The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-01-16
BATTLE OF THE CoLErA.
There ensued one Of the fierce,


engagements of the Texan revolt Q
/ 1886. Urea had 1900 men to Fan
nin's decimated band of 800. Th,
Texans had no water to swab thei
cannon, and after desperate resist
ance. during which many we're siait
on both sides, Colonel Fannin sur
rendered his whole command, it be
ing expressly stipulated i'm writing
with the Mexican commander, thai
he and his men we're to be treated
as prisoners of v ar, and eventually
forwarded to tie United States and
out of the country.
| On the 20th Of March the Texan
prisoners arrived back, and we're put
under guard in The same old stone
church from which only a few days
ago they had departed assured OF
victory. Two days later the wound
ed, among them Colonel Fannin him
self, arrived, the latter being placed
under Colonel Hclzinger, a German
engineer in the Mexican army. On
the 23d, Major Miller and eighty
Texan volunteers were brought in
as prisoners of war, having been ia
ken at Copano, and another addition
was made by the arrival Of Colonel
Ward and his command as prison.
ers.
On the evening of the 26th the
Texan prisoners in the Church or
the Mission were more than usually
cheerful. AS the last rays OF an un
clouded spring sun gilded the an
tiqne towers or glistened on the car
bines of their Mexican guards. some
of the fated and doomed prisoners
dreamed it was for them the last
golden sunset. Col. Fannin talked
cheerfully and confidently of an
early release and q journey into the
States, and some Of the young men.
as the shadows OF evening on earth
drew on, amused themselves by the
voluptusus music or flutes. all total
ly unconscious Of approaching fate,
and that there was at that time in
the hands Of the Mexican cOmman.
der the order for their massacre,
signed by the INSCRIPTIONS and mer-
ciless tyrant. Santa Ana. To Cole
mel Portilla. the Mexican comman-
dant of the place, was entrusted the
execution of the horrible mandate
and order of wholesale butchery.
Nor did he hesitate to carry out the
decree.
T HE MASSACRE.
Palm Sunday. March 81, 1886.
dawned clear, bright and balmy the
serene sun looked down from the
heavens, clear as the skies that
bend above Italian plains; and the
almost holy serenity that reigaed
around made it a beautiful day on
which to die. The lives of four
from the prisoners-Drs.
Bernard, Field, Hall and Shacke!-
ford-wsre spared, as they were
wanted to attend the wounded in
the battle Of the Coleta. The bal
ance were marched out in separate
detachments and doomed TO the
The execution took place on the
open prairie, about 100 yards east
Of the church. When the Texans
marched out they were arranged in
ine and ordered TO sit down with
their backs to their guards, and up
On hearing the order young man
named Fenner sprang up and ex.
claimen. in the faces OF his execu-
.ioners, "Boys they are going to
kill as; let US die with our faces to
.hem like men T. At the same in.
slant two other young men flourished
heir caps and shouted, "Hurrah for
Texas |" The next instant there
vas flash and report, and the
,hree young men fell to the prairie
grass with dull thud, dead.
Others were not SO easily dispatch
I'd. and the screams and cries of the
men, after each volley, were heard by
DIR. Shackelford in the tent of Colo
lel Guerrier, several hundred yards
distant. Those who were not en-
,irely dispatched by the carbines
we're dragged off and butchered with
Knives in the most shocking manner.
Many attempted to escape, but only
,wenty-seven succeeded. One of
hese was VIM. l.. Hunter, Of the
New Orleans Greys, who was Sc
:reted by Mexican woman in Go.
lad, ands his life saved. Judge |
ever after resided in Goliad,
Until some years ago, oae OF the
pest citizens of Texas, and took
pleasure in often recounting the ter
'ible scene of the slaughter of Fam
lin and his men.
Col. Fannin was the last to suffer.
He was tied in q chair with his face
o his execationers. and before the
'ataI shot took off his watch. handed |
t 10 the officer in command with |
he request that it be sent to his wife
hov I1arad hi. broaaf aud aaIxad tha