How do you? you? Howdy and welcome to Wise About Texas, the Texas History Podcast.

It's February 2016, which is 180 years from that fateful February in 1836, when the Texian

defenders assembled in the only fort on the road from Presidio del Rio Grande, which is now the town of Guerrero, Coahuila, Mexico, through

Behar and on to Harrisburg in the Texian Settlements.

That fort was an old mission called San Antonio de Valero, and we now call it the Alamo.

As we enter the high holy days of Texas history, I thought today we'd set the scene in Behar

leading up to the Alamo Siege and the freedom of Texas, not two months later.

I'm going to briefly introduce you to three of the most famous characters in Texas history.

I say briefly because since this is the first year

of Wies about Texas, I thought I'd spend the 180th anniversary of the Revolution going

over the events more than focusing on an in-depth analysis of the characters.

We'll have future years for that.

So let's go back 180 years to San Antonio de Behar and get Wise About Texas.

Recall in episode 5 of Wise About Texas when we talked about the siege and battle of

Behar.

In December 1835, the Texians forced Santa Ana's brother-in-law, General Martin Perfecto de Coase, to surrender Behar and head south.

Prior to that victory, the Texians held a consultation in San Felipe and established a governmental structure including Henry Smith as

provisional governor and Sam Houston as commander of the Army. After Behar was

taken everyone exhaled and began looking for the next steps.

Several Tejano and exiled Mexican officials advocated to Governor Smith

that the Texians mount a campaign against Santa Ana and attack Matamoros.

The Texian council enthusiastically supported the measure, but Governor Smith vetoed it choosing not to trust the Mexican officials.

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