Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1836-08-06
IA BAHIA, June lth, 1896.

On our arrival at this place We found no difficult |
ty in discovering the ground where Fann and his |
gallant band we've shot by order of Santa Anna.
Most Of their bodies were burned, vet there
We're many bones and some entire skeletons scat
tered over the plains for some distance. II had
long been determined that as soon as practicable
after the arrival of our army here, their remains
should be collected, and a day SGT apart for their
burial with all the honors of war. Accordingly,
on Wednesday the LIST INST General Rusk issued
the following order;
"As token of respect as wen TO the memory
of the men who fell here sacrifice to the treach-
cry and bad faith of our enemy as duty which
we owe to the relations Of the unfortunate deceas-
ed and ourselves, If is ordered that de skeletons
and bones Of our murdered countrymen he COLI
ccted into one place in front Of tie fort and buried
with all the honors Of war.
TlI0S. }. RUSK, big. Gen. Cong.
On the evening of the ensuing day, the bones
having been collected, an order was issued for the
ceremonies of the following day.
| The following morning being Friday, June the
3D. the army were paraded within the walls Of the
Fort at the hour appointed, and at nine o'clock,
with arms reversed the procession moved slowly
toward the poce Of burial.
On reaching the grave, Gen. Rusk delivered u
short bot ioeline and eloquent address.
"FeHoto Soidiers---In the order of Providence
We are this day called upon to pay the las, sad
office of respect TO the remains Of the noble and
heroic band who, battling for our sacred rights
have fallen beneath the ruthless hand Of the
tyrant.
Their chiyarou conduct entitled them to the
heartfelt gratitude Of The people o! Texas. With
ont any further interest in the country than thai
which all noble hearts feel at the bare mention O
liberty, they rallied 70 our standard, relinquishnl
the case, peace and comfort of THEN homes-leav
mo behind them all they held dear, their mothers
sisters, daughters andwWcs--they subjected them
selves to fatigue and priyation, and nobly hrey
themselves between the people Of Texas and tn
egions Of Santa Anna. Here, unaided by rein
iorcements and far from help and hope the
bated braycIy with the mnions Of tyrant tc
to one.
Surrounded in the open prairie by this fearft
odds, cut off from provision and even water, the
were induced, under the sacred promise of recci,
ing the treatment usual to prisoners Of war; to SUI
render. They were marched back, and for
week treated with the utmost inhumanIty and bal
baity. They were marched out Of Wonder For
under the prctence of getting provisions, and
was not until Ike firing Of musketry. and ii
shriel<s of the dying, that they were notified
their approaching fate. Some endcayored
? make their escape, but they were pursued by II
$ ruthless cavalry, and most Of them cut down vii
r their swords.
d A small number of them now stard BY II
grave, bare remnant Of that noble band. o.
tribute of respect is due to them Ii is due TO Il
8 mothors, sisters and wives who weep thelr untm,
nj " end that We should mngle our tears with their
4 In that mass Of bones and fragments Of bone
: many a mother might see her son, many siste
j, her brother, and many wife her once believe
If and alecuonaic husband. But We have a cons
Q lation vet to offer thcm.--Iheir mufdclers sar
s INTO death, on the plains Of sun Jacno, under Il
II appalling words ''Rcmcrnber la Bahia"
l. "Many tender aftctionate woman, will r
It member with fearful eye, La Bahia. But y
If have another consolation 10 offer is, that viii
IF liberty has a habitation and name, their chiya
n rous deeds will be handed down upon the brig
y pages of history.
d ave can still offer another consolation, San
a .fnna the mock hero, The bldck hearted msrder
'e is rcittin our grasp. Yea and there be must
re main, tortured with the keen pains Of zorro
Of ING conscience. lie must often remomb
10 La Bahia. And while the names Of those who
* be .mnrdored shall scar to the highest pinacle
n fame his shall sink into the lowest depths of i
l. fanny and disgrace"
u During the delivery of this address the Gene
u had the undivided attention Of the whole Arm
! When he spoke Of those martyrs in the cause
:, y liberty, ! observed the tearsdrops fall from
u eye Of more than one brave man. At its &C
4 clrlsion, observed several compress their i
y and Involuntary grasp their weapons the me
rs firmly as if the scenes Of San Jacinto had
~ compensated for the brutal murder OF their frer
nc at la Bahia. The army ihem marched back
ltl their quarters. SAMUEL DEXTAR
~ .1id-de- Cam