Battle of Salado Creek (1842)

Battle of Salado Creek
Part of the Woll Expedition
A map for the battle.
Date September 17, 1842 Location Salado Creek, Texas Result Decisive Texan victory
Belligerents
Republic of Texas	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Mathew Caldwell	Adrián Woll
Strength
~220 militia	500 cavalry 900 infantry 200 native scouts 2 artillery pieces
Casualties and losses
1 killed 9 wounded	~60 killed or wounded
Casualties for the Dawson Massacre are not included.

The Battle of Salado Creek was a decisive engagement in 1842 which repulsed the final Mexican invasion of the Republic of Texas. Colonel Mathew Caldwell of the Texas Rangers led just over 200 militiamen against an army of 1,600 Mexican Army soldiers and Cherokee warriors and defeated them outside of San Antonio de Bexar along Salado Creek. As a result of this action, Mexican commander General Adrián Woll retreated south and back into Mexico.

On January 9, 1842, word came from General Mariano Arista in Monterrey, that Mexico was planning to invade and retake Texas. He stated that all who would not resist would be given amnesty and protection during this invasion. In August 1842, the Mexican army crossed the border with the intention of regaining control of Texas.

An earlier expedition in March, led by General Ráfael Vásquez, had occupied Goliad, Refugio, and Victoria and then captured San Antonio. The surprised Texians, without a force large enough to hold the town evacuated to Seguin, without a fight. The Mexican flag was raised over San Antonio and the city was held by the invaders for a few days, before exiting to Mexico. A Texian force was organized at the Manuel N. Flores ranch in Seguin that pursued and ensured Vasquez's flight from Texas.

In June, a smaller force under the command of Colonel Antonio Canales Rosillo had raided southern Texas until being repulsed in an engagement near Fort Lipantitlan, west of Corpus Christi. The Texian invasions of a year earlier, in which the Texians attempted to annex New Mexico during the Santa Fe Expedition had also stirred up Mexico's interest in retaking Texas.

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