Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-06-14
FOREIGN.

| The following account of the massacrc'of Col.
Fannin and his men by the Mexicans is taken
from 4 statement furnished by the President OF
Texas for publication. The account after sta
tios that articles of fc1pitulation had been sign
cd proceeds:
The officers were then called upon to deliver
their side arms, which were boxed Up, with their
names placed by ticket upon each; a1abel up
On the box stating they should soon have the ho-
nor of returning them aud it was their principle
! TO meet US now as friends, not as enemies.
Col! Fannin and the men were that afternoon
marched back to La Bahia, the wounded with the
captain of each company, and cur surgeons were
| left on the field 10 dress the wounded, which
was completed on the 2lst, when we were all
conveyed back to the fort, where VIC fouRd the
men in most miserable state. They were bru-
tally trcatcd-thcy were allowed but very little
water to drink, in consequence of its having to
be brought from the river, and but small pieco
| of meat, without salt, bread, or vegetables. On
the 23I, Major Miller and 80 men were brought
into the fort prisoners; they had just landed at
Copano from the United States.
On the 25th the Georgia battalion was also
brought in; it had boon surprised and captured
between Victoria and Dcmilps Point, marched
| back and confined with Ms. Here we were now
nearly 500 strong, guarded by 1000 Mexicans,
without being allowed The slightest Liberty IN any
| respect.
! The Mcxicans had always said that Santa
| Anna would be ut La Bahia on the 9th, to re-
lease US. Accordingly, on that day, we were or.
dercd TO form all the prisoners; VIC were told
that we were going TO bring wood and water,
and that Santa Anna would be there that day d;
VIC were ordered to march all the officers at the
head of the file, except Colonel Fannin, who lay
wounded in the hospital AS we marched out
! Of the sally port, we saw hollow squares formed
ready to receive US; We were ordered to file left
and marched into a hollow square of double file
cavalry, on foot, armed with carbines, (cem-
monty called scopets.) and broadswerds.
This square was filled and closed, and the
head Of the remaining files wheeled off into the
other squares, and so on, until all were strongly
guarded in squares. The company of which the
writer Of this was one, was ordered move to for
ward s. no more was seen of our unfortunate COM
radcs; we marched out OH the BeXar road, near
the burying ground, and as we Were ordered to
halt, we heard our companions shEicking in the
most agonizing tones, "0h, God. Oh, God!
S..are us! ~ and nearly simultaneously repert
be our fate. The writer of this then observed to
Major Wallace, who was his flc.lelder, that it
would be best to make desperate rush; he said
no, we were too strongly guarded; he then
appealed to several others, but none would fol-
low; he then sprung and struck tho soldier on
his right severe blow with his fist, they being
at open files the seldior at the outer file at
tempted to shoot him, but, being too close, was
unable; the soldier then turned his gun and
struck the writer severe blow upon the left
haad. then seized hold Of the gun, and
wrenchcd it from his haRd, and instantly start
ed and raR towards the river. 4 platoon efmcn
q have since been informed by two others who
made their escape by falling, when fired upon,
among the dead bodies of their comrades} wheel
ed ana fired upon me, but all missed 1 then
had chain Of sentincls to pass ut abeut 800
yards distance, they were about 80 yards apart
three Of them closed to intercept my retreat the
central one raised his gun to fire; ran in scrPer
tine manner, order to prevent his taking aim |
suddenly stopped. dropped my piece, fired, & shot
the soldier through the head and he fell instant
ly dead. l ran over his dead body, the other tive
firing at me, but missing, and Immediately ran
and leaped into the river, aad while swimming
across was shot at bg three herscmen, but reach
ed the opposite bank in safety; and, after wan
oSiiLiS SiA Acd 3 W&lisOuI 1OOu, III tHc
succeeded OH the 10th of April, in joining Cen
eral lIeuston's army, after having been retaken
BY the enemy once, but succeeded in making my
escape, in company with wounded man who
had got off from La Bahia, by falling among the
dead, as before stated am happy to state that
six more'succeeded in saving their lives and re-
gaining their liberty by the stratagem. The
number Of the enemy, according to their own ac-
count, killed at the battle of Cotelle, varies from
from nine to eleven hncdred.
A letter published in n New Orleans paper
states that tho Mexican General Fernandez had
refused petition ofthc ladies Of Matamoras to re-
spite IA prisoners under sentence Of death But
upon an offer Of $4,000 BY the merchants he
promised to respite the Inen till petition could
be sent to Santa Anna. Only $4,000 of tho
amount had been made UP at the date Of the let
ter.
A letter fom Tampco states that an addition |
! aforce Of four thousand troops was about to |
leave San Louis in Mexico for Texas
There arc rumours ofunple1sant disagreemcnts
between Gen. Houston and the President Of
Texas.