11-01 Siege of Bexar Map

Today in Texas History On the trail to Texas independence. Nov 1, 1835 – The Texans begin the Siege of Bexar. Having arrived four days earlier, Austin decided to wait on reinforcements before attempting an assault on Bexar. Austin sent a note to Gen. Martín Perfecto de Cós, suggesting that the Mexican army surrender. Cós returned the note unopened, with a message that he refused to correspond with rebels. Austin sent men to reconnoiter the town's perimeter and discovered that the fortifications within the city were stronger than the Texians had believed. He soon realized that, even with the additional men, his army was not large enough to prevail in a full assault on Bexar. The Texians thus prepared for a siege, looking for a position that was, in the words of historian Stephen L. Hardin, "near Bexar, yet defensible against a sortie; in a position to block enemy communications arriving daily". Photo: Map of the siege/battle area.