The Sommervell-Mier Expeditions, the infamous black bean episode. (original) (raw)

MONUMENT HILL

THE SOMERVELL/MIER EXPEDITION
The Black Bean Episode

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After the prisoners were captured, word was sent from Mexico City to execute them all. Not wanting to provoke another war, it was decided to kill every 10th prisoner. This was arranged by conducting a lottery of white and black beans. Although this is referred to as the "Infamous Black Bean Episode", we find it pretty democratic, although they had the officers draw their beans first which wouldn't sit well with today's military.

See Recollections of a Mier Expedition Survivor

by Murray Montgomery
Texas troops, led by Alexander Somervell, pursued the Mexicans for a while, but Somervell had second thoughts about crossing into Mexico... more

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� John Troesser