Museum Quality Americana
In the amazing history of the Texas Rangers there is not a more heart rendering story than that of the execution that took place in March of 1843. We had never seen an actual Texas Ranger account of “the Black Bean Affair” until we came across this first-hand account. Writing from Santiago Prison on May 3, 1843, Texas Ranger John Hoffer relates in graphic detail the horror he had witnessed. Here is some background information:
1. Our story involves men like Captain Sam Walker (whom the famous Colt “Walker” revolver was named after)… we placed a photo of Walker on our featured letter. Walker joined up with Captain Billingsley, Matthew Caldwell, Jack Hays, Henry McCulloch, William Fisher and our letter writer, John Hoffer. There had been several Mexican invasions of Texas in 1842 and San Antonio had been looted. Texas President Sam Houston had tried to keep a lid on the situation. He authorized General Somervell to take an expedition of 498 men down the Rio Grande to the town of Guerrero.
2. On December 18, 1842, Somervell decided to head back to San Antonio… however 189 of the 498 men refused to quit! They elected William Fisher their commander and continued on into Mexico.
3. On December 25, 1842, (now quoting from our John Hoffer’s letter) “Ampudia’s (Mexican General) force being much larger than we anticipated, they kept up a heavy fire of musketry and artillery during the whole night without our firing a gun and a loss on our part of but two. At day light, we commenced on those placed on the house tops with our rifles and as none of their persons was exposed except their heads, it amounted to perfect target shooting. The fight continued 17 hours when we had killed 450 and 275. Our loss was 11 killed and 21 wounded.”
4. “About 3 o’clock one of our men who had been taken prisoner by the enemy was seen advancing towards us with a white flag which induced us to believe the enemy had surrendered, when to out disappointment a demand of our surrender was made with this falsehood in addition that the enemy had received a large reinforcement which had such an effect on Col. Fisher and some other officers that an immediate surrender was made. At this time you could see one hundred good men in tears, begging their officers to continue the fight. We surrendered and were immediately marched off to prison...”
5. What do Texas Rangers do when they are captured? …they try to escape! The men were being held at the Rancho Salado. “We rose upon and dispersed the guard, 300 Infantry and Cavalry in about five minutes. Our loss was 4 killed and 4 wounded, the Mexicans a few more. We did not injure any but those who refused to surrender. About 9 o’clock A.M. on this day we formed, took up the march for home and marched 15 miles this day and night when we halted to refresh ourselves and horses. We secured about 150 muskets, 3000 cartridges and 80 horses, and mules. The next day we received information as to the course we ought to pursue, which we kept till dark, when we left the road and took to the mountains which proved to be our ruin as we were unable to obtain water for 7 days. We killed our horses but could not eat the meat on account of being without water. Our men being in such a weak state, they were compelled again to surrender to the enemy on these terms that we were to be taken immediately to water and treated as prisoners of war.”
6. They were marched back to the Rancho Salado, where they had over powered the guard. “…Here we were met by some officers of the government and two priests, had not been here long before they gave out that every 10th man was to be shot which was decided by lottery. In this way there being 176 of us, 159 white beans and 17 black beans were placed in a jar. When the drawing commenced, those drawing the black beans having the token of death, my 17 comrades were taken out about sundown and shot. Nothing but a mud wall was between us and the place of execution. The cries of our unfortunate friends were truly heart-rending as at least 100 rounds were fired before all were quiet. We in drawing (the beans), one and all acted like men in every sense of the word, not a tear to be seen this night…”
7. “Nothing further transpired of consequence until we reached within 8 leagues of this place (Santiago Prison), when my Captain Ewen Cameron was taken out and shot by order of the President Santa Anna. The foreign ministers have taken it in hand and demanded satisfaction from Santa Anna.”
8. The letter is addressed to John’s Father, Melchor Hoffer in Carlisle, Penn. and he closes the letter, “How it will end and what will finally become of us, God only knows.”
The letter is written in dark ink, very easily read (perfect for use in a Texas Ranger display) and is in excellent condition. A once in a lifetime opportunity to own such an historic letter!
