The Republic of Texas - The Texas Revolution

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 Martín Perfecto de Cos at the Alamo.

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.

Click on image for larger image and transcript.
William H. Jack to Edward Burleson, November 27, 1835

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