Grass Fight
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| Texas Revolution |
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| Gonzales – Concepción – Grass Fight – Bexar – San Patricio – Agua Dulce – The Alamo – Refugio – Coleto – San Jacinto |
The Grass Fight was a battle between the Republic of Mexico and the rebelling Texas colonists in the Mexican state of Coahuila y Texas. The battle was part of what is now known as the Texas Revolution.
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[edit] Background
General Stephen F. Austin was at the head of about 400 Texans, who were laying siege to the Mexican town of San Antonio de Bejar, as well as the nearby former Spanish mission named the Alamo. Commanding the Mexican forces of over 1,000 men was General Martin Perfecto de Cos.
[edit] Battle
On November 26, 1835, Erastus 'Deaf' Smith observed a slow moving pack train with about 150 Mexican soldados five miles (8 km) from San Antonio. The Texans assumed this pack train carried supplies for Cos, who was in the Alamo. Texan commander Edward Burleson sent James Bowie and James Fannin with about forty cavalry to engage the pack train. For support, Burleson sent along William Jack with about one hundred infantry.
Bowie and his party caught up with the Mexican column about a mile from San Antonio. Rumors had spread among the Texans that the pack train was loaded with silver bullion. The Texans attacked the Mexicans at the dry Alazan creekbed as Cos was sending reinforcements. Bowie led a mounted charge against the pack train. The Mexicans fired volleys and discharged their cannon as they retreated to San Antonio. The Texans pursued but were halted by cannon fire from Mexican cannon batteries within San Antonio.
[edit] Aftermath
Once the Mexican army had fled, the Texans proceeded to collect the horses and to examine their booty. To their surprise, the bags were filled with freshly cut grass to feed the Mexican horses inside the Alamo and San Antonio. No silver was found. The total value of horses and supplies perhaps totaled $2,000. The Texans, who had believed they were seizing a fortune, were not pleased.
The Texan losses were reported to be four men wounded and one deserter. Mexican losses were about sixteen killed.
When Burleson made out his official report of the day's fighting, he applauded the actions of all the men except Bowie. Historians speculate that Burleson was leery of Bowie's close relationship with Sam Houston and Austin. Bowie left to Goliad to examine the conditions there, and met with Captain Philip Dimitt. While Bowie was gone, the siege of San Antonio was concluded, and Bowie arrived after the fighting was over. He reported to Frank Johnson, who had taken over for Burleson.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Davis, William C.; Three Roads to the Alamo ; Harper Collins; ISBN-0-06-017334-3
