[7] Determined to quash the rebellion, Santa Anna began assembling a large force to restore order; by the end of 1835, his army numbered 6,019 soldiers.

After destroying much property, the Guards, a militia under the command of Captain Carlos de la Garza, made camp just outside the town.

Several pro-independence Anglo families, including Ayers' wife and children, remained in the Refugio area, afraid that if they stayed they would be captured by the Mexican army, but that if they left they would be harmed by de la Garza's men.

[11][13] They arrived that evening and camped for the night at Mission Nuestra Senora del Refugio, where some of the Anglo families had taken refuge.

After he learned that other Tejanos were plundering homes about 8 miles (13 km) south, King took half of his men on an unauthorized mission to pursue them.

This unit and a company commanded by Captain Peyton S. Wyatt, attached to the Georgia Battalion, would make up the balance of the relief column.

To facilitate rapid movement, the Georgia Battalion carried only 36 rounds of ammunition per man as extended fighting was not expected.

Ward insisted, after a short rest, the Georgia Battalion, King's Company should gather up the civilians and evacuate the Refugio Mission, returning to Goliad.

King refused and stated he was taking his men to attack a ranch believed to be providing support for Captain Carlos de la Garza and the Mexican militias forces.

Thinking King may need assistance, Ward ordered two companies of the Georgia Battalion to form ranks and slowly move forward.

suffering from a case of measles, he had been left on the Texas coast and was never reunited with his company)), First Sergent Francis Marion Hunt of Macon Georgia commanding, to a low rock wall, part of an animal corral, to the east of the Mission building.

Before long, Mexican local militia under the command of Carlos de la Garza discovered the small Texian force and firing broke out.

King's force, behind trees and rocks, made an effective defense for a time, causing severe losses to the enemy finally running out of ammunition.

Pease states in his narrative he and the rest of Bullock's Company were stationed on the low stone wall east of the mission.

Both he and Samuel Hardaway describe heavy fighting with the ranks of the enemy coming very near to the wall before melting away from the Georgian's fire.

General José de Urrea, the commander of this wing of the Mexican Army, reports seemed to change over the years following the war.

By evening Urrea had concentrated a force estimated to number 1200 soldiers, infantry and cavalry, 100-200 Mexican Mounted Militia, and several pieces of artillery were deployed.

Despite the ever-increasing strength of his foe and aware the Georgia Battalion could expect no help, Ward sent Mr. Perry back to Urrea with his answer.

Juan José Holzinger, a German-Mexican officer, saw fit to save Lewis T. Ayers, Francis Dieterich, Benjamin Odlum, and eight men from local families.

Their ultimate fate was virtually guaranteed by King's willful disobedience of his superior officer's orders (and Fannin's clear instructions).

General Urrea could still have caught and defeated a united and stronger force if King and Ward had escaped Refugio and reunited with Fannin.

Fannin had received orders from General Sam Houston while King and Ward were away that directed him to evacuate Goliad and retire to Victoria as soon as possible.

A timely withdrawal and ultimately, reinforcement with substantial numbers of troops would allow Fannin to remain on the field as an effective fighting force.

Fannin, in his short period of command, had demonstrated a slowness and lack of basic organizational skills necessary to move a large military force any distance.

The revolutionary government had failed to provide the transport and basic supplies necessary to transform a static garrison trained and equipped only for defense in place.

The sacrifice of the Texas volunteers at Refugio and Coleto Creek did result in severe damage to General Urrea's command and greatly delayed his advance, preventing his force from supporting the main army at San Jacinto.

Colonel Ward's successful breakout and withdrawal from the Refugio Mission during the night of 14–15 March 1836 and the 7-day retreat across rivers and through numerous swamps and bayous should be recognized as a notable military achievement.

Poorly equipped and clothed, lacking adequate food, the men of the Georgia Battalion continued to act in concert as a military unit and fighting force for the Texas cause.

Ward and the Georgia Battalion were able to fight off and successfully break contact with at least two Mexican Cavalry units and continue their march towards Victoria.

When Ward found Victoria in the hands of the enemy, he continued to reach a haven for his men and came within two miles of Dimmit's Landing before being overtaken and again surrounded by a force of regular Mexican Army troops.