General Woll's Road
Dunlay, Medina County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1842, there were two major invasions into the Republic of Texas by Mexican troops. Active Brigade General Adrian Woll was ordered to lead the second of the two expeditions into Texas in order to capture San Antonio. Woll ordered Brevet Colonel Jose Maria Carrasco to construct a new road that avoided existing roads and trails, in order to reach the city undetected. Traveling on the road with General Woll would be his staff of at least 20 officers, 850 infantry soldiers, artillery, at least 50 supply wagons and carts, and a large herd of livestock. The invasion and road construction began on August 24th, 1842, when Wolls forces forded the Rio Grande at the Nogal Crossing approximately 20 miles downriver from the present day Eagle Pass, near the river's confluence with the Saus Creek. General Woll and his troops passed through the Quihi area on September 9, 1842. Woll attacked San Antonio at daybreak on September 11, and took the city in just two hours. His forces kept the city captive for 7 days. The invasion was then stopped during the Battle of Salado Creek by 225 Texian volunteers led by captains Matthew Caldwell and John C. Hays. During this battle, Texian Captain Nicholas M. Dawson's Volunteer Company was intercepted 1.5 mi from San Antonio and most were killed by Woll's troops. The 15 Texian soldiers that survived were taken prisoner. Fearing another encounter with Texian forces, Woll retreated from San Antonio during the night on September 19, along the road that had been constructed just days before. The troops passed through the Quihi area again on September 20, as they marched back to Mexico. The road continue to be used for many years by military expeditions, settlers and freight haulers. (2009)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
During the Mexican counter-invasions of 1842, General Adrián Woll marched an army north to seize San Antonio from the young Republic of Texas—and had a fresh road cut through the brush country so his column could approach undetected. Woll took the city by surprise that September, held it a week, and clashed with Texian volunteers at Salado Creek before retreating along the same secret road. The route long outlived the campaign, serving settlers and freight haulers for decades.
Why it matters
The road marks a tense chapter when an independent Texas still faced Mexican armies, a conflict that helped set the stage for the coming U.S.-Mexican War.
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Related people
- · Adrián Woll
- · Matthew Caldwell
- · John C. Hays
- · Nicholas M. Dawson
Related events
- · Woll's 1842 invasion of Texas
- · Battle of Salado Creek
- · Dawson Massacre
Themes & tags
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