Texas Black Bean Incident

Fredrick Remington captured this event in his painting, "The Drawing of the Black Bean".  I'd forgotten about this episode (I didn't get to take Texas history since we lived in Oklahoma during the Junior High years [NOT called "Middle School" in those days {and I prefer Junior High --- goes with Junior Varsity, which we don't have any more either}].)  I was reminded of the story while reading the Bigfoot Wallace chapter in J. Frank Dobie's book, Tales of Old Time Texas.  

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I'd forgotten that after the Battle of San Jacinto and the Treaties of Velasco in 1836, Santa Anna and the Mexican Army did not stop invading Texas.  The Black Bean Incident followed from the Texans response to the Mexican invasions of Texas.  In 1842, Alexander Somervell, a customs officer from Matagorda Island, attacked the Mexican Army, recaptured Laredo, and took Guerrero, Mexico.  Afterwards, five Texas captains and their men refused to return to Texas and continued the attack at Cuidad Meir.  Outnumbered, the Texans were defeated and marched towards Mexico City via Matamoros and Monterrey (for punishment).  

In February, 1843, the Texans escaped, but 176 were recaptured and sent to Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, where Santa Anna ordered their execution.  The governor refused and the prisoners were moved to Rancho Salado.  Through diplomatic efforts, Santa Anna agreed to compromise: only one in ten would die (i.e., those who drew a black bean).