Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-05-08
FANNING'S MEN, Or THE MAS
SACRE At GOLIAD.

/ Blackwood" is publishing a series of ex.
tracts from work-"A Campaign in Tex.
as"-which appeared last year IN L-ipsic,
from he pen of Won Il. Ehrcnbrrg, Young
German, who served through the brief but
terrific struggle in 1885. between Texas and
Mexico, who took part in some of the most
fearful scenes of that campaign, being like.
wise one of the three or four who escaped
from the treacherous massacre at Golad,
where Fanning's men were murdered in cold
blood by order Of Santa Anna. Ehrenberg
gives the subjoined account Of the scene,
Which we think will be read with interest,
though the incidents are in some sort already
familiar.
"Afier the names had been called over,
the order to marcl, was given, and we filed
out through the gate of the fortress, the
Greys taking the lead. Outside the gate we
we're received by two de,atchments Of Mex.
lean infantry, who marched along on either
side of US in the same order as ourselves. -
We were about four hundred in number, and
the enemy about seven hundred, not inclnd-
inc the cavalry of which numerous small
groups were scattered about the prairie. We
ma, clmd on il silence, not however in the
road T., Victoria. This surprised us, but up
on ref citing we concluded that they were
conducting ~ to som" eastern port. thence to
be shipped to New Orleans, which. upon the
whole, was perhaps the best and shortest
plan. There was something, however, in
the profound silence of the Mexican soldiers,
who are usually u ccasing cI,atterers, that
inspired me with feeling Of uneasiness and
anxiety. 1t was like a funeral march, and
truly may it he so called. Presently turn.
ed my head to see il Millcr's people had
Joined and were marching with US. But to
NV extreme establishment, neither they nor
Fanning's men, nor the Georgia battalion,
were to be seen. They had separated us
without our observing il, and the detachment
with which was marching consisted only Of
the G,evs and few Tex,n coIonis,s.-
CHANGING at the escort. and the absence Of all
baggage, now for the first time struck me. -
I thought Of the bloody scenes that had oc.
Cured al Tampico, San Pstricio, and the
Alamo, Of the false and cruel character Of
those in whose power we were, and | was
seized with presentment Of evil. For a
moment ! was about 10 communicate my ap-
prehensiOns 10 nv companions; but hope,
which never dies, again caused mo TO take n
more cheering view of our situation. New.
.,,hu,.ss in order IN he prepared far the
worst and in case Of need. 10 he unencumber.
ed m nv movements. | watched nv oppor.
,un;,v and threw away AMONGST the grass Of
the nrairie q bundle con,air,np the few things
,b,, tho ,h;ev;no Mexicaos had allowed me 10
retain.
A quarter of an hour had elapsed since our
departure from the fort, when suddenly tho
command was gwen in Spanish TO wheel TO
the left. leaving the road and as we did no,
understand the order, the officer himself went
in front tn show MS the vay. and nv com.
nan,nns C,Ilowed without taking snv nar,ic.
Mar nn,;ce of the change or direction. To
IN, L,f, ran a musk.c, h,.due. five or sir fee,
j., h.,,h, -, r;,l, ANGLES with the river 81.
An,oni,, whic,, a,wrd a, sbou, ,hous,nd