A Very Texan Battle

If you’ve ever been to Texas or known someone from there, you’re probably aware that it has a distinctive national character. I say “national” because Texas was once its own nation, something that we Texans are proud of and like to work into the conversation whenever we can. In fact, pride, bordering on arrogance, is one of the chief traits of that national character, along with determination, optimism, confidence, friendliness, and an independent spirit that chafes at being told what to do. The Texas Revolution put all these qualities on full display. The truly amazing thing about the Texas Revolution is not so much that the Texians (as they called themselves back then) fought back against the tyranny of Santa Ana’s regime, but that they ever managed to organize themselves into a cohesive force capable of winning. In the 1830s, when the Revolution took place, many militia soldiers were still electing their officers rather than having them appointed from above. A group of volunteers from the town of Columbia was unable to agree on a single captain and instead elected a committee. “We are all captains and have our views,” said one of the Columbians. In the words of H.W. Brands, author of Lone Star Nation, this statement “might have been the motto of the Texas army.”

The Campaigns of the Texas Revolution

This independent spirit, coupled with courage and gumption, led the Texians to some stunning victories and some heartbreaking defeats. But the battle I want to write about today was just plain embarrassing.

It happened during the first siege of the Alamo, when the Mexicans, not the Texians, were the defenders. After weeks of inaction, the Texians received word of a Mexican column approaching San Antonio from the south. Somehow they got the idea that the column was carrying silver to pay the Mexican soldiers. Bored with the siege, and not averse to acquiring some booty, the soldiers put together a force of about forty men, cavalry and infantry, with James Bowie at their head. The Mexican column outnumbered the Texian force three or four to one, but the Texians attacked anyway. Reinforcements came from both sides. Finally, under cover of artillery fire from the town, the Mexican column escaped, leaving their pack animals behind. The Texians opened the packs, only to find them stuffed with grass. The relief column wasn’t bringing payroll for the Mexican soldiers, but fodder for the horses and mules in the town.

This incident, called the Grass Fight, did not improve morale among the Texian troops. But it wasn’t the end of the war. Eventually, General Houston was able to pull his mass of undisciplined men into something resembling a regular army, and hold it together long enough to win a decisive victory at San Jacinto.

The Battle of San Jacinto, by Henry Arthur McArdle

My latest Harlequin Heartwarming book, Hill Country Hero, explores what might have happened if a load of Mexican silver really had made it into Texas during the revolution. Paralegal and historical author Annalisa Cavazos is finally cutting ties with her lifelong crush, Javi Mendoza—being friends is just too painful. But when Javi finds an artifact at his classic car shop that leads to a discovery for Annalisa’s book, they’re thrown together on a search that just might rewrite Limestone Springs, Texas, history—and their feelings for each other.