Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1846-06-20
miscellaneous.
Fanning's men; or, the Massacre M
GOiiad.

peared last year in Leipsc, from the pen of Won IL.
Gutenberg, young German, who served through the
brief but terrific struggle in 1885, between Texas
and Mexico, and who took part in Of the most
fearful scenes of that campaign, being likewise
Of the three four who escaped from the treacherous
massacre at Goliad where Fannng's were
dered in cold blood by order of Santa Anna. Ehren-
berg gives the subOIued account of the scene which
we think Will be read with interest, though the incl
dents In some sort already familiar.
..After the names had been called over, the order
to march was given and fled out through the gate
Of the fortress the Greys taking the lead. Outside
the gate received bv two detachments of
Mexican Infantry, who marched along either side
of u, in the order ourselves. We were
about four hundred in NUMBER and the enemy about
hundred, not including the Cavalry, of which
numerous small groups scattered about the pra-
RE. We marched on IN silence, not, however In the
direction we had anticipated, but along the road to
Victoria This surprised US ; but upon reflection we
concluded that they conducting Us TO some
tern port, thence be shipped New Orleans which.
upon the whole, perhaps the best and shortest
plan. There was something however. in the pro-
found silence of the Mexican soldiers who usually
unccasng chatterers, that lnsp red me with feeling
of uneasness and anxiety. 1t like funeral
march, and truly might it so be called. Presently
turned nv head to see If Mllers people had Joined
and marching with But, To my extreme
astonishment, neither they nor FannlngS men nor
the Georgia battalion to be They had
separated without observing it, and the detac
ncnt with which marching consisted only Of
the Crews and few Texan colonsts. CHANGING at
the escort, their full dress uniform and the absence of
all baggage, for the first time struck me-
thought of the bloody scenes that had occurred at
Tampico. San Patricio and the Alamo, of the false
and cruel character of those in whose power WERE
and was seized with a presentment of evil. For
moment | about TO communicate my apprehen-
sions to my comrades; but hope, which never dies
again caused me to take cheering view of our
situation Nevertheless, in order to be prepared for
the worst and, in of need, to be unencumbered
In my movements, | watched my opportunity, and
threw away amongst the grass of the prairie bundle
containing the few things that the thieysh MexIcans
had allowed me to retain.
A quarter of an hour had elapsed since depar-
ture from the fort, when suddenly the command
given In Spanish TO wheel to the left, leaving the
road and, did not understand the order, the
officer himself went IN front to show the way, and
nv companions followed without taking any partcu-
lar notice of the change of direction. To left ran
n musket hedge, five or six feet In height at right
angles with the river ST. Antonio, which flowed at
about thousand PAGES from US, between banks thirty
forty feet high and of which banks the the
nearer side of the river nearly perpcndcularly
out of the water. We marched along the side
of the hedge towards the stream, and suddenly the
thought flashed Us, ..Why they taking us
in this dlrectionl" The appearance of a number Of
lancers, cantering about in the fields on our right
had been marched between and the hedge, changed
their places and Joined those of their comrades who
guarded US the other hand. Before could d.
vine the meaning Of this maneuvre, the word was
given to halt 1t came like sentence Of DEATH for
the same moment IT uttered, the sound of
volley of musketry echoed across the prairie. We
thought Of comrades and Of our own probable
fate.
''Knee down - now burst in harsh accents from
the lips Of the Mexican commander
a. t,.I IL nr.1.~
and those who did would not obey The Mexican
soldiers, vino stood at about three PAGES from us,
lcvelled their muskes at our breasts. Even then
could hardly believe that they meant to shoot for
If we had, should assurcdly have rushed forward
in our desperation, and weaponless though we were
Of our murderers would have met their death at
hands. Only of number well
qulInted with Spanish, and even he seemed as If he
could not comprehend the order that had been given
He stared at the commanding officer, if awaiting
its repetition and stared at him ready at the first
word he should utter, to spring upon the soldiers
But he seemed To be, most of Us were impressed
with the belief that the demonsi ration was merely
menace, used to induce enter the Mexican SER
vice. With threatening gesture and drawn sword,
the chief of the assassins again CALCULATED the
mand 10 knee down. The sound Of q second vOcv,
from fferent direction from the first, Just then
reached ears and followed by confused cry,
If those at whom IT had been aimed had not all
been immediately killed. Our comrade the one who
Understood SPANISH started from his mOmentary
lethargy, and boldly addressed
Comrades" said he, you hear that report, that
cry. There is nope for last hour is come.
Therefore, comrades
A terrible explosion interrupted him-and then all
was still. thick cloud of smoke was wreahine
and curling towards the St Antonio. The blood of
our lieut. was upon my Clothes and around me
lay my friends, convulsed with the last agony | saw
nothing Unhurt myself, sprang up, and con-
cealcd by the thick smoke, fled along the side Of the
hedge, In the direction of the river the noise of the
water for my guide. Suddenly blow from a heavy
sabre fell upon my head and from out Of the smoke
emerged the form of a little Mex lean lieutenant lie
aimed second blow at me- which parrlcd with my
left arm had nothing TO risk, but every thing to
gain. 1t was life death. Behind me n thousand
bayonets before the powerless sword of a coward
| rushed upon him, and with true Mexican valor, he
fled FROM unarmed man. On | went, the river
rolled at feet, the shouting and yelling behind.
Texas forever ~ cried |, and without moments
hesitation, | plunged into the water. The bullets
whistled around me | swan slowly and YEARLY 10
the other sidc but wounded me- Our poor dog
which had been with us all the campaign, and had
jumped into the river with me- fell last sacrifice to
Mexican cruelty. He had reached the middle of the
stream. when ball struck him, and he disappeared
Whilst these horrible scenes were occurring in the
prairies, Colonel Tanning and his wounded com
Ihackeford and few hospital aids having their lives
spared IN order that they might attend on the woun
ded Mcxicans. Besides Mr. Ehrenberp. but three o
the prisoners at Goliad ultimately escaped the saup
ter.