10-27a Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña

Today In Texas History On the trail to Texas independence. Oct 27, 1835 - Austin sent Bowie and Fannin, with 92 soldiers, many of them members of the New Orleans Grays who had just arrived in Texas, to find a defensible spot near Bexar for the Texian Army to rest and for a base of operations from which to launch a siege. After choosing a site near Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña (just south of San Antonio), despite orders to return that day, the scouting party camped for the night and sent a courier to notify Austin. After learning that the Texian Army was divided, Cos sent Ugartechea with 275 soldiers to attack the Texians camped at Concepción. The Texians took cover in a horseshoe-shaped gully; their good defensive position, longer firing range, and better ammunition helped them to repel several Mexican attacks, and the Mexican soldiers retreated just 30 minutes before the remainder of the Texian Army arrived. Historians estimate that between 14 and 76 Mexican soldiers were killed, while only one Texian soldier died. Photos: Current day Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña; James Fannin.