The Texas Cart War was an outbreak of violence in 1857. Most of the violence occurred when American ox cart drivers attacked and hanged 70 Mexican ox cart drivers. The 'war' consisted of five attacks, three in July, one in September, and the last in November 1857. This attack involved Jose Huerta and Adalberto Davila. All of the attacks were on roads from

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= U.S. state, State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , s ...

to Lavaca, Texas.

Background

In the early-to mid 19th century Mexican cart drivers would charge rates that were lower than their white competitors to ship items from

, Texas, to the coast. Anglo shippers resented the competition. An attempted attack on Mexican cart drivers occurred in 1855, and there had been several other sporadic attacks by 1857.

Attacks

Sustained violence began on July 3, 1857, when a group of disguised men attacked six carts, and wounded six drivers in

Goliad County, Texas Goliad County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population is 7,012. Its county seat is Goliad. The county is named for Father Miguel Hidalgo; "Goliad" is an anagram , minus the silent H. The county ...

. In the second attack, on July 14, around 20 Americans attacked carts near Goliad. There were no injuries or fatalities. In the third attack on July 31, three Mexicans were wounded, and one American who supported the Mexican cart drivers was killed. In September, the fourth attack saw Antonio Delgado, a prominent local politician, killed. Five men died in the third, and last, major attack. There were few efforts made to stop the attacks, and word spread of a "campaign of death" against Mexicans.

John Twiggs General John Twiggs (June 5, 1750 – March 29, 1816) served as a leader in the Georgia Militia during the American Revolutionary War. Twiggs County, Georgia was named after him. Biography Twiggs was born in Maryland in 1750, and his family m ...

had, as a result of the frequent attacks, begun providing armed escorts with American government shipments. On October 14,

Manuel Robles Pezuela Manuel Robles Pezuela (23 May 1817 - 23 March 1862) was a military engineer, military commander, and eventually interim president of Mexico during a civil war, the War of Reform, being waged between conservatives and liberals, in which he served ...

, the

Ambassador of Mexico to the United States The Ambassador of Mexico to the United States is the highest ranking diplomatic representative of the United Mexican States to the United States of America. Brief history Mexico and the United States have maintained diplomatic relations since 12 ...

, complained to the United States federal government, estimating at least 75 Mexicans had been killed in the attacks. The

United States Secretary of State The United States secretary of state is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State. The office holder is one of the highest ranking members of the president's Ca ...

Lewis Cass Lewis Cass (October 9, 1782June 17, 1866) was an American military officer, politician, and statesman. He represented Michigan in the United States Senate and served in the Cabinets of two U.S. Presidents, Andrew Jackson and James Buchanan. He w ...

, urged

Elisha M. Pease Elisha Marshall Pease (January 3, 1812 – August 26, 1883) was a Texas politician. He served as the fifth and 13th governor of Texas. Texas Republic A native of Enfield, Connecticut, Pease moved to Mexican Texas in 1835. He soon became active ...

, the

Governor of Texas The governor of Texas heads the state government of Texas. The governor is the leader of the executive and legislative branch of the state government and is the commander in chief of the Texas Military. The current governor is Greg Abbott, who ...

, to take action to stop the attacks. Upon Pease's request, armed escorts began traveling with the carters and the war had ended by December.

Background

Attacks

References

Further reading