Today, the Texas Centennial Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin remembers the Battle of Nacogdoches, August 2, 1832.
From the History of Texas by Henderson K. Yoakum, published in 1856:
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At the beginning of the military display in Texas, the Mexican commandants had written home that the object of the Texans was a separation from Mexico; and these reports received credit among the officers of the “Liberating army.”
Colonel Jose Antonio Mexia, with a squadron of five vessels, having on board four hundred men, sailed from Tampico with orders to reduce Matamoras, then in possession of the partisans of Bustamente, and afterward to chastise the Texan revolters.
Arriving at Brasos Santiago, he came to an agreement with Colonel Guerra, the commandant at Matamoras, who was induced to espouse the cause of Santa Anna; and, on the 14th of July, Mexia sailed for the mouth of the Brasos, where he anchored on the 16th, bringing with him Colonel Stephen F. Austin, on his return from the legislature.
Mexia immediately addressed a letter to John Austin, enclosing a copy of the agreement made with Guerra at Matamoras, stating the object of his visit to Texas, and what would have been his course had the late movements in that department had for their object its dismemberment from Mexico.
Captain Austin, in his reply, set forth in a manly spirit the wrongs of the Texans inflicted by the military, and declared the adherence of his people to the Mexican confederation — affirming that “they were Mexicans by adoption, were so in heart, and would so remain; that if the laws had granted to them the honorable title of ‘citizens,’ they wished that title should be respected: and that they should be governed by the authorities established by the constitution of the state.”
All these things being in accordance with the republican views of Colonel Mexia — for he was a sincere republican — a deputation of the citizens of Brasoria waited on him, on board the “Santa Anna,” and invited him to proceed with Colonel S. F. Austin to the town.
They were accordingly conducted to Brasoria, where Colonel Mexia was presented by the committee from Turtle bayou with the resolutions of the meeting at that place on the 13th of June.
The proceedings of the day closed with a dinner, in which many sentiments were drunk indicative of the temper of the Texans.
The ayuntamiento of San Felipe de Austin took advantage of the presence of Colonel Mexia, and of the political chief of Bexar, Don Ramon Musquez — who had visited that town for the purpose of investigating the difficulties in question — to ascertain the sentiments of all the colonists, and present them to those functionaries in legal form.
This they did on the 27th of July, 1832.
After denouncing the calumnies that had been circulated in Mexico against the loyalty of Texas, the ayuntamiento charged the late outbreaks to ” the tyrannical and illegal acts of Colonel Bradburn;” they solemnly adhered to the principles of the republican party headed by Santa Anna; they disclaimed having in view any other object than to “contribute in sustaining the constitution, and the true dignity and decorum of the national flag.”
They further declared that the general and state constitutions ought to be religiously observed as the only guaranty for public tranquility and national freedom.
After denouncing a large standing army, and the usurpations of Bustamente, they ordered that a copy of their proceedings should be sent by Colonel Mexia to Santa Anna, and a like copy by Musquez to the state legislature.
Colonel Mexia then returned with his fleet and forces to Matamoras, taking with him such of the Mexican soldiers in Texas as were disposed to act against Bustamente.
Previous to his departure, however, he had addressed a communication to Colonel Piedras, the commandant at Nacogdoches, asking his adherence to the party of Santa Anna.
This was refused. It was known to the citizens of Nacogdoches that Colonel Don Jose de las Piedras was opposed to Santa Anna, and that he was at heart a monarchist.
His officers were also generally adverse to him in politics; but they feared to take any steps in opposition to his authority.
During the latter days of July, 1832, the civil authorities of Nacogdoches communicated with those of Aes bayou, Teneha, and Bevil; and it was agreed to unite in compelling the Mexican force at Nacogdoches to declare for the constitution of 1824, or else to fight.
Accordingly, the troops from these settlements concentrated on the last day of July; and, on the night between the 1st and 2d of August, they encamped directly east of the town, and all the families evacuated the place.
After a conference between the civil and military authorities, Isaac W. Burton, Philip A. Sublett, and Henry W. Augustin, were appointed a committee to wait on Colonel Piedras, and present to him the alternative agreed on.
He chose to fight.
The committee reported his answer to the Texan forces, then amounting to about three hundred men.
They elected James W. Bullock, of San Augustine, to the command, and, at noon on the 2d of August, marched into Nacogdoches, where they maneuvered for some time, waiting to be attacked; but, finding that the enemy did not show himself, they advanced into the centre of the town.
When a little north of the stone house, they were suddenly charged by the Mexican cavalry, numbering about one hundred men.
The latter fired and wheeled, and received a round from the Texan rifles as they retired.
In this charge the Mexicans killed Don Encarnacion Chirino, the alcalde of the town.
The Texans then took possession of the houses on the north and east sides of the square, and, whenever any of the enemy showed themselves, they were shot.
The Mexicans made one sortie in the evening.
It was commanded by a young officer who was known to be friendly to the Texans and to their cause, and who had shown his friendship for them in the Fredonian troubles of 1827.
The Texans spared him. With the repulse of this sortie, the fighting ceased.
During the night, Piedras and his troops evacuated the place, leaving behind him his killed and wounded, public stores, and clothing. His ammunition he had thrown into the wells.
Colonel James Bowie, who was engaged in this action, was dispatched, with a few chosen men, to pass by the retreating Mexicans, and give them a warm reception as they crossed the Angelina, twenty miles distant.
He succeeded in this, by taking the lower road. As the advanced guard of the enemy, commanded by Sergeant Marcos, rode into the water, and stopped to allow their horses to drink, the Americans fired on them. Marcos fell.
The Americans then drew back, and the Mexican troops proceeded on their way to a house on the hill west of the river, where they passed the night.
Bowie’s men, twenty in number, encamped a mile below.
The next morning, upon a demand to surrender, Colonel Piedras turned over the command to Major Francisco Medina, who declared immediately in favor of the constitution of 1824.
The Mexican loss in this battle was forty-one killed and as many wounded, while that of the Texans was but three killed and five wounded.
The prisoners, three hundred and ten in number, were sent, under the care of Colonel Bowie, to San Felipe.
Colonel Piedras was placed in charge of Captain Asa M. Edwards, to be by him delivered to Colonel Mexia at Anahuac.
On the way, Edwards received news of the sailing of Mexia for Matamoras; he therefore took Piedras to Colonel S. F. Austin, by whom he was forwarded to Tampico.
The Texans, in order to reduce the entire department of Texas into acquiescence with the measures adopted by them, began to assemble at Gonzales; but the intelligence arrived that the state of Coahuila and Texas had come into the plan, whereupon the towns all submitted, and the people returned to their homes.
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The Texas Centennial Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin shows with a map of Texas, circa 1835.