#S10
Transcription of letter:
Santaigo Prison near Mexico
May 3rd, 1843
Dear Father,
It is now about one year since I wrote you from Mobile since which I have enjoyed good health. You will, no doubt, be surprised to find me in this situation. I will relate to you some of the circumstances that have occurred since the army (which I joined) left San Antonio, Viz. The latter part of November last, the army under the command of General Somerville about 800 strong left San Antonio for the Rio Grande where we arrived in about 15 days took the town of Lorado, got such provision as we wanted and proceeded down the river to Guarara. On the west bank of the river Grande which place was at our disposal, our requisition was not here fulfilled, when the army recrossed the river and Gen. Somerville left with about 500 men for Texas. The balance 300 in number under Col. Fisher determined to proceed farther down the river to meet the enemy, obtain provision etc., which we were much in need of. We proceeded to Mier, which place General Ampudia had reached from Metamoras, whose force was about 2,500. We entered the town on the evening of the 25th December last. Ampudia’s force being much larger than we anticipated, they kept up a heavy fire of musketry and artillery during the whole night without our firing a gun and a loss on our part of but two. At day light, we commenced on those placed on the house tops with our rifles and as none of their persons was exposed except their heads, it amounted to perfect Target Shooting. The fight continued 17 hours when we had killed 450 and 275. Our loss was 11 killed and 21 wounded. About 3 o’clock one of our men who had been taken prisoner by the enemy was seen advancing towards us with a white flag which induced us to believe the enemy had surrendered, when to our disappointment a demand of our surrender was made with this falsehood in addition that the enemy had received a large reinforcement which had such an effect on Col. Fisher and some other officers that an immediate surrender was made. At this time you could see one hundred good men in tears, begging their officers to continue the fight. We surrendered and were immediately marched off to prison, where we remained 4 days while the enemy were burying their dead. When we left for Metamoras, remained in Metamoras a few days and were marched to Monterey on our way to Mexico, remained in Monterey 3 days when we were marched to Saltillo remained here one day and left for Saint Luis Potosi on the 21st of February about 100 miles this side of Saltillo at the Rancho Salado. We rose upon and dispersed the guard, 300 Infantry and Cavalry in about five minutes. Our loss was 4 killed and 4 wounded, the Mexicans a few more. We did not injure any but those who refused to surrender. About 9 o’clock A.M. on this day we formed took up the march for home and marched 15 miles this day and night when we halted to refresh ourselves and horses. We secured about 150 muskets, 3000 cartridges and 80 horses, and mules. The next day we received information as to the course we ought to pursue, which we kept till dark, when we left the road and took to the mountains which proved to be our ruin as we were unable to obtain water for 7 days. We killed our horses but could not eat the meat on account of being without water. Our men being in such a weak state, they were compelled again to surrender to the enemy on these terms that we were to be taken immediately to water and treated as prisoners of war. We made forced marches to Saltillo, a distance of 30 leagues, where we remained three weeks and took up our march again for Mexico on the 25th of March. We reached the Rancho Salado. The Rancho where we rose upon the guard a few days before, here we were met by some officers of the government and two priests had not been here long before they gave out that every 10th man was to be shot which was decided by lottery. In this way there being 176 of us, 159 white beans and 17 black beans were placed in a jar. When the drawing commenced, those drawing the black beans having the token of death, my 17 comrades were taken out about sundown and shot. Nothing but a mud wall was between us and the place of execution. The cries of our unfortunate friends were truly heart-rending as at least 100 rounds were fired before all were quiet. We in drawing, one and all acted like men in every sense of the word, not a tear to be seen this night, and for several days, every thing went off gloomy. Nothing further transpired of consequence until we reached within 8 leagues of this place, when my Captain Ewen Cameron was taken out and shot by order of the President Santa Anna. The foreign ministers have taken it in hand and demanded satisfaction from Santa Anna. How it will end and what will finally become of us God only knows. Give my best love to Mother, Sisters, and Brothers, and believe me.
Very truly your affectionate Son
John Hoffer
