Salvador Flores

The first skirmish establishing the Texas Revolution began in early October 1835, at the Battle of Gonzales.[11] The Texians would be challenged by the Mexican army, when they tried to retake possession of an artillery piece at Gonzales, Texas. It was a small cannon, formerly given them by Mexico, which had been used for security against the Native Indians. Texians considered this action as an infringement of their right to bear arms and were determined to keep it. On October 2, they would show that determination. During this time, a meeting would be held at Salvador Flores Ranch that would organize a volunteer force of Texas ranchers that would favor the impending revolution.[12][13] Soldiers continued gathering, immigrants, colonists, native Texans. The Texian Army would become a mixture of all peoples, interested in freedom from the oppressive policies of Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna.

After the victory at Gonzales, the Texan forces gained confidence. Trying to sustain the momentum, Commander Austin deemed it necessary to take possession of Presidio La Bahia (Goliad) and Béxar (San Antonio). The Texian troops marched towards Goliad, to reinforce Major Collinsworth at the Battle of Goliad, but were overtaken by an express from Austin, asking them to join the attack on Béxar.[14] On October 23, 1835, Stephen F. Austin granted a captain's commission to Juan Seguín, authorizing him to form a company, which would be supplied with guns and ammunition by the provisional government.[15] Austin's aide, William T. Austin, asserted that "These mexicans [sic] being well acquainted with the country, were of important service as express riders, guides to foraging parties, &c."[16] Several days later Salvador Flores and Manuel Leal joined the effort with 41 Tejano volunteers from ranches southwest of San Antonio.[17] Flores became the first lieutenant of the central Texas volunteers and Placido 1st Lt. of the southern volunteers . While Seguin would be immediately tasked with the burden of supplying the Texian troops with food and provisions,[15] Salvador was left to reconnoiter the Missions at San Antonio and handle the militia.[18] Several more parties of locals eventually joined in, with isolated enlistments occurring every day.

At Mission San Jose, they accompanied James Bowie, with the orders to approach the city, by following the river's path into town.[19] Four groups, led by Valentine Bennet, Andrew Briscoe, Robert M. Coleman, and Michael Goheen and their scouts, were also sent to explore the other missions. While investigating, they were discovered by Mexican guards and gunfire was exchanged before joining with Bowie.

His recruits joined with Bowie in the Battle of Concepción[18][19] on Oct 28, 1835. The Texans won again and gained confidence and some new ground. After the fight and learning of the plan to siege Béxar, he would recruit more men from the ranches on the San Antonio River.[Note 2][20][21] Drifting into the volunteer ranks would be fourteen soldados from the fort, now disillusioned with the centralists.[22] On November 10, the Tejanos had teamed up with Deaf Smith and Travis to capture a herd of over 300 horses.[23]

On November 14, Austin instructed Flores to "burn off the whole country from the other side of the Nueces to the Medina on the roads from Laredo and the Rio Grande."[16] This would make it more difficult for the Mexican army to graze their livestock. Flores was also to explore the Rio Grande area and report on any movement of Mexican troops towards Béxar.[16]

During December 5–10, 1835, the Texians would attempt to take Béxar. Now, heavily involved in house to house fighting, Salvador participated as Second Lieutenant in the siege and capture of Béxar.[24] The company of Seguin now amounted to over 160. He would advance with troops to capture the Alamo at the Siege of Bexar and see to the removal of Mexican forces of General Cos from Texas.[25][Note 3] After the surrender of Cos, his company was sent out to protect the families of the lower ranches, against the devastation made by the retiring Mexican troops and from the reprisal of hostile Indians.[26] The people of Texas would now control Béxar (San Antonio) and the Alamo fort. Colonel James C. Neill receives orders on December 21 to command at Béxar.

Col. James Bowie moves into the Alamo under Neill on January 19, bringing 30 men. On behalf of Henry Smith and General Sam Houston, he assesses the military situation at Béxar. On January 22, verbal intelligence was directed at Col. Neill, from a Tejano courier through the Jose Antonio Navarro family.[27] Jose Cassiano brings news that Gen. Santa Anna had arrived at Saltillo on January 27, with approximately 3000 troops and Sesma at Rio Grande City with 1600 more. Neill passes this information to Houston, now in Goliad.[28] Bowie, after learning that Santa Anna was advancing towards Bexar,[29] wrote several letters to the provisional government asking for supplies and assistance to defend the Alamo[30]

An election for delegates, to attend the Convention of 1836, is held at the Alamo on February 1. Captain Flores, as well as other names, are recorded and preserved on the voting tally list.[31] Neill and Bowie now agree that defending the Alamo is key to achieving Texas independence. On February 3, Colonel Travis arrives in Béxar, with 25 men.

