Battle of Nacogdoches

Battle of Nacogdoches
Date August 2- August 3, 1832 Location Nacogdoches, Texas, USA Result Texan victory, Mexican army expelled from East Texas
Belligerents
Mexico	Texan rebels
Commanders and leaders
Col.José de las Piedras Capt.Francisco Medina	James W. Bullock James Bowie
Strength
387	350
Casualties and losses
47 killed, 40 wounded & 300 captured	4 killed, 3 wounded

The Battle of Nacogdoches culminated on August 2, 1832, after a group of Texan colonists resisted an order issued in July by the commander of the Mexican Army at Nacogdoches, Texas to surrender their arms. The situation soon escalated into a major battle.

Background

Numerous communities advocated support for the Mexican federalists, who were revolting against the central government. The Texans thought they had found their champion when Antonio López de Santa Anna declared against the Centralist regime in 1832.

The Mexican army commander in Nacogdoches, José de las Piedras, after reviewing all that occurred during the Anahuac Disturbances, had issued an order that all residents in his area surrender their arms. James Bowie heard of the situation and cut short a visit to Natchez in July 1832 to return to Texas.^[1] The city officials of Nacogdoches resisted the order and soon organized a militia.

Call to arms

On July 28, they issued a call for help from the local settlements. Messengers were sent out requesting military assistance. Samuel S. Davis and Bailey Anderson, Jr. brought men to Nacogdoches from the area surrounding the Ayish Bayou , and John M. Bradley brought men from the San Augustine area, and James Bradshaw brought a company from the Neches settlement. Parties from the Sabine and Shelby settlements also sent assistance.^[1] On August 1, a force of about 300 met up at Pine Hill and elected James W. Bullock of Attoyac Bayou as their captain.^[2]

Conflict

On the morning of August 2, 1832, Bowie joined the group of Texans and they marched into Nacogdoches to voice their demands to Piedras and to declare favor for Santa Anna.^[3] Piedras declined to rescind his order and to support Santa Anna.

The group returned in the evening and before they had reached the building housing the city officials, they were attacked by a force of 100 Mexican cavalry. The Texans returned fire, but some eventually fell back. Fighting continued and the cavalry retreated. 100 Texans initiated a siege of the garrison.^[3] As house to house fighting progressed, the Texans took possession of several buildings and the Old Stone Fort. With Mexican casualties escalating, the Mexican Army took refuge in the main fort. A second battle line began to form from the north, that drove the cavalry from the Mexican headquarters known as Old Red House, while Redlanders arriving from San Augustine approached from the rear. During the night, the Mexican army evacuated from the city.

On August 3, James Carter, Bowie and 15 companions ambushed the fleeing army on the Angelina River and Piedras fled to a nearby home. His men turned against him and Captain Francisco Medina took charge. Medina declared to be federalist and surrendered Piedras and 300 troops to the Texans. Piedras had lost some forty-seven men killed, with forty plus wounded. The Texans marched the rest of the soldiers back to Nacogdoches and on to San Antonio, where they were released. Asa Edwards escorted Piedras to Stephen F. Austin at San Felipe. Piedras was paroled and sent to the Mexican interior. The Texans suffered three killed and four wounded, one mortally.^[1]

Citations

1. Archie P. McDonald, "NACOGDOCHES, BATTLE OF," Handbook of Texas Online , accessed June 22, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
2. TAMU, The Confrontation at Nacogdoches, August 1832, from John Henry Brown, History of Texas, 1898
3. Hopewell (1994), p.92

References

• Hopewell, Clifford (1994). James Bowie Texas Fighting Man: A Biography. Austin, TX: Eakin Press. ISBN 0-89015-881-9.