The ad interim government of the new Republic of Texas and much of the civilian population fled eastward ahead of the Mexican forces. The Texians resisted and declared their independence. It was Sam Houston 's responsibility, as the appointed commander-in-chief of the Provisional Army of Texas before such an army actually existed , to recruit and train a military force to defend the population against troops led by Santa Anna.
During early skirmishes, some Texian soldiers surrendered, believing that they would become prisoners of war β but Santa Anna demanded their executions. The news of the Battle of the Alamo and the Goliad massacre instilled fear in the population and resulted in the mass exodus of the civilian population of Gonzales , where the opening battle of the Texian revolution had begun and where, only days before the fall of the Alamo, they had sent a militia to reinforce the defenders at the mission.
The civilian refugees were accompanied by the newly forming provisional army, as Houston bought time to train soldiers and create a military structure that could oppose Santa Anna's greater forces. Houston's actions were viewed as cowardice by the ad interim government, as well as by some of his own troops. As he and the refugees from Gonzales escaped first to the Colorado River and then to the Brazos , evacuees from other areas trickled in and new militia groups arrived to join with Houston's force.
Santa Anna was intent on executing members of the Republic's interim government, who fled from Washington-on-the-Brazos to Groce's Landing to Harrisburgh and New Washington. The government officials eventually escaped to Galveston Island , and Santa Anna burned the towns of Harrisburgh and New Washington when he failed to find them.
Approximately 5, terrified residents of New Washington fled from the Mexican army. After a little over a month of training the troops, Houston reached a crossroads where he ordered some of them to escort the fleeing refugees farther east while he took the main army southeast to engage the Mexican army.
