Historic Laredo

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This panoramic photograph of an
encampment at Ft. McIntosh was
taken around 1924.
WEBB COUNTY HERITAGE FOUNDATION
International University historian Dr. Jerry
Thompson in Historic Laredo and in other of his
writings, as well as in Dr. Stan Green’s Monograph
No. 8: Laredo, Antonio Zapata, & The Republic of the
Río Grande.]
THE BATTLE FOR TEXAS
With the revolutionary forces defeated, the
Centralist government of Mexico renewed its efforts
to regain Texas. General Rafael Vasquez led an army
of 400 Mexican soldiers across the Río Grande
above Laredo and moved to enter San Antonio. A
column of 130 soldiers under Lt. Col. Ramon Valera
crossed at Mier and took Goliad and Refugio.
Four-hundred Texans prepared for an expedition
against Matamoros and were met at a bend in
the Nueces River by now-Centralist devotee
Antonio Canales, former commander of the army
of the Republic of the Río Grande. Canales claimed
victory at Matamoros. An army of Centralist troops
commanded by General Adrian Woll took San
Antonio and flew the Mexican flag over the city.
In November of 1842, Laredoans were unwilling
hosts to about 1,200 Texans of the Southwestern
Army of Operations led by General Alexander
Somervell, an outfit that finds its name in history as
the Mier Expedition. The Texans, in preparation for
pursuit of the Mexican army, wanted food and
clothing. To the displeasure of the oppressive visitors,
Laredoans had secreted away many of the
town’s stores and surpluses. Though they camped
south of Laredo where Chacón Creek and the Río
Grande converge, angry troops returned to Laredo
to sack the town, helping themselves to the contents
of stores and buildings that they entered by force.
Enroute to Dolores and San Ygnacio, some of
the Texans broke from the ranks and headed back
home. The rest pressed toward Guerrero. An
advance party of the Texans met the Mexican army
led by Antonio Canales. Fearing a trap, the timorous
Canales did not engage the Texans.
Guerrerenses offered the army five days’ rations.
Somervell refused to allow his men to enter the
city and issued an order calling on the army to
return to Texas. The majority of the troops refused
to return and struck mutiny. About 200 did return
to Texas and the remaining troops selected William
S. Fisher their new leader.
Oblivious that a large contingent of the
Mexican army moved toward them, the Texans
moved along the north bank of the river toward
Mier. The Texans issued a levy for supplies from
the residents of Mier. The armies of Canales and
General Ampudia joined forces at Mier and took
the goods that had been prepared for the Texans.
The Texans fought to take the plaza of the town
and found that they were up against a formidable
Mexican army. When the battle of Mier was over,
the Texans had surrendered and become prisoners
of the Mexican army. They were marched downriver
to Matamoros and then to Saltillo and San
Luis Potosí. Near Salado, the Texans made a break.
Only four made it back to Texas, and the rest were
captured or gave themselves up. Santa Anna
ordered up his famous black bean lottery to see
who would be spared and who would face the firing
squad. Those who survived became members
of a work gang on a road near Mexico City. they
were later sent to a prison in Veracruz. Some of the
Texans died and some managed to escape. The
10 ✦ HISTORIC LAREDO