Grass Fight and Talk:Festieux: Difference between pages
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{{Infobox Military Conflict |
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|conflict=Grass Fight |
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|image= |
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|caption= |
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|partof=the [[Texas Revolution]] |
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|date=November 26, 1835 |
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|place= near [[San Antonio, TX|San Antonio de Bexar]] |
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|result=Texian victory |
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|combatant1=[[Mexican Texas|Texian]] insurgents |
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|combatant2=[[Mexico]] |
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|commander1=[[James Bowie]] and William Jack |
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|commander2= unknown |
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|strength1= approximately 140 cavalry and infantry |
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|strength2=100–150 [[cavalry]] and [[infantry]] <br> 1 [[cannon]] |
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|casualties1= 4 wounded |
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|casualties2= 3 killed, 14 wounded<Ref name=barr40/> |
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}} |
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{{campaignbox Texas Revolution}} |
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The '''Grass Fight''' was a small battle during the [[Texas Revolution]], fought between the [[Mexican Army]] and the [[Texian Army]]. The battle took place on November 26, 1835, just south of [[San Antonio|San Antonio de Bexar]] in [[Mexican Texas|Texas]]. The Texas Revolution had officially begun on October 2 and by the end of the month the [[Texian]]s had initiated a [[siege of Bexar]], home of the largest Mexican garrison in the province. Bored with the inactivity, many of the native Texian soldiers returned home; a smaller number of adventurers from the [[United States]] arrived to replace them. After the Texian Army rejected commander-in-chief [[Stephen F. Austin]]'s call to launch an assault on Bexar on November 22, Austin resigned from the army. The men elected [[Edward Burleson]] their new commander-in-chief. |
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On November 26, Texian scout [[Deaf Smith]] brought news of a Mexican [[Packhorse|pack]] train, accompanied by 50–100 soldiers, that was on its way to Bexar. The Texian camp was convinced that the pack train carried silver to pay the Mexican garrison and purchase supplies. Burleson ordered Colonel [[James Bowie]] to take 35–40 cavalry and intercept the train. An additional 100 infantry followed. On seeing the battle commence, Mexican General [[Martín Perfecto de Cos]] sent reinforcements from Bexar. The Texians repulsed several attacks by Mexican soldiers, who finally retreated to Bexar. When the Texians examined the abandoned pack train they discovered that, instead of silver, the mules carried freshly cut grass to feed the Mexican Army horses. Four Texians were injured, and historian Alwyn Barr states that three Mexican soldiers were killed, although Bowie and Burleson initially claimed the number was much higher. |
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==Background== |
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{{main|Mexican Texas|Texas Revolution}} |
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{{see|Siege of Bexar}} |
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On October 2, 1835, Texas colonists<ref>[[Mexican Texas]] included the land north of the [[Medina River|Medina]] and the [[Nueces River]]s, {{convert|100|mi|km|0}} northeast of the [[Rio Grande]], west of [[San Antonio de Bexar]], and east of the [[Sabine River (Texas-Louisiana)|Sabine River]]. According to Manchaca's ''Recovering History, Constructing Race: The Indian, Black, and White Roots of Mexican Americans'', by 1834 an estimated 30,000 English speakers lived in Texas, compared to only 7,800 of Spanish heritage.</ref> attacked a Mexican force at the [[Battle of Gonzales]], formally launching the [[Texas Revolution]].<ref name=hardin12>Hardin (1994), p. 12.</ref> After the battle ended, disgruntled colonists continued to assemble in [[Gonzales, TX|Gonzales]], eager to put a decisive end to Mexican control over the area. On October 11 the disorganized volunteers elected [[Stephen F. Austin]], who had settled [[Old 300|the first English-speaking colonists]] in Texas, as their commander-in-chief.<ref name=barr6>Barr (1990), p. 6.</ref> Several days later Austin marched his newly created Texian Army towards [[San Antonio, TX|San Antonio de Bexar]], where General [[Martín Perfecto de Cos]], brother-in-law of Mexican president [[Antonio López de Santa Anna]], oversaw the Mexican garrison at the [[Alamo Mission|Alamo]].<ref name=barr15>Barr (1990), p. 15.</ref> In late October the Texians initiated a [[siege of Bexar]].<ref name=hardin53>Hardin (1994), p. 53.</ref> |
