12/19/1832: San Antonio presents grievances to Mexican state legislature
On this day in 1832, San Antonio became the first Texas town to present a list of grievances to the legislature of Coahuila and Texas.
The document known as the Bexar Remonstrance was signed by Jose Angel Navarro, alcalde of San Antonio. It sought repeal of that part of the Law of April 6, 1830, banning immigration from the United States. It also sought the separation of Texas from Coahuila.
12/19/1842: Somervell expedition disbands
On this day in 1842, the Somervell expedition disbanded.
The Somervell expedition was a punitive expedition against Mexico in retaliation for three predatory raids made by Mexican armies upon Texas in 1842: Antonio Canales Rosillo's descent upon Lipantitlan and the captures of San Antonio by Rafael Vasquez and Adrian Woll. On October 3 President Sam Houston ordered Alexander Somervell to organize the militia and volunteers and invade Mexico. Numbering approximately 700 men, the expedition left San Antonio on November 25 and captured Laredo on December 8. Joseph L. Bennett and 185 men returned home on December 10. Somervell, with a little over 500 men, forced the capitulation of Guerrero, but on December 19, recognizing the failure of his expedition and fearing disaster, ordered his men to disband and return home by way of Gonzales. The Texans were so disappointed with the order to disband that only 189 men and officers obeyed; some 308 men under five captains and commanded by William S. Fisher continued to Mexico on the Mier expedition.
Topic: 12/19/25 A Two Fer! (Read 19 times)