), p. 87.
322:
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194:Martín Perfecto de Cos
132:
85:provisional government
32:Martín Perfecto de Cos
782:Battlefields of Texas
634:Hardin (1994), p. 47.
616:Hardin (1994), p. 53.
607:Hardin (1994), p. 42.
589:Hardin (1994), p. 41.
564:Hardin (1994), p. 14.
408:Corpus Christi, Texas
317:
286:Battle of Lipantitlan
242:
126:
105:battle of San Jacinto
76:take Fort Lipantitlan
598:Roell (1994), p. 42.
524:Roell (1994), p. 36.
254:Constitution of 1824
245:Constitution of 1824
226:San Antonio de Bexar
186:Anahuac Disturbances
145:San Antonio de Bexar
113:Dimmit County, Texas
68:Constitution of 1824
48:San Antonio de Bexar
708:Nofi (1992), p. 78.
676:Nofi (1992), p. 76.
364:battle of the Alamo
268:settlers in nearby
16:Texian Army officer
799:Hardin, Stephen L.
432:, were marched to
323:
249:
163:. A second was at
153:Guadalupe Victoria
133:
131:, 30 November 1829
115:is named for him.
907:978-1-57168-152-2
791:978-1-55622-571-0
773:978-0-89096-653-2
547:Handbook of Texas
539:Roell, Craig H.,
506:Handbook of Texas
498:Roell, Craig H.,
423:Mirabeau B. Lamar
348:William B. Travis
230:Stephen F. Austin
221:Presidio La Bahía
155:in the colony of
141:province of Texas
129:Stephen F. Austin
96:William B. Travis
52:Presidio La Bahia
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419:Pedro de Ampudia
331:Frank W. Johnson
309:Coahuila y Tejas
210:Texas Revolution
175:Texas Revolution
60:battle of Goliad
28:Texas Revolution
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264:fly this flag.
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327:siege of Bexar
305:Agustín Viesca
294:siege of Bexar
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298:Consultation
282:Ira Westover
270:San Patricio
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208:, where the
202:James Fannin
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109:Nueces River
89:
64:
19:
18:
945:1841 deaths
940:1801 births
406:and is now
390:Later years
368:Sam Houston
358:San Jacinto
335:James Grant
234:Texian Army
101:Sam Houston
40:at Gonzales
26:during the
24:Texian Army
934:Categories
833:Lanham, MD
756:References
552:2008-07-14
511:August 19,
262:Texas Navy
184:After the
169:Lavaca Bay
119:Early life
462:Footnotes
434:Monterrey
430:Matamoros
412:Matamoros
290:Matamoros
278:Matamoros
217:Matagorda
44:Matamoros
852:(1992),
821:29704011
801:(1994),
443:morphine
438:Saltillo
404:Calallen
206:Gonzales
717:Todish
643:Todish
573:Todish
396:Refugio
904:
886:
864:
839:
819:
809:
788:
770:
719:et al.
645:et al.
575:et al.
449:Legacy
198:Copano
180:Goliad
165:Goliad
56:Goliad
36:Copano
341:Alamo
902:ISBN
884:ISBN
862:ISBN
837:ISBN
817:OCLC
807:ISBN
786:ISBN
768:ISBN
513:2008
333:and
83:the
54:in
936::
856:,
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815:,
681:^
665:^
582:^
545:,
529:^
504:,
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62:.
247:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
