The Storming of Bexar
THE STORMING OF BEXAR
FIRST OF FOUR MAJOR ENGAGEMENTS OF THE WAR FOR
TEXAS INDEPENDENCE, THIS SANGUINARY BATTLE ENDED A
SIEGE OF SIX WEEKS. THE ASSAULT BEGAN AT DAWN, DEC. 5.
300 VOLUNTEERS (TEXANS, MEXICANS,AND AMERICANS) UNDER
COLS. FRANK W. JOHNSON AND BENJAMIN R. MILAM ATTACKED
1,200 MEXICAN TROOPS COMMANDED BY GEN. MARTIN P. DE
COS DEFENDING SAN ANTONIO, THEN KNOWN AS BEXAR.
TWO COLUMNS ADVANCED INTO THE STRONGLY FORTIFIED
TOWN ALONG ACEQUIA (NOW MAIN) AND SOLEDAD STREETS
GUIDED BY TOWNSMEN JOHN W. SMITH (FIRST MAYOR OF SAN
ANTONIO), HENDRICK ARNOLD (FAMOUS SCOUT AND FREE
NEGRO), "DEAF" SMITH (WHO HELPED DESTROY VINCE'S BRIDGE
AT BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO), AND SAMUEL A. MAVERICK (A
SIGNER OF THE TEXAS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE).
THE TEXANS GAINED THE "PRIEST'S HOUSE" DEC. 8 AFTER
BITTER HOUSE-TO-HOUSE FIGHTING. THIS MEXICAN STRONG
POINT DOMINATED MAIN PLAZA. COVERED BY A FUSILLADE
OF MUSKETRY, THE MEXICANS RETIRED TO THE ALAMO AND
SENT A WHITE FLAG TO THE PLAZA THE FOLLOWING DAY.
AN HONORABLE TRUCE WITH A BRAVE ENEMY WAS SIGNED
ON DEC. 10 IN THE "COS HOUSE" IN HISTORIC LA VILLITA.
LATER ENGAGEMENTS--FALL OF THE ALAMO AND MASSACRE
AT GOLIAD--WERE FOLLOWED BY FINAL VICTORY AND TEXAS
INDEPENDENCE AT SAN JACINTO, APRIL 21, 1836. (1971)
Submitted by @andreaop_ux