Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-04
PAINTINGS MEN; OR THE MASSACRE
AT GOLIAD.

tracts from work, IA Campaign in Texas,
which appeared last year in Leipsic, from tn,
pen OF Van RI. Ehrenberg, n young German
who served through the brief but terrific strug
gle, in 1895, between Texas and Mexico, ant
who took part in some of the mosttearful scene.
OF that campaign, being likewise one of tn,
three or four who escaped from the treacherou
massacre at Goliad, where Fannng's men wer,
murdered in cold blood by order of Santa Anna
Ehrenberg gives the subjoined account Of tn.
scene, which we think will be read with int
rest though the incidents are in some sort al
ready familiar
AFTER the names had been called, the erde,
to march was given, and we filed out through
the gates Of the fortress, the Greys taking the
lead. Outside the gate we were received b,
two detachments Of Mexican infantry, who
marched along on either side of US, in the same
order rs ourselves. We were four hundred IL
number, and the enemy about seven hundred
{ not including the cavalry. OF which numerous
small groups We're scattered about the prairie
We marched in silence, not, however, in the d
rection we had anticipated, but along the road
to Victoria. This surprised Us; but upon re-
Election, we concluded that they were conduct
ing us to some eastern port, thence to be ship.
ped 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 I'm.
ccasing chatterers, that inspired me with Il feel
ing OF uneasiness and anxiety. 1t was like a
funeral march, and truly might it be 50 called.
Presently turned my head to see it Miler's
people had joined, and were marching with us.
But to my extreme astonishment, neither they
nor Trainings men, or the battalion were to
| be seen.
They had separated from us without our OBJ
serving it, and the detachment with which |
was marching consisted only Of the Crews and
a few Texan colonistS. CHANGING at the escort,
their full dress uniform, and the absence of all
baggage, now for the first time struck me.
thought ofthe bloody scenes that had occurred at
Iampico, San Patricio, and the Alamo, of the
false and cruel character Of those in whose
power we were, and | was seized with pre-
sentiment Of evil. For a moment was about
to communicate my apprchensions to my com
rades, but hope, which never dies, again caused
me to take more cheering view Of my situa
ton Nevertheless, in order to be prepared for
| the worst, and in case of need, to be unincum-
bered IN my movements, | watched my oppor-
tunty, and threw away among the grass Of the
prairie bundle, containing few things that
the thierish Mexicans had allowed me to retain
quarter Of an hour had elapsed since our
departure from the fort, when suddenly the
command was given in Spanish to wheel to
the left, leaving the road and, as we did not
understand the order, the officer himself went
in front to show the way, and my companions
followed without taking any particular notice
OF the change ct direction. To our left ran q
mus kct hedge five or six feet in height at right
angles with the river Of San Antonio, which
flowed ut about thousand PAGES from us, be-
tween banks thirty or forty feet high, and Of
which banks the one on the nearer side of the
river rose nearly perpendicular out of the water.
We were marched along the side Of the hedge
towards the stream, and suddenly the thought
flashed across US, "Why are they taking MS in
this directon?" The appearance Of a number
OF lancers, cantcring about in the fields on our
right, also started rs; and just as the foot sol
dlers, who had been marched between us and
the hedge, changed their places, and Joined
those OF their comrades, who guarded us on the
other hand. Before we could divine the reason
OF this manruyre, the word was soon given to
halt. 1t came like a sentence Of death: for at
the same moment it was uttered, the sound of a
volley OF mnsketry echoed across the prairie
We then thought of our comrades and of our
probable fate
"knecl down. now burst in harsh accents
from the lips Of the Mexican commander.
NO one stirred. Few of us understood the
order, and those who did would not obey. The
Mexican soldiers, who stood ut about three pa.
oes from US lcvccd their muskets at our
breasts. Even then VIC could hardly believe
that they meant to shoot us: for if we had we
should assuredly have rushed forward in our
desperation, and, wcaponless though we were.
some OF our murcycvs would have met their
death at cuv hands. Only one of our number
was well acquainted with Spanish, and even he
seemed as it he could not comprehend tho or
der that had been given. He stared 1T the
commanding officer as if awaiting its repeti-
ton, and We stared at him, ready at tie first
word he should utter to spring upon the sol
dlcrs. But he seemed to be-, as most of rs
were, impressed with the belief that the demon.
straon was merely II menace, used to induce
us to enter the Mexican service, With threat
cnlng gestures and drawn sword, the chief of
the assassins again calculated the command to
knccl down. The sound Of second voilev.
from different direction with the first, inst
then reached our ears, and was followed BY q
confused cry, rs it those al whom it had been |
aimed, had not all been Immediately killed. !
Our comrade, the one who understood Spanish. |
started from his monetary lcthargv and |
boldly addressed as.
"Comrad"s, cried he, "you hear that report
that cry. There is no hope for l,s-our last
hour is come! Therefore, comrades ---''
A terrible explosion interrupted hu-and
then all was still. A thick cloud Of smoke was
wroathlng AMI curling towards the San A ntono
The blood Of our lieutenant was Oh my clothes,
and around me lay my friends, con1uiscd with
their last agony. | saw nothing more. In
hurt myself, sprang up and, concealed bv the
thick smoke, fled along the hedge in the dircc-
ton of the river, the noise of the water for my
guide. Suddenly a blow from a heavy sabre
fell upon my head, and from out of the smoke
emerged the form Of q little Mexican ieuten-
ant He aimed second blow at me. which !
parted off with my left arm | had nothing to
risk, but everything to gain. It was life or
death. Behind me u thousand bayonets; be.
fore me tho almost powerless sword Of a cow
ard. rushed upon him, and with true Mcxi.
can valor he fled from an unarmed man.
On ! went the river rolled at my feet, the
shouting and yelling behind. "Texas for.
ever! and without moments hesitation. |
plunged into the water. The bullets whistled
round me as ! swan slowly and YEARLY to the