The Texas Almanac, for 1860, with Statistics, Historical and Biographical Sketches, &c., Relating to Texas. Page: 22
[327] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
22 TEXAS ALMANAC.
dred and twenty-five men, but out of these one hundred and twenty-five men, ere
morning twenty-five had again deserted, owing to the terrible details that were
brought of the massacre of the Alamo. With that addition his force only
amounted to four hundred and seventy-four men that remained with him. The next
day he met a detachment'of thirty-five men, and anticipating that he would make
a stand at the Colorado, as he found it impossible to make a stand at Gonzales, ap-
pointed an aid-de-camp, Major William T. Austin, and dispatched him for artillery
to the mouth of the Brazos, for the purpose of enabling him, on arriving at the
Colorado, to make a stand--for he had not a single piece of ordnance, not a car-
tridge, or a ball. The aid-de-camp departed with an assurance that within seven
or eight days he would have it on the Colorado, at Beason's. In the mean time,
and to show that the general was not a fugitive, or that he was not disposed to ex-
pose any one to hazard, he was informed on the Navidad, fifteen miles from the
Colorado, that a blind woman, with six children, had been passed by, as she was
not residing on the road, but off at a distance. He immediately ordered two of his
aids-de-camp, with a company of men, to go and bring her up, and made a dilatory
march until she joined them on the west side of the Colorado. He then halted at
the Colorado four days, until the last hoof and the last human being that was a
fugitive had passed over. He had permitted none to retnain behind, exposed to
the ruthless enemy.
There he remained until the news of Fannin's disaster came. Fannin, after dis-
obeying orders, attempted on the 19th to retreat; and had only twenty-five miles
to reach Victoria. His opinions of chivalry and honor were such that he would
not avail himself of the night to do it in, although he had been admonished by the
smoke of the enemies' encampment for eight days previous to attempting to retreat.
He then attempted to retreat in open day. The Mexican cavalry surrounded him.
He halted in a prairie, without water; commenced a fortification, and there was
surrounded by the enemy, who from the hill-tops shot down upon him. Though the
most gallant spirits were there with him, he remained in that situation all that night
and the next day, when a flag of truce was presented; he entered into a capitula-
tion, and was taken to Goliad, on a promise to be returned to the United States
with all associated with him. In less than eight days, the attempt was made to
massacre him and every man with him. I believe some few did escape, most of
whom came afterwards and joined the army.
The general fell back from the Colorado. The artillery had not yet arrived. He
had every reason to believe that the check given to General Sesma, opposite to his
camp on the west side of the Colorado, would induce him to send for reinforcements,
and that Fannin having been massacred, a concentration of the enemy would
necessarily take place, and that an overwhelming force would soon be upon him.
He knew that one battle must be decisive of the fate of Texas. If he fought a
battle and many of his men were wounded, he could not transport them, and he
would be compelled to sacrifice the army to the wounded. He determined to fall
back, and did so, and on falling back received an accession of three companies that
had been ordered from the mouth of the Brazos. He heard no word of the artillery,
for none had reached there, nor did it ever start for the army, and it was years be-
fore he knew that his orders had been countermanded, and his aid-de-camp with-
drawn from him. He wishes to cast no reflection upon