Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1836-08-11

told him 10 order the assistants to have tho
wodnded Of the TEXANS brought into the
yard such as could not walk were 10 lie
carried out. Being astoDished at these
preparations he asked wby,when the Officer
said, = Carts were coming 10 convey then
to Capan0, the nearest Seaport The or.
dcrs Of the officers were obeyed, and tbs
wounded brought info the yard, and they
we're all fill Of hope that they were to be
shipped 10 the United States, which haC
been promised, but their hopes were cruel.
ly blasted when they heard sudden con-
tinued roar of musketry on the, outside ol
the tort, and observed the soldiers wives
leap upon the walls and look towards the
spot where 1.-The report came from. The
wounded were then conscious Of what was
passing, and one Of them asked Spohn If he
did not think that their time was come ;
aud when they became convinced from the
movements ABOUT the fort that they were 10
be shot, greater part of them sat, down
calmly on their blankets resoIntely await
ing their miserable tate !; some turned pale,
but not one displayed the least fear or
quivefing. Spohn, who was employed in
nelpIng them out, was accosted by a wound
60 Mexican soldier on whom he attended
ana told to go and ask the commandment for
ms Lie, as ne might save him, as thew were
| all 10 be shot. About this time Col. Fam
ming who had room in the churci, for his
use, came out ofthe church for a particular
purpose, when Mexican Capt. of the bat.
talon called Tres Villas, and six soldiers,
came up 10 Spohn and told him to call Col.
Tanning !; at the same time pointing 10 a
certain part Of the yard where he wished
him to be taken ); Spohp asked him if he
was going to shoot him, and he coolIy re-
piled, Y es.' When Spohn approached
Tanning tho Colonel asked what was that
firing, aud when he told him the facts he
made no observation, but appeared rcso-
lutte aud firm, and told him he also was to
be shot, which made no visible impression
on Col. Tanning, who, firmly walked to the
place pointed on, by the Mexican captain
placing his arm upon the shoulder Of Spohn
for support, being wounded in the right
thigh. from which he was very lame. All
this while, The soldiers wete taking the
wounded. two at time, near the gate, and
setting them down on the ground and
bandaging their eyes, would shoot them off
with the same indifference, they would
wild animal. There were three soldiers
to each two, so that IL after the discharge
oflwo muskets, death should have not been
dealt forth, the third soldier placed the
muzxle Of the mnsket near their head or
breast and so ended them. When Col.
Tanning reached the spot required, the N.
w. corner Of the fort, Spohn was ordered
to interpret the following sentence SIS Tint
for having come with an armed band to
commit depredations" and revolutionize
Texas, the Mexican Government were a
bout to chastise him." AS soon as the
sentence was interpreted to Tanning, he
asked,if he could not see the commandment.
The officer said he could not, and asked
why he wished ii. Col. Tanning then pull
led forth q valuable gold watch, which he
said belonged to his wife, and he wished TO
present il 10 the commandment. The CAPE
tain then said he could not see the COM
nlandant, but if he would give him the
watch he would thank him, and he repeat
ed in broken English, tank you--ine tank
you.' Tanning told him he might have
the watch ifhe would have him, buried af-
Ter he was shot,. which the captain said
should be DONE CON tod rs las forn'alid-
AIDES ne cessarias' lat the same time smiling
aud bowling. Col. flaming then banded
him the watch, aud pulled ont Of his right
pocket a small bead purse containing donb-
looms, the clasp Of which was bent, he gave
this to the officer, at tile same time saying
that il had saved his life, as the bull that
wounded him. had lost part Of its force by
striking the clasp, which il bent and car
ricd with it into the wound a part ola silk
handkerchief which he had in his pocket,
aud which on drawing out drew forth with
il the ball. = Out Of tho left pocket Of his
overcoat, (bcing cold weather he had ON
One) he took piece Of canvass containing
double handful Of dellars, which he also
gave TO the officer. Spobn was then or
dered to bandage bis eyes, and Col. Fam
ming handed lim his pocket handkerchief
He proceeded to fold il, bot being agitated,
he did it cDumsily, when the officer snatch-
ed il from his hand and folded it himself,
and told Col. flaming to Sit down on .
chair which was near, and stepping be-
hind him bandaged his eyes. saying to Col.
Tanning in English, I. good, good, -nnean-
ing if his eyes were properly bound---to
which tanning replied, 'yes, yes 4
The captain then came III front and Or.
dcred his men to unfx their bayonets aud
approach Col. Tanning he hearing them
nearing him, told SpobD to tell them not 70
Mace their nuskets SO near as 10 burn bis
face with the powder.' The officer stand
ing behind them, after seeing their muskets
were brought within two feet Of his body,
drew forth his handkerchief us signal,
when they fred and poor Tanning fell dead