The
Grass Fight
Beginning in October 1835, Texans laid siege to the town of Bexar (San
Antonio). The last engagement before the Texans stormed the town came
on November 26. On that day, scout Erastus "Deaf" Smith rode
into the Texan encampment with the news that Mexican cavalry with pack
animals were approaching the town to bring reinforcements to General MartÃn
Perfecto de Cos at the Alamo.
William H. Jack to Edward
Burleson, November 27, 1835
|
The Texans were eager to stop the reinforcements, and had high hopes
that the pack animals were carrying silver coins -- back pay for the Mexican
troops. General Edward Burleson sent 40 cavalry under James Bowie and
100 infantry under William H. Jack to stop the reinforcements and seize
the supply train.
The two cavalry forces skirmished west of town, with Cos sending infantry
to the aid of the supply train. The Texas forces pushed the Mexican troops
into the town and seized the supply train of 40 pack animals. The casualties
numbered four Texans wounded, three Mexicans dead and 14 wounded.
When the Texans opened the booty carried by the animals, they discovered
not silver coins but grass, intended to feed the army animals.
The siege of Bexar came to an end a little over a week later, when on
December 5, 1835, the Texas volunteers entered the town and began the
house-to-house fighting that resulted in the surrender of Cos on December
9.
More on the siege of
Bexar
|