History

The Grass Fight of 1835: A Huge Disappointment in the Texas Revolution

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Though the actual declaration of Texas Independence would not happen until 1836, tensions remained high in the preceding years. The war officially broke in October 1835, and one of the skirmishes that occurred was the Grass Fight of 1835. This little-known incident resulted in a great disappointment for the Texans, but it marked one of the early battles in the Texas Revolution.

The Siege of San Antonio

Siege of Bexar

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

From 1803 until the end of 1835, Mexican troops used the Alamo as their base in Bexar, later known as San Antonio. But during the middle of October 1835, Texan troops laid siege to the Alamo, which lasted through December. Despite being besieged, the Mexicans had to still pay their troops, and that led to the events of the Grass Fight of 1835.

The Grass Fight Breaks Out

Colonel James Bowie led the Texans in the Grass Fight of 1835

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Hoping to break the morale of the Mexicans at the Alamo, the Texans sought to intercept a shipment of silver going to Bexar. Their moment came on the morning of November 28, 1835. Scout Erastus “Deaf” Smith took the news to the Texan camp that he saw pack mules approaching the area. Thinking these mules carried the silver stores, Jim Bowie took a group of men to intercept the mules. William Jack followed with additional troops to take the mule trains, resulting in the Grass Fight of 1835.

Consequences

The Texans Expected Silver Not Grass as a Result of the Grass Fight of 1835

Photo: Pixabay/tookapic

When the Texans attacked the mule train, fighting broke out. Losses on the Mexican side included 14 wounded and three killed, whereas only four Texans were wounded in the fighting with none killed. Once the Texans took the mules’ packs and unloaded them, they discovered the awful secret. They had been fighting for nothing but grass to feed the Mexican army’s animals. This gave the skirmish its name of the Grass Fight of 1835.

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