After the fall of the Alamo on March 6th, 1836, General Sam Houston and his Texian volunteers retreated east from Gonzales as colonists evacuated and abandoned their homes and property in the Runaway Scrape. Local militia captain Moseley Baker and others expressed frustration at the retreat toward the United States and the danger it posed to families in the heart of Austin's colony. General Houston ordered local men to tend to their families while he marched the bulk of the Texian force to an encampment north of San Felipe at Groce's Plantation, and a mistaken scouting report prompted the burning of the town on March 29th. On April 6th, Mexican soldiers arrived at the west bank of the Brazos River and fired on Texians positioned on the opposite side to prevent a crossing. After a few days, Santa Anna moved south to cross further downstream, then camped with his men amid the smoldering ruins of San Felipe from April 6 to 10, 1836, while Mexican troops following behind him occupied the remains of the town for several more days. In early 1836, Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and William H. Wharton considered the design of an independent flag, and the Telegraph and Texas Register of March 5th described the flag presented to the local militia under Moseley Baker. William Barret Travis had operated a law office in San Felipe from 1833 to 1836 before taking command of the Texian forces at the Alamo, and his letter calling for reinforcements was marked to be sent to San Felipe by express day and night. Recent archeological investigations uncovered the fireplace footing of Peyton's Tavern, where residents including Travis had been served, and Angelina Peyton recalled pleading, "don't burn the town - all I have is there." Residents of San Felipe fled and their town was burned as part of the Runaway Scrape, and militia volunteers from the town later served with Sam Houston in the victory over Santa Anna's forces at San Jacinto.