With the approval of the General Council, Texas revolutionaries James Grant, Frank W. Johnson and Robert C. Morris collaborated on plans to lead an assault on the Mexican town of Matamoros.

Recruiting some 300 men, several of whom were native to San Antonio, they gathered provisions from the Alamo and Presidio La Bahia for their expedition.

[10] The men needed mounts for their long journey and divided into groups as they traveled toward the coast to capture wild horses.

On February 27, 1836, Mexican General José de Urrea's advanced reconnaissance patrol discovered Frank W. Johnson and about 34 Texians camped at the abandoned Irish settlement of San Patricio.

In a surprise attack at 3:30am, Mexican troops fired on the Texian Army and killed about 10 (7 of them Hispanics) and captured 18.

[11] Johnson and four others who were captured managed to escape and rejoin James Fannin's command at Goliad.

[9] Grant and Morris's party was also surprised by Urrea's army as they camped at Agua Dulce Creek.

[13] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 384 people, 155 households, and 116 families residing in the city.