Domingo Ugartechea Domingo de Ugartechea ( ca . 1794 – 24 May 1839 ) was a 19th - century Mexican Army officer for the Republic of Mexico . Biography . Early years . Domingo de Ugartechea served for José Joaquín de Arredondo in 1813 . Ugartechea as well as Antonio López de Santa Anna were cadets during the suppression of the Gutiérrez - Magee Expedition , and at the Battle of Medina . In June 1832 , Ugartechea commanded 125 men at the fort at Velasco , Texas ; he attempted to employ his artillery to prevent rebelling Texas colonist under John Austin from taking cannon from Brazoria to Anahuac at the time of the Anahuac disturbances . Although defeated by the Texans in the eleven - hour Battle of Velasco , Ugartechea was permitted to evacuate the fort . In 1835 Ugartechea was military commandant of Coahuila and Texas in command of the forces at Presidio San Antonio de Béxar , all the while struggling with deficiencies in funding , supplies , and manpower . Although 200 men appeared on his rolls , only half that number were in active service . His observations from this position in the spring of that year contributed to the hardening of attitudes in Mexico concerning Anglo - American abuse of land policies and of native Tejanos in the departments of Nacogdoches and Bexar . He also considered the Texans to be disrespectful toward the government and its leaders , writing in one letter : " " Nothing is heard but God damn St . Anna . God damn Ugartechea . " " In mid - May 1835 Ugartechea worked through the political authorities to avoid armed conflict with the militiamen under Juan N . Seguín , who departed from the town of Bexar toward Monclova , Coahuila , to aid federalist Governor Agustín Viesca . Only last - minute concessions from political chief José Ángel Navarro prevented a clash between the militia and Ugartechea ' s soldiers . Subsequently , Ugartechea received and passed on to Mexico many reports that the spirit of conciliation was growing in the summer of 1835 and that the greatest threat to a consensus favoring peace would be to bring more troops from Mexico to Texas . However , at the end of July Ugartechea expressed his opinion to his superior , Martín Perfecto de Cos , that reinforcements were still quite necessary . In this way Ugartechea both reflected and furthered the hardening of attitudes that brought about war . In dealing with the people of Texas , Ugartechea continued to issue reassurances about the potential for peace if his arrest orders were carried out . Those whom he ordered the Texas authorities to detain and hold included representatives to the Coahuila legislature , leaders of the Anahuac expedition or rebellion of June 1835 , and other opponents of centralism such as Lorenzo de Zavala . During the course of the summer the units under his command grew to nearly 500 men , including about 200 cavalry on active duty . In September , reports circulated that Ugartechea intended to execute these arrests himself . Indeed , it was under his orders that Lt . Francisco de Castañeda went to Gonzales , Texas , to secure a cannon from the hands of the Texans , leading to the battle on October 2 that initiated hostilities in the Texas Revolution . Ugartechea then urged peace but warned the Texans to surrender their arms or face a renewed advance from San Antonio . Siege of San Antonio . During the siege of Bexar , Stephen F . Austin conducted the Texan forces from the outskirts of the town , while Ugartechea at first remained with the Mexican forces in town . A unit of his cavalry engaged in reconnoitering around Cibolo Creek in mid - October . He then led a body of 275 infantry with two cannons from the town on the morning of October 28 , precipitating the Battle of Concepción . Colonel Ugartechea commanded a unit of cavalry that slipped through the siege forces on November 12 and made its way in about ten days to the Rio Grande ( Río Bravo ) to seek reinforcements . On November 26 he guided a force of 454 conscripts and 173 veteran troops from Laredo to relieve the centralist army under Cos at Bexar . Their arrival on 8 December actually increased the burden of supply on the centralist army and helped to precipitate its surrender on December 9 to the Texans . Texas Revolution . Ugartechea returned to Laredo with Cos ' s forces . He came back to Texas with the Mexican army in 1836 . In late March Ugartechea received command of the inexperienced troops left in reserve at Copano , Victoria , and Goliad , making his headquarters in the latter place , and having responsibility for reconstructing shelter for the garrison and activating fortifications . Following the Mexican retreat after the Battle of San Jacinto , Ugartechea went to Matamoros , Tamaulipas , where he reportedly helped initiate the policy of persuading Native Americans to make war against the people of Texas . He continued to support the centralist cause , helping defeat a federalist uprising at Saltillo , Coahuila , from his post in Monterrey , Nuevo León , in February 1839 . He was killed in defense of Saltillo on May 24 , 1839 .