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The Texian volunteers had little or no experience as professional soldiers, and by early November many had begun to miss their homes. As the weather turned colder and rations grew smaller, many soldiers became sick, and groups of men began to leave, most without permission.<ref name=barr29>Barr (1990), p. 29.</ref> On November 18, however, a group of volunteers from the [[United States]], known as the [[New Orleans Greys]], joined the Texian Army.<ref name=barr35>Barr (1990),p. 35.</ref><ref name=hardin60>Hardin (1994), p. 60.</ref> Unlike the majority of the Texian volunteers, the Greys looked like soldiers, with uniforms, well-maintained rifles, adequate ammunition, and some semblance of discipline.<ref name=hardin60/> The Greys, as well several companies of Texians who had arrived recently, were eager to face the Mexican Army directly.<ref name=barr38>Barr (1990), p. 38.</ref> Encouraged by their enthusiasm, on November 21, Austin ordered an assault on Bexar the following morning. Several of his officers polled the soldiers that evening and discovered that fewer than 100 men were willing to launch an attack on Bexar; Austin then cancelled his orders.<ref name=hardin61>Hardin (1994), p. 61.</ref> Within days Austin resigned his command to become a commissioner to the United States; Texians elected [[Edward Burleson]] as their new commander.<ref name=hardin62>Hardin (1994), p. 62.</ref> |
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==Battle== |
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At 10:00 a.m. on November 26, Texian scout [[Deaf Smith|Erastus "Deaf" Smith]] rode into camp to report that a [[packhorse|pack train]] of mules and horses, accompanied by 50–100 Mexican soldiers, was within {{convert|5|mi|km}} of Bexar.<ref name=barr39>Barr (1990), p. 39.</ref><ref name=hardin64>Hardin (1994), p. 64.</ref> For several days, the Texians had heard rumors that the Mexican Army was expecting a shipment of silver and gold to pay the troops and purchase additional supplies.<ref name=todish24>Todish ''et al'' (1998), p. 24.</ref> The Texians had been fighting without pay, and most wanted to charge from camp and loot the expected riches.<ref name=hardin64/> Burleson calmed the crowd and then ordered Colonel [[James Bowie]] to take 35–40 mounted men to investigate, but only attack if necessary. After Bowie recruited the army's 12 best marksmen for the expedition, there was little doubt that he intended to find a reason to attack. Burleson managed to stop the entire army from following by sending Colonel William Jack with 100 infantry to support Bowie's men.<ref name=hardin64/><ref name=edmondson237>Edmondson (2000), p. 237.</ref> |
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[[Image:Jimbowie.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Colonel [[James Bowie]] led the Texian cavalry during the Grass Fight]] |
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About {{convert|1|mi|km}} from Bexar, Bowie and his men spotted the Mexican soldiers crossing a dry ravine.<ref name=barr39/> This was likely near the confluence of the Alazán, Apache, and San Pedro Creeks.<ref name=groneman39>Groneman (1998), p. 39.</ref> Bowie's men charged the Mexican party, scattering the mules.<ref name=edmondson237/> The mounted forces briefly exchanged fire, and then both sides dismounted and took cover in dry streambeds. The Mexican forces counterattacked but were repulsed.<ref name=barr39/> In Bexar, General Cos saw the battle begin and sent 50 infantry and 1 cannon to provide cover so the cavalry could retreat to town.<ref name=barr39/> The Texian infantry also heard the initial shots and rushed toward the battle, at one point wading through waist-deep water. They approached the battlefield during a lull. The lack of noise made it difficult for them to ascertain where the Mexican troops were, and the Texians were surprised to find themselves between the Mexican cavalry and the Mexican infantry. As the Mexican troops began firing, the Texian infantry troops dropped to the ground. Colonel [[Thomas Rusk]] led a group of 15 in an attack on the nearest Mexican cavalry; as those cavalrymen fled the Texian infantry was able to scramble to cover.<ref name=barr39/> |
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The Texian cavalry joined their infantrymen.<ref name=barr39/> Burleson's father, James Burleson, led a cavalry advance on the Mexican position, yelling, "Boys, we have but once to die, they are here in the ditch. Charge them!"<ref name=barr40>Barr (1990), p. 40.</ref> The Mexican artillery fired three times, driving the Texians back. Three times the Mexican cavalry attempted to take a small rise to give the artillery better position; they were repulsed. The Mexican infantry then attacked. Rusk wrote of the Mexican attack: "These men advanced with great coolness and bravery under a destructive fire from our men, preserving ... strict order and exhibiting no confusion."<ref name=barr40/> The infantry abandoned their charge when they realized that Texian James Swisher had led a band of cavalry to try to take the Mexican cannon.<ref name=barr40/> The Mexican forces then withdrew towards Bexar.<ref name=edmondson237/> |
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==Aftermath== |
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[[Image:ThomasJeffersonRusk.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Colonel [[Thomas Rusk]] participated in the Grass Fight]] |
