Grass Fight facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grass Fight |
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| Part of the Texas Revolution | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Texian Rebels |  Mexico |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| James Bowie William Jack |
Unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| approximately 140 cavalry and infantry | 100–150 cavalry and infantry 1 cannon |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 4 wounded 1 deserted |
3 killed 14 wounded |
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The Grass Fight was a small but interesting battle during the Texas Revolution. It happened between the Mexican Army and the Texian Army on November 26, 1835. The fight took place just south of San Antonio de Béxar in what was then the Mexican area of Texas.
The Texas Revolution had started on October 2. By the end of that month, the Texians had begun a siege of Béxar. A siege is when an army surrounds a place to try and take it over. Béxar was home to the largest Mexican army base in the area. Many Texian soldiers got bored during the siege and went home. But new adventurers from the United States arrived to join the fight.
On November 26, a Texian scout named Deaf Smith brought exciting news. He reported seeing a Mexican pack train – a group of mules carrying supplies. About 50 to 100 Mexican soldiers were with it. The Texian camp believed the pack train was carrying silver to pay the Mexican soldiers. They also thought it had money to buy more supplies.
The Texian commander, Edward Burleson, ordered Colonel James Bowie to take about 45 to 50 horsemen to stop the train. Another 100 foot soldiers followed them. When the battle started, Mexican General Martín Perfecto de Cos sent more soldiers from Béxar. The Texians fought back several attacks from the Mexican soldiers. Finally, the Mexican forces went back to Béxar.
When the Texians checked the abandoned pack train, they found something surprising. Instead of silver, the mules were carrying freshly cut grass! This grass was meant to feed the Mexican Army's horses. That's how this small fight got its name, the Grass Fight. Four Texians were hurt. Historians say three Mexican soldiers were killed and 14 were wounded.
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What Led to the Grass Fight?
The Texas Revolution officially began on October 2, 1835. This was when Texas colonists attacked Mexican forces at the Battle of Gonzales. After this battle, many colonists gathered in Gonzales. They wanted to end Mexico's control over Texas.
On October 11, the Texian volunteers chose Stephen F. Austin as their commander. Austin had brought the first English-speaking settlers to Texas. A few days later, Austin led his new Texian Army toward San Antonio de Béxar. There, General Martín Perfecto de Cos was in charge of the Mexican army at the Alamo. By late October, the Texians had started their siege of Béxar.
The Battle Begins
At 10:00 a.m. on November 26, the Texian scout Erastus "Deaf" Smith rode into camp. He reported that a train of mules and horses was only about 5 miles (8 km) from Béxar. About 50 to 100 Mexican soldiers were with the train. For days, the Texians had heard rumors that the Mexican Army was expecting a shipment of silver and gold. This money was supposedly to pay their troops and buy supplies.
The Texians had been fighting without pay. Most of them wanted to rush out and grab the valuable treasure. Commander Burleson calmed them down. He then ordered Colonel James Bowie to take 35 to 40 mounted men to check it out. Bowie was told to only attack if it was necessary. But Bowie chose the army's 12 best shooters for his group. This made it clear he planned to find a reason to fight. Burleson stopped the whole army from following. He sent Colonel William Jack with 100 foot soldiers to support Bowie's men.
The Fight Itself
About 1 mile (1.6 km) from Béxar, Bowie and his men saw the Mexican soldiers. They were crossing a dry ditch. Bowie's men charged the Mexican group, scattering the mules. The horsemen briefly shot at each other. Then, both sides got off their horses and hid in dry streambeds. The Mexican forces attacked back but were pushed away.
In Béxar, General Cos saw the battle starting. He sent 50 foot soldiers and 1 cannon to help his cavalry get back to town safely. The Texian foot soldiers also heard the first shots. They rushed toward the battle, even wading through water that was waist-deep. They reached the battlefield during a quiet moment. Because it was so quiet, they couldn't tell where the Mexican troops were. The Texians were surprised to find themselves stuck between the Mexican cavalry and their foot soldiers.
As the Mexican troops started firing, the Texian foot soldiers dropped to the ground. Colonel Thomas Rusk led 15 men in an attack on the closest Mexican horsemen. When those horsemen ran away, the Texian foot soldiers were able to find cover.
The Texian horsemen joined their foot soldiers. Burleson's father, James Burleson, led a charge on the Mexican position. He yelled, "Boys, we have but once to die, they are here in the ditch. Charge them!" The Mexican cannon fired three times, pushing the Texians back. Three times the Mexican horsemen tried to take a small hill to give their cannon a better spot. Each time, they were pushed back. Then the Mexican foot soldiers attacked. Rusk wrote that these men "advanced with great coolness and bravery." They kept strict order even under heavy fire. The Mexican foot soldiers stopped their charge when they saw Texian James Swisher leading some horsemen to try and capture the Mexican cannon. The Mexican forces then went back toward Béxar.
What Happened After the Fight?
Four Texians were wounded in the battle. One soldier left during the fight. In his reports, Commander Burleson said 15 Mexican soldiers were killed and 7 wounded. Bowie claimed that 60 Mexican soldiers had been killed. However, historian Alwyn Barr says that only 3 Mexican soldiers were killed and 14 were wounded. Most of these were from the cavalry (horsemen). Burleson praised all his officers for how they acted. Bowie received the most praise.
The Texians captured 40 horses and mules. They were surprised to find that the saddlebags did not contain silver or gold. Instead, the mules were carrying freshly cut grass. This grass was for the Mexican horses stuck inside Béxar. This is how the battle got its name!
Even though this fight didn't bring valuable treasure, it did help unite the Texian Army. Just days before, the army had been very divided. They didn't want to risk a long siege or a direct attack. But after their success at the Grass Fight, the Texian soldiers started to believe they could win against the Béxar army, even though they were outnumbered. The Texians thought that General Cos must have been desperate to send troops outside the safety of Béxar.
A few days later, on December 1, some Americans in Béxar convinced Cos to let them leave the city freely. They had promised to leave the country. But these men, including Samuel Maverick, instead joined the Texian Army. They gave the Texians important information about the Mexican defenses and how low morale was inside the town.
Feeling confident after their Grass Fight victory, the Texians attacked Béxar on December 5. General Cos surrendered on December 9. As part of their agreement to leave, the Mexican troops had to leave the province. This left the Texas colonists in full control.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla del Pasto para niños
