First Texian Killed in Action 1835 At the Mission Concepción the Texian position was surrounded by trees, leaving the Mexican cavalry no room to maneuver. The two sides skirmished desultorily for two hours, until the fog began to lift. At that point, 50–60 Mexican infantrymen crossed the prairie to surround the Texians. Seeing their approach, Bowie shouted to his Texian forces, ' Keep under cover, boys, and reserve your fire; we haven't a man to spare!' At 300 yards from the Texian position, the Mexican infantry halted and formed a line with the cannon in the middle. They began firing with little effect. Most of the Mexican volleys passed over the heads of the Texians.
Wh e n Mex i c a n officers ordered a charge on the south bend held by Fannin, Bowie sent Coleman's company to help. Most of the Texian reinforcements maneuvered to their new position from below the river bank, but several rose from cover and dashed across the prairie. One of them, Captain Richard Andrews, was hit in the side with grapeshot and died several hours after the battle. “Andrews was One of the first to enlist in the War for Texas Independence and the first to die for his new country.”
As the reinforcements reached the southern part of the horseshoe, the Mexican infantry fell back, leaving the cannon within 100 yards of the Texians. The Texians redirected their fire to the Mexican cannoneers. After three different sets of gunners were killed or wounded, the cannons were abandoned. The Mexican infantry attempted three attacks; all were repulsed. As the Mexican buglers called for a retreat, the infantry fell back beyond Texian rifle range. The Mexican cavalry was sent to retrieve wounded men and the cannon. As the cavalry approached, Bowie led a charge onto the prairie. The Texians quickly captured the cannon and turned it on the fleeing Mexican soldiers. Grapeshot killed one of the mule drivers, causing his caisson to go out of control and 'careen through the shattered Mexican ranks'. This part of the battle had lasted only 30 minutes.
Captain Richard Andrews was a Texian, Merchant, Indian Fighter and joined the Texian Army at the beginning of the Texas Revolution. Richard Andrews was nicknamed 'Big D—k“ because of his large size and great strength. He was also wounded in the Battle of Gonzales on October 2, 1835. After being wounded this time his purported final words were 'I am a dead man, but don't let the other boys know it. Tell them to conquer or die.'