Centralist Republic of Mexico
Many ranchers and citizens in the area wanted retaliation. They subsequently organized the Victoriana Guardes as a coalition of Tejanos and Karankawa Indians, employing the fighting skills of Spanish lancers. Garza was chosen as the captain. As scouts for José de Urrea at the Battle of Coleto, they ran guerilla tactics against Fannin. The Texian surrender at Coleto Creek led to the Palm Sunday Goliad massacre of the captured soldiers. De la Garza, considered and honest broker by both sides, was successful in pleading on behalf of his Anglo neighbors who fought with Fannin in the skirmish; their lives were spared by Lt. Colonel José Nicolás de la Portilla. The spirit of his defense was returned in kind by his neighbors after the Texian victory at Battle of San Jacinto. The command to slaughter the prisoners of war came directly from General and President of the Centralist Republic of Mexico, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. When Republic of Texas Secretary of War Thomas Jefferson Rusk began reprisals against Mexican Tejanos and Mexican sympathizers, he ordered Garza deported. The order was never successfully carried out due to a defense mounted by Garza's neighbors.