The most pressing issue for Mexican military forces in Texas following independence was conflict with Indians. Mexican forces garrisoned the presidios previously manned by Spanish forces. Given the small size of forces in Texas, the government authorized the growing number of settlers from the United States to form militias as Stephen F. Austin did creating what became the Texas Rangers.
As the number of settlers from the United States increased, the Mexican military took on the role of enforcing immigration and taxation policies of the government. These policies led to conflict between the settlers and the military and many of the precursor events to the Texas Revolution such as the Fredonian Rebellion and Anahuac Affair. As tensions rose, so did the number of Mexican soldiers assigned to Texas.