The Treaty of Velasco
By: Dr. Bruce Winders, Alamo Director of History and Curation
Following the Battle of San Jacinto, the new Texan government headed by president David G. Burnet undertook diplomatic measures to end the war between Texas and Mexico. On May 14, 1836, captured Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna signed a treaty negotiated with Burnet and other Texas officials. In the document, Santa Anna promised to end the war and order all Mexican troops in Texas to retire to the south bank of the Rio Grande. In a second secret treaty, Burnet promised to return Santa Anna safely to the Mexican port of Vera Cruz so Santa Anna could urge his government to adopt the treaty. The Treaty of Velasco had two important effects on the future. Angry Texans soldiers refused to let Santa Anna go; thus, Santa Anna later declared the treaty had been violated by the Texans and was therefore void. More importantly, however, was Texas’ insistence that the treaty clearly established the Rio Grande as the southern boundary of Texas. This claim later contributed to the outbreak of the Mexican War of 1846–1848.
The Texas Government’s desire for the Mexican Army to withdraw from Texas was based on the fact that despite the loss at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, of more than 600 troops and the capture of 730 more — including Santa Anna — danger to the new republic still existed. Roughly 4,000 Centralist soldiers remained in the field, ready to resume the campaign if ordered. These consisted of Mexican troops occupying the following places:
Mrs. Powell’s Plantation near Columbia — 1,408
Brazoria & Columbia — 1,165
San Antonio de Béxar — 1,001
Copano — 60
Refugio — 5
Goliad — 174
Matagorda — 189
Victoria — 40
Miscellaneous — 36
4,078 Total
The withdrawal of the Mexican Army, which actually began prior to the Treaty of Velasco based on an armistice agreed upon between Sam Houston and Santa Anna, commenced on April 24, 1836. By July, no Mexican troops were north of the Rio Grande.
