Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Ampudia ya fara aikinsa a cikin sojojin Spain, kuma ya yi hijira zuwa Mexico bayan yakin neman 'yancin Mexico. A shekara ta 1836, Ampudia ya yi aiki tare da bindigogi na Mexico a Siege na Alamo
kuma daga baya ya ga gwagwarmaya mai tsanani a yakin San Jacinto. A lokacin rikice-rikicen kan iyaka da Texas a farkon 1840s, Ampudia ya umurci garkuwar mutane 350 na Ciudad Mier wanda aka kai hari a ranar 26 ga Disamba, 1842, ta mayakan Texan. A cikin wani mummunan yaki na kwana biyu, an kashe 'yan Mexico sama da 600 amma daga karshe sun tilasta wa abokan gaba su mika wuya, suna samun girmamawar Texans a kan iyaka.