Butte record., 1853-12-31
Fanning's Men: or the Massacre at coliad

tracts from Work entitled "A campaign
in Texas" which appeared last year at
Leipslc, from the pen of Van H Ehren-
berg, young German who served
through the btief bat terrific struggle in
1885, between Texas and Mexico, and
who took part in some Of the most fear
tul scence in that campaign, being, like
wise, one of the three that escaped at
the treacherous massacre at Goliad,
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
After the names had been called, the
order to march was given, and we filed
out through the gates of the fortress,
the Greys taking the lead Outside the
gates We were received by two detach-
ments Of Mexican infantry, who marched
along on either side of us, in the same
order with ourselves. We were four
hundred, not including cavalry, of which
numerous small groups were scattered
about the prairie We marched in ST.
lence not, however in the direction we
had anticipated, but along the road to
Victoria. This surprised US but, upon
reflection, We concluded that they were
conducting US to some 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 81
lence of the Mexican soldiers, who are
usually unceasing chatterers, that in
spired me with a feeling of uncertainty
and uneasiness. Presently [ turned my
head to see if Miller's people had joined,
and were marching with us. But, to
my astonishment, neither they nor Fam
ning's men, nor the battalion, were to be
seen.
They had separated from US without
our observing it, and the detachment
with which I was marching consisted
only Of the Greys and a few Texan colo
nists. Glaneing at the escort, their full
dress uniform and absence of all bag
gage now for the first time struck me.
| thought Of the bloody scenes Of Tam
pico, San Patricio, and at the Alamo
of the false and cruel character Of those
III whose power we were, and | was
seized with a presentiment of evil For
4 moment ] was about to communicates
my apprehension to my comrades, but
hope, which never dies, caused me to
take 4 more cheering view of my situa
alton. Nevertheless, in order to be pre-
pared tor the worst, and, in case of need,
to be unincumbered in my movements, |
watched my opportunity and threw away
a bundle among the grass of the prairie,
containing the few things which the
thieyi>h Mexicans had allow d me to
retain.
\ quarter Of an hour had elapsed
since the 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
the officer himself went In front to show
the way, and my companions followed,
without taking any particular notice of
the change OF direction To our left
ran mesquite hedge FIVE or six feet in
height, at right angles with the river
San Antonio, which flowed at about a
thousand PAGES from us, between 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 sudd My the thought flashed acress
us--Why are they taking US in this di
rection The appearance of number
Of lancers, cantering about in the fields
on our right, also startled US; and lust
as the foot soldiers, who had marched
between us and the hedge, changed their
places, and joined those of their com
rades who guarded us on the other hand.
Before We could define the reason of this
maneuvre, the word was soon given to
halt. 1t came like sentence Of death
for at the same moment it was uttered,
the sound of volleys of musketry echoed
across the prairie We then thought
of our comrades, and of our probable
fate
Kneel down - now burst in harsh
accents from the lips of the Mexican
commander
No one stirred Few of us under
stood the order, and those who did
i n