Post by Kevin Young on Jul 7, 2011 16:08:53 GMT -5
In 1817, Spanish troops under Governor (Colonel) Antonio Martinez engaged about 44 men, mostly Americans, in a pitch battle which is today known as the battle of the Perdido. The Spanish, after a hot engagement, defeated the Americans, killing or capturing all but four, and with reported losses at five killed, and about double the number wounded.
The action which took place a few miles north of where Fannin’s command would make their ill-fated stand in 1836, was actually part of an attempt by Spanish revolutionary Francisco Xavier Mina to invade Mexico on behalf of Mexican independence. Mina’s expedition landed in Tamaulipas and captured Soto la Marina, but was defeated at Venadito. Mina was eventually executed by Spanish authorities.
Mina’s forces captured Soto la Marina on 15 April 1817. A large number of his men were Americans, including Colonel Henry Perry, a veteran of the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition and the Battle of New Orleans. Perry, who commanded the expeditions Regiment of the Union, became convinced that Mina’s plans would not succeeded, and along with James Henry Gordon, broke off from Mina and march north towards Matagorda.
Perry’s force arrived outside the Presidio La Bahia (a site he knew very well) on 18 June 1817 and demanded the surrender of the garrison. Commandant Juan Castaneda refused and Perry march his force towards Coleto Creek. At the “falls of the Perdido” the Spanish, now with reinforcements from Bexar under the Governor, caught up with them. By all accounts, the Americans made a strong stand, eventually trying to fight their way out only to be defeated. Perry is reported to have shot himself and Gordon was killed in a brief sword fight with a Spanish officer.
A Texas Historical Marker for the event can be found on FM 2987 north of Highway 59 at the town of Fannin, Texas.
Of interest to those who enjoy material culture is that there is a list of equipment purchased and used by Mina’s Expedition and subsequently Perry’s men. This list can be found in W.S. Robinson’s account of the expedition that appeared in the December 1820 edition of The Analectic Magazine:
Guard of Honor: infantry officers, uniformed as such, armed with musket and bayonet.
Artillery: Brown coats, faced with red; four filed pieces, two six inch howitzers, and two eleven and a half in mortars.
Cavalry, Hussars: Scarlet hussar jackets, chacot and plume, armed with swords, light dragoon carbines, and pistols.
Cavalry, Dragoons: United States dragoon uniform, armed with sword, pistol, and lance.
Regiment of the Union: Uniform of the British 104th Regiment of infantry.
First Regiment of the Line: United States rifle uniforms.
Mina’s expedition found financial support in New York, Philadelphia, and in particular Baltimore, where these supplied were loaded. It can be determined that these supplies, at least in part, were issued, as at least four of the 104 New Brunswick Regiment pewter buttons have been found around Presidio La Bahia.
Short version of the whole story, but it is an interesting chapter.
The action which took place a few miles north of where Fannin’s command would make their ill-fated stand in 1836, was actually part of an attempt by Spanish revolutionary Francisco Xavier Mina to invade Mexico on behalf of Mexican independence. Mina’s expedition landed in Tamaulipas and captured Soto la Marina, but was defeated at Venadito. Mina was eventually executed by Spanish authorities.
Mina’s forces captured Soto la Marina on 15 April 1817. A large number of his men were Americans, including Colonel Henry Perry, a veteran of the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition and the Battle of New Orleans. Perry, who commanded the expeditions Regiment of the Union, became convinced that Mina’s plans would not succeeded, and along with James Henry Gordon, broke off from Mina and march north towards Matagorda.
Perry’s force arrived outside the Presidio La Bahia (a site he knew very well) on 18 June 1817 and demanded the surrender of the garrison. Commandant Juan Castaneda refused and Perry march his force towards Coleto Creek. At the “falls of the Perdido” the Spanish, now with reinforcements from Bexar under the Governor, caught up with them. By all accounts, the Americans made a strong stand, eventually trying to fight their way out only to be defeated. Perry is reported to have shot himself and Gordon was killed in a brief sword fight with a Spanish officer.
A Texas Historical Marker for the event can be found on FM 2987 north of Highway 59 at the town of Fannin, Texas.
Of interest to those who enjoy material culture is that there is a list of equipment purchased and used by Mina’s Expedition and subsequently Perry’s men. This list can be found in W.S. Robinson’s account of the expedition that appeared in the December 1820 edition of The Analectic Magazine:
Guard of Honor: infantry officers, uniformed as such, armed with musket and bayonet.
Artillery: Brown coats, faced with red; four filed pieces, two six inch howitzers, and two eleven and a half in mortars.
Cavalry, Hussars: Scarlet hussar jackets, chacot and plume, armed with swords, light dragoon carbines, and pistols.
Cavalry, Dragoons: United States dragoon uniform, armed with sword, pistol, and lance.
Regiment of the Union: Uniform of the British 104th Regiment of infantry.
First Regiment of the Line: United States rifle uniforms.
Mina’s expedition found financial support in New York, Philadelphia, and in particular Baltimore, where these supplied were loaded. It can be determined that these supplies, at least in part, were issued, as at least four of the 104 New Brunswick Regiment pewter buttons have been found around Presidio La Bahia.
Short version of the whole story, but it is an interesting chapter.