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DISTURBANCE
OF 1832 by
Archie P. McDonald | |
Late in
the spring of 1832, Colonel Jose de las Piedras, commander of Mexican forces stationed
in Nacogdoches, learned of
a "disturbance" in Anahuac
involving Texian colonists and his counterpart in command there, Juan (John) Davis
Bradburn, an American in Mexican military service.
Piedras and Bradburn
were part of the command known as the Northern Provinces, and the new centrist
government of Mexico questioned the loyalty of the Americans flooding into Texas.
Through the Law of April 6, 1830, the Mexican congress ended American immigration
and imposed other hardships of colonists already in Texas.
Piedras learned
that Bradburn had arrested two "trouble makers," William B. Travis and Patrick
Jack, and that armed men had massed to force their release. He rode to Anahuac
and learned that the Americans had Bradburn¹s men outnumbered. To stop a battle,
Piedras fired Bradburn and ordered Travis and Jack released.
Once more
in Nacogdoches, Piedras tried to avoid another disturbance, but his method
of doing so precipitated the very thing he sought to avoid: he ordered men in
the area to surrender their guns. Doubtless few of the Mexicans could have recited
the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution about the "right to keep
and bear arms," and in any case the Constitution did not apply in Mexican Texas.
But they knew the amendment's spirit, and their guns were necessary for self defense
and for hunting, so they brought them to town Piedras' policy.
Most of
the Texians involved in the Battle of Nacogdoches came from Ayish Bayou
settlements. They massed on Pine Hill, on the edge of town, and elected James
W. Bullock their commander. They approached Piedras' strongholds in the Old
Stone Fort and another structure located diagonally across the town square
known as the Red House. Both buildings were fired upon but held throughout the
remainder of the day.
Under cover of night, Piedras led his men west,
but they were overtaken the next day at the Angelina River and after another skirmish
Piedras surrendered. Piedras and other officers were returned to Nacogdoches,
and later conducted to Velasco and released; his men were marched to San Antonio
by James Bowie, who had arrived shortly after the battle, and also released.
Their departure meant the end to a Mexican military presence in East Texas.
It also meant that Texians were one step closer to declaring their independence
from Mexico.
All
Things Historical >
April
6-12, 2003 column
A syndicated column in over 40 East Texas newspapers
This column is provided as a public service by the East Texas Historical Association.
Archie P. McDonald is director of the Association and author of more than 20 books
on Texas. | | |
