Washington telegraph., 1846-03-25
From Morris National Press.
FANNING'S MEN:
OR THE MASSACRE AT GoLrAp.

I 'iSAh - NDIA--i -Whl-h
appeared last year in Leipsic, from the pen of Won
\ Al LLrenberg, young German, who served
through the brief but terrific struggle in 1899, be-
| tween Texas and Mexico, and who took part in
SONG Of the most fearful scenes of that campaign
being likewise Of the three or four who escaped
h from the tEeacherous massacre at Goliad, where
Trainings men were murdered in cold blood by or
" der "a Santa Anna Ehrenberg gives the subioined
Y account 81 the scene, which we think will Be- read
with interest, though the incidents are in some
sort already familiar
"Aiter the names had been called over the order
Y 70 march was given, and we filed out through the
cate ui the fortress, the Greys taking the lead
Outside the gate VIZ were received by two detach
inenis oi Mexican infantry, who marched along
on either side OF IA the order US ourselves
I we were about four hundred IN number, and the
enemy about seven hundred, not including the
cavalry, of which numerous small groups were
scattered about the prairie. We marched on in
silence, not- however, in the direction we had an
uciPaied, but along The road to Victoria This
surprised us; but upon reflection we concluded that
they were conducting Us TO some eastern port
thence 10 be shipped 10 New Orleans, which, upon
tle whole, WIS perhaps the best and shortest plan
| There was someihingr however, in the profound
silence oi tha Mexican soldiers, who are Usually
uncelsing cLatteTcrs, that inspired me with feel
ng OF unrasi8sss anxiety. II was like a funeral
march, and lrsi.y might II be called. Presently
| turned NY head 10 see IL Millers people had
extreme establishment, neither they nor Fanninpis
men nnr ihe Georgia battalion, were to BE- seen
They had separated without our Observing H.
and the detachment Will which was MARCHING
consisted only Of the Greys and few Texian col
ouists. CHANGING at the escort, their full dress
uniform and the absence OF all barrape now for
the tTsi iile struck rne. | thought Of the bloody
scenes that lad occurred at Tampico, sun Patricio
and the Alamo, Of the iaEc and cruel character Of
those in whose power we were, and was seized
with prcscntment OF evil For Z moment was
about TO communicate my apprehensions to nv
comrades but hope, which never dies, again caused
me in takc \ m0re cheering view Of our situation;
n1TuThlu4s, il order t0 be prepared for the worst
and, ia case of need, % be unencumbeIed in my
m0veml nts, watched my opportunity, and threw
away amongst the grass OF the prairie bundle
eont1ing the few things that the thevish Mexicans
had allowed me TO retain.
"A quarter Nj an hour had elapsed since our de-
parturc from Ihe fort, when suddenly the command
was given in Spanish 10 wheel to the left, leaving
Tie road; and, did not understand the order,
tie officer Himself went ia front to show US the
way, and my companions followed without taking
any particular notice Of the change Of direction
Io Ulr lrIL ran mlakecL hedge, five or six feet
tn height, a ri-ht angles with the river san Anto-
n0, which flowed al about thousand PAGES from
rs, between banks thirty forty feet high and OF
which banks The one on the nearer side the river
rose nearly perPendculariy out ofthe water. We
were marched along the side of the hedge tow ards
oily stream, ana suddenly the thought flashed
across us, '+Nhy IRE tlry taking US III this direc-
tou.' The appearance Of number Of lancers,
caute..aE about il the fields our right also star
lied Us; and just then tie foot soldiers, who had
been marched between and the hedge, changed
te.r places, and sined those Of their comrades who
guarded the other hand. Before we could
divine tle meaning NJ this Inannnvre, the word
was given to halt. Ii came like a sentence OF
death: for Ut the same moment il was uttered the
md of a OF s;,a
prairie. We thought W comrades and of our
ar,-n probable fate
N hEcel dUwnr now burst in harsh accents from
the lps ul ihn Mexican commander
NO one stirred. Few Of Us understood the or
der, and those who did would not obey The Mex
lean soldiers, who stood II about three PAGES from
Us, leyeled their muskcts at our breasts Even
then we could hardly believe that they meant to
sheet rs; f0r f we had We should assuredly have
rushed forward In our desperation and, weaponIess
though were, some Of our murderers would
have met their death 1t hands OnIy one of
our number was well acquainted with Spanish and
even he seemed As If he could not comprehend the
order that had been gwen. lie stared at the com
mandinE oIiccr a. IA awaiting it, repetition, and
stared AK him. ready the first word he should
utter, 20 spring upon tie soldiers. But he seemed
10 be, as mos Of as Were, impressed with the be-
lief that the demonstration was merely a menace
used 10 induce to enter the Mexican service
With threatening gesture and drawn sword the
GAtL nl l+N a-a=iA----N again cJ1cnated the com
Mand KIP kneel down Ile sound Of a second vol
DIZZY, from different direction with the first lust
then reached our ears, and was followed by
confused cry. as IL those at whom it had been
aimed, had not al been imms lately killed. Our
comraie, the one who understood Spanish started
from Ais Inomcntary leihargy, and boldly addressed
us
Comrades" cried he, "you hear that report,
that cry. There is no hope for us-our last hour
Is come! Therefore, courados-'
4 terrible explosion interrupted him-and then
all still a thick cloud of smoke was wreath
inE and curling towards tha 81. Antonio The
blood XII Quar- lieutenant was on nv clothes and
around mr iay my friends, convgIsed with my last
a-ony. l saw more. Unhurt ravseIf spranp
Up, and, concealed by the thick smoke fled along
the side Of the he'd dc ID the direction Of the river
tle nniae "A ite water i0r ny guide. Suddenly
hl1w irom heavy sabre fell upon Ii n head, and
tsnm oHt Ol ilC smoke emerged lhc form Or little
Mexican lieutenant. He aimed 4 second blow al
me, when | parted with my left arm. I had
uoihng TO risk but everything To gain II was life
cr death. Behind me q thousand b1yOnets. before
me the almost pDWerless sword OF u coward. /
rushed upln hIn- ani uth true Mexican valor, he
-el irOm an ularmed man. On went, the river
rolled "a my lcei. tae shouting and yelling behind.
''Isxls forever cried I, and without moments
hesitation, plunged into the wafer. The bullets
E.ii=ilcd round me / swan slowly and YEARLY
70 the other siie, but none wounded me- Our
p0or dar- who had been with vs. all through the
campaign, and had jumped into tile river with me,
icll la-l sacrifice 10 Mexican cruelty. He had
reached tle middle OF the stream, when a ball
struck him, and be disappeared
" Il.sl these horrible scenes were occurring in
the rraires- Colonel f4nninr and his wounded