Remember Battle of Concepción (Texas)

San Antonio Express News ^ | 30 Oct 2010 | Scott Huddleston

[Racehorse]

For many San Antonians, it's a forgotten battle of the Texas Revolution.

But historians say the Battle of Concepción resulted in the first Texian fatality in the war, and emboldened the rebel forces to mount a campaign to capture San Antonio, including a heavily fortified mission compound known as the Alamo.

The battle near Mission Concepción on the morning of Oct. 28, 1835, began a siege that ended with a surrender by Mexican Gen. Martín Perfecto de Cos after the Battle of Bexar about six weeks later. That set the stage for the famous siege and March 6, 1836 Battle of the Alamo.

Alamo historian Bruce Winders said the Battle of Concepción “reinforced the rebels' drive to take San Antonio,” making the town a focal point in the war for independence.

“Had they been defeated, the siege may have ended right there. However, they had beaten a larger force, and it convinced them that Cos could be driven out of town,” he said.

-- Snip --

Two major figures from the war, Jim Bowie and James Fannin, led a scouting party of some 90 volunteers who encountered a larger Mexican force on that foggy morning by the San Antonio River. The Texians are said to have benefited from better weapons, a cover of trees and low terrain by the river where they could pull back for cover to reload.

Historians believe most of the Texians were on the east bank, just south of where Interstate 10 now crosses the river, and fired south toward the mission and the current site of Concepción Park.

The Mexican troops retreated after about 30 minutes. Recorded accounts put their losses at 14 killed, though some of the 39 wounded died later.

[Ranald S. MacKenzie]

Mission Concepcion, San Antonio

[La Enchiladita]

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[Redbob]

“On October 13, the newly created Texian Army under Stephen F. Austin had marched towards Bexar, where General Martín Perfecto de Cos commanded the remaining Mexican soldiers in the Texas. On October 27, Austin sent Bowie and Fannin, with 90 soldiers, to find a defensible spot near Bexar for the Texian Army to rest.
After choosing a site near Mission Concepción, 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.

[Redbob]

“On October 13, the newly created Texian Army under Stephen F. Austin had marched towards Bexar, where General Martín Perfecto de Cos commanded the remaining Mexican soldiers in the Texas. On October 27, Austin sent Bowie and Fannin, with 90 soldiers, to find a defensible spot near Bexar for the Texian Army to rest.
After choosing a site near Mission Concepción, 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.

[SwinneySwitch]

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