DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker at the Urrea Oaks has to say — and friend, this one carries some weight. Now these oaks have been standin a long time, and by tradition, they remember March of 1836. That was the Texas War for Independence, and beneath these very branches — or so the tradition holds — General Jose Urrea of Mexico made his camp.
This wasn't just any resting spot. This was a staging area, strategically located, and Urrea knew exactly what he had. Meanwhile, out of Goliad came Captain Amon B.
King, leadin his Texas volunteers. His mission was to support the townsmen of Refugio — and those townsmen, for their part, were taken into the safety of Mission Nuestra Senora Del Refugio. So far so good, you might think.
The mission walls were solid. There was some protection to be had. Then on March 13th, Lieutenant Colonel William Ward arrived as well.
And that's when the Battle of Refugio began in earnest. Here's where the story turns, and it turns hard. Both King and Ward left the protection of the mission.
They stepped out from behind those walls and into Urrea's world. The General had his staging area, he had his strategy, and he had his moment. Urrea won final victories over them both.
King's command was captured on March 15th. Ward's was captured on March 22nd. Those oaks were here for all of it.
Standing right where the General camped, watching Texas history unfold in a direction nobody on the Texas side had hoped for. Some trees just know too much.
What the marker says
By tradition, camping place in March 1836, during Texas War for Independence, of Gen. Jose Urrea of Mexico. Strategically located, this was Urrea's staging area. Capt. Amon B. King came form Goliad with his Texas volunteers to support the Refugio townsmen, who were taken into the safety of Mission Nuestra Senora Del Refugio. Then Lt. Col. William also arrived on March 13, and the "Battle of Refugio" began. Both King and Ward left protection of the mission, and Urrea won final victories over them, capturing King's command on March 15 and Ward's on March 22. (1973)