He also slew the Mexican commander.
The land disputes may have contributed to a warning that Manchola gave to the Mexican military commander for Texas:
To that, the Mexican commander commented, "What can I refuse to such men?
A second group forced the surrender of another Mexican military commander at the Battle of Velasco.
The new Mexican commander figgered the Alamo weren't worth the trouble.
Searching for more favorable terrain, the Mexican commander led his army five miles to the south.
When they did, the Mexican commander ordered his troops to cease fire.
United States officials started by asking Mexican commanders to use their small fleet of F-5 fighter jets to intercept the smugglers.
With no planes to chase, Mexican commanders have used the helicopters for everything from troop transport to spraying herbicides on drug crops.
Their tenacity, however, did not affect the Mexican commanders' decision to capitulate and abandon the position.