Deaf Smith

Today in Texas History On the trail to Texas independence. The Lone Star Republic -Don Gray, reporting from San Antonio de Bexar, Texas, November 25, 1835 TEXIANS CAPTURE GRASS, NOT SILVER. THE "GRASS FIGHT" A few days ago, spies reported to the Texians around San Antonio that a shipment of silver was coming from Mexico. According the report, the silver was being transported on a train of pack mules on its way to pay the soldiers of Mexican General Cos, who currently occupies the town. The Texas scouts kept a close watch for the convoy so that the payload might be intercepted. This morning, Erastus (Deaf) Smith, while on scout patrol, discovered some mules with packs approaching. Supposing this to be the expected train, he reported his discovery to the Texian camp outside of San Antonio. A group under Jim Bowie was first to intercept the mule train and a skirmish began. As reinforcements under Colonel Ed Burleson arrived, the fight was well underway. The Texans pursued as the enemy dispersed. The Mexicans abandoned their mules as they fled. However, the Texians soon found that the packs were filled with grass, rather than the expected silver. As the Texans later learned from their captives, the Mexicans had gone out the night before to gather grass to feed their horses. We lost one man and two wounded during the fight. The Mexican loss was much larger. -Don Gray Portraits: Mexican Gen Martín Perfecto de Cós, Captain Erastus (Deaf) Smith, Colonel Jim Bowie, Colonel Edward Burleson.