The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-02-21
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that number OF country people, Principally
women and children, were on their way TO
the fort, closely pursued by the Mexicans.--
Tanning, losing sight Of prudence i'll his
compassion for these poor people, Immediate
~ ordered u battalion of five hundred men,
under the command of Major Ward. TO go and
meet the tugitiVes and escort them III. The
Inaior, and several office rs of the garrison,
doubted as TO the propricty of this measure;
but Tanning, full Of sympathy for his unpro-
tected countrywomen, insisted, and the bat
talon moved out. They soon came in sight
ofthc tugitives, as they thought, but on draw
ing nearer, the latter turned out TO be Mexican
dragons, who sprang upon their horses,
which were concealed in the neighboriug
islands oftrees, and a desperate fight began.
The MeXicans, far superior III nnbers, receiv-
ed every moment accessions to their strength.
The Louis Potos and Santa Fee cavalry, fell
lows who seem born on horseback, were
there. Our unfortunate countrymen were
hemmed in on all sides. The fight lasted
two days, and only TWO men out of the five
hundred escaped with their lives.
Before the news ofthis misfortune reached
It's, orders had been sent to Tanning to evac-
uate the fort and Join us with six pieces of
artillery, He received the order and proceed
cd to execute it. But what might have been
practicable for eight hundred and sixty men,
was impossible for three hundred and sixty.
Nevertheless, Tanning began his march
through the prairie. His little band was al
most Immediately surrounded by the enc
my. After gallant defence, which lasted
twelve hours, they succeeded in reaching an
island, but sarcely had they established thcm-
selves there, when they found that their am
munition was expended. There was moth
ing left for them, but TO accept the terms offer
ed by the MeXicans, who pledged themselves
that ifthey laid down their arms, they should
he permitted to return 10 their homes. But
the rifles were no sooner piled, than the Tex
ians found themselves charged by their
trcacherous foes, who hutchered them with
out mercy. Only an advanced post of three
men succeeded in escaping.
The five hundred men whom we had left
in San Antonio de Bexar Jared no better
Not being sufficiently numerous TO hold out
the town as well as the Alamo, they retreat
ed into the latter. The Mexican artillery
soon laid a part of the fort in ruins. Still its
defenders held out. After eight days fighting
during which the loss Of the besiegers was
tremendously severe, the Alamo was taken,
and not Il single TeNian left alive.
We thus by these two cruel blows, lost
two-thirds of our army, and ttlo more than
seven hundred men remained to resist the nu-
nerous legion of our victorious foe. The
proscct before us was well calculated to daunt
the stOutest heart.
The Mexican General, Santa Anna, moved
his army forward in two divisons,one stretch
ing along the coast towards Velasco,th other
advancing towards San Felipe de Austin. He
himself with small force marched ~ the cen
ire. AT Fort Bend, twenty miles below San
Felipe, he crossed the Bra2os, aud shortly
afterwards established himself with about
1900 men in an entrenched camp. Our army
under the command of General Houston, was
in front of Harrisburg, to which place the
Congress had retreaed.
1t was on the night ofthe twentieth of A
pril, and our whole disposable force, some
seven hundred men, was bivouacking in and
about an island ofsycnmores. IL was n cloud
V, stormy evening" high wind was blow
ing, and the branches of the trees groaned
and creaked above our heads. The weather
lIarmonizcd well enough with our feelings,
which were sad and responding when we
thought of the desperate state of our cause
We the officcrs)were sitting i'll circle round
the general and Alcalde, both Of whom APP
peared uneasy and anxious. More than once
tley got up, and walked backwards and for
wards, seemingly impatient, and as if they
were waiting for or expecting something
There was a deep silence throughout the
whole bivouac; some were sleeping, and
-IlOSe VINO watched were Ill no ntIHOT lot
idle chat
who goes there? suddenly shouted one
of the sentrics. The answer we did no hear,
hut it was apparently satisfactory, for there
was no further challenge, and few seconds
afterwards an orderly came up,and whispered
something in the ear of the AIcalde. The
latter hurried away, and presently returning,
spoke few words i'll low tone to the gener-
d., and then to our officers. In an instant we
were all upon our feet. In less than ten
minutes, the bvouac was broken up, and our
little army on the march.
All our people were well mounted, and
armed with rifles, pistols, and bowie knives.
We had six field-pieces, but we only took
four, harnessed with twice the usual number
ofhorses. We marched at rapid trot the
whole night, led by tall, gaunt figure of a
man acting as our guide, and kept some dis
lance i'll front. more than once asked the
4Alcalde who this was. you will know by
and by was his answer.
Before daybreak we had ridden five and
twenty miles, but had been compelled to a.
bandon two more guns. AS yet no one knew
the object ofthis forced march. The general
commanded halt, and ordered the men to
refresh and strengthen themselves by food
and drink. While they were doing this, he
assembled the officers around him, and the
meaning of our night march was explained
to us. The camp in which the Mexican
president and general-in-chiefhad entrench-
ed himself was within mile of us; General
Parza with two thousand men, was twenty
miles further to the rear; General Filasola,
with one thousand, eighteen miles lower
down on the Brazos: Viesca, with fifteen hun
dred, twenty-five miles higher up. One