The San Felipe incident was the first naval battle fought between Mexican and rebel forces during the Texas Revolution.

[1] Thomas McKinney deliberately provoked the Mexican government by heavily arming the merchant ship San Felipe, filling it with a cargo of munitions meant for Texian revolutionaries, and sending it from New Orleans to Brazoria, Texas.

On September 1, 1835, as the San Felipe was transferring the last of its cargo to the Laura, also crewed by Texians, the Mexican Navy warship Correo de Mejico approached.

Uncharacteristically for merchant vessels both ships reacted aggressively, firing on the Correo and capturing it after a day-long pursuit.

Though Thompson was a commissioned officer of the Mexican navy, Hurd brought them back to New Orleans as pirates.