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Four Texians were wounded in the fighting, and one soldier deserted during the battle.<ref name=barr40/><Ref name=edmondson238>Edmondson (2000), p. 238.</ref> In his reports, Burleson claimed that 15 Mexican soldiers had been killed and 7 wounded,<ref name=edmondson238/> while Bowie claimed that 60 Mexican soldiers had been killed.<ref name=hardin66>Hardin (1994), p. 66.</ref> In his book ''Texans in Revolt: the Battle for San Antonio, 1835'', historian Alwyn Barr stated that only 3 Mexican soldiers had been killed and 14 wounded; most of the casualties were from the cavalry companies.<Ref name=barr40/> Burleson praised all of his officers for their conduct; Bowie received the most mention.<ref name=edmondson238/> |
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The Texians captured 40 horses and mules.<ref name=barr40/> To their surprise, the saddlebags did not contain bullion. Instead, the mules had been carrying freshly cut grass to feed the Mexican horses trapped in Bexar. This prize gave the battle its name.<ref name=edmondson238/> Although the engagement, which historian J.R. Edmondson termed a "ludicrous affair", did not yield valuable plunder, it did serve to unite the Texian Army. Days before, the army had been bitterly divided and unwilling to risk a prolonged siege or assault. With their success at the Grass Fight, however, the Texian soldiers began to believe that, although outnumbered, they could prevail over the Mexican garrison.<ref name=edmondson238/> The Texians believed that Cos must have been desperate to send troops outside of the safety of Bexar.<ref name=hardin66/> |
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Several days later, on December 1, a handful of Americans in Bexar convinced Cos to allow them free passage from the city. Although they had promised to leave the country, the men, including [[Samuel Maverick]],<ref name=barr41>Barr (1990, p. 41.</ref> instead joined the Texian Army and provided information about the Mexican defenses and the low morale within the town. Buoyed by their Grass Fight victory, on December 5 the Texians launched an attack on Bexar;<ref name=barr42>Barr (1990, p. 42.</ref> Cos surrendered on December 9.<ref name=barr56>Barr (1990), p. 56.</ref> As a condition of their [[parole#Prisoners of war|parole]], the Mexican troops were forced to leave the province, leaving the Texas colonists in full control.<ref name=barr64>Barr (1990), p. 64.</ref> |
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==See also== |
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*[[List of Texas Revolution battles]] |
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*[[Timeline of the Texas Revolution]] |
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==Footnotes== |
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{{reflist|3}} |
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==References== |
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*{{citation|last= Barr |first= Alwyn |title =Texans in Revolt: The Battle for San Antonio, 1835 |publisher= University of Texas Press |place= Austin, TX|year= 1990|isbn= 978-0292770423 }} |
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*{{citation|last=Edmondson|first=J.R.|title=The Alamo Story: From Early History to Current Conflicts|publisher=Republic of Texas Press |place=Plano, TX|isbn= 978-0585241067|year= 2000}} |
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*{{citation|last=Groneman|first=Bill|title=Battlefields of Texas |publisher=Republic of Texas Press |place= Plano, TX |year= 1998 |isbn= 978-1556225710 }} |
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*{{citation|last=Hardin|first=Stephen L.|year=1994|publisher=University of Texas Press |place= Austin, TX |title= Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution |isbn= 978-0292731028}} |
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*{{citation|last= Manchaca|first= Martha|title=Recovering History, Constructing Race: The Indian, Black, and White Roots of Mexican Americans|series=The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Series in Latin American and Latino Art and Culture|publisher=University of Texas Press |place= Austin, TX |year= 2001 |isbn= 978-0292752542}} |
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*{{citation|last1= Todish |first1= Timothy J. |last2= Todish |first2= Terry |last3= Spring |first3= Ted |title= Alamo Sourcebook, 1836: A Comprehensive Guide to the Battle of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution |publisher= Eakin Press |year=1998 |place= Austin, TX |isbn= 978-1571681522 }} |
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==External links== |
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* A letter from [http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/republic/grass-1.html William H. Jack to Edward Burleson (November 27, 1835)] describing the battle, from the Texas State Library and Archives website. |
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{{featured article}} |
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[[Category:Battles of the Texas Revolution]] |
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[[Category:Conflicts in 1835]] |
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[[es:Batalla del Pasto]] |
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[[it:Grass Fight]] |
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[[ja:グラス・ファイト]] |
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Revision as of 01:59, 11 October 2008
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