Col. Neill forced to leave on urgent family matters, makes a quick muster roll of his men at the Alamo. Colonel Neill would pass command of the Alamo to William Barret Travis on February 12. Former Congressman David Crockett of Tennessee, boosted the ranks on February 8, with 16 additional men.

On February 10, a party was given to honor the arrival of David Crockett. With Neill leaving early on February 11, he was not present. Blas María Herrera, a courier, from Plácido Benavides,[32] was searching for Juan Seguin at the party and could not locate him. Possessing a letter dated February 6, it was then given to Antonio Menchaca. Handwritten in Spanish, it announced soldados at Presido Rio Grande, ready to march on Béxar.[33] Travis now forewarned, remarked that it would take about 13 days for the Mexican army to arrive, and still was not immediately concerned with the information received and the party continued into the night.

Bowie and Travis agree to share command on the 14th. On Feb.16, Ambrosio Rodriquez was warned by his wife's cousin from Laredo, and another warning came again on Feb. 18. Travis was still skeptical. On the 20th, Blas María Herrera[34] from Seguin's own company reported that Santa Anna had crossed into Texas.[35] Travis held a council that night at 9 p.m.. The story was told and the same verdict was reached, it couldn't be true. Local families began packing possessions, with intent to leave Béxar. About a dozen of Seguin's men were so convinced, that they requested to leave,[36] in order to remove their families from Santa Anna's path.

Santa Anna's forces would enter Béxar on February 23, surprising the Texian forces and initiating a Siege of the Alamo. The Texians and Tejanos would immediately gather in the Alamo for safety and defense, with some bringing their families into the compound.[37] The battle lasted for thirteen days, with the final battle lasting ninety minutes and terminating in violent hand-to-hand combat. All Texian forces effectively lost. Several Tejanos [38] remaining in the Alamo perished: San Antonians Juan Abamillo, José Gregorio Esparza, Antonio Fuentes, Toribio Losoya, Andrés Nava, Juan A. Badillo, Damacio Jiménez and José María Guerrero.[39] Antonio Cruz y Arocha and Alexandro de la Garza left as couriers before the fall.

Juan Seguín stated that with him, 15 men also entered to defend the Alamo. Lindley believes that the Flores brothers were defending the Alamo during the siege.[40] After serving at the Battle of Béxar, Salvador was one of the few, 100 or so, that remained at the Alamo with Neill. His brother Manuel, and other Tejanos (15) entered on February 23.[38] Neill's roster places Captain Flores in the Alamo as an artillery officer. Captain Flores also appears on Colonel Neill's voting tally, as well.[41][Note 4] Somehow, they seem to have exited soon after Seguin's departure, thus putting them on the Alamo survivor list. In 1907, Enrique Esparza claimed that Santa Anna called an armistice and he remembers some Flores leaving then.[42] They took this opportunity to gather Alamo reinforcements, bringing along a couple more of the Flores brothers (according to Seguin, they had a Tejano force of 100 when they regrouped in Gonzales), and secure their families (having not been seen, since abruptly entering the Alamo). They then rendezvoused with Seguin, now in Gonzales. The company headed for the Alamo. The Tejano defenders were joined by up to fourteen more men from Gonzales (led by former Alamo couriers Alsbury and Sutherland). They proceeded toward the Alamo. There they waited on the Cibolo Creek to team up with Fannin. The Alamo fell before they could reach it.[43][Note 5]

The news of the fall of Béxar and Battle of the Alamo was overwhelming for the Texans. A frantic flee eastward began immediately after receiving the fateful news at Gonzales in March 1836. The Tejano volunteers now being reassembled at Gonzales would ride with Captain Flores. Salvador Flores had accepted Sam Houston's orders during this Runaway Scrape. As troops would march away from Gonzales, Salvador Flores along with a group of volunteers formed the rear guard that protected the fleeing families and proceeded westward to secure the lower ranches of San Antonio.[Note 6][26][44] The forces then split. Salvador maintained this position offering protection from Mexican and Indian attack,[45] while his relatives Capt. Manuel Flores,[5] Lieutenant Nepomuceno Flores,[46] left with Seguin to regroup a company of men that followed Houston toward east Texas and on to San Jacinto.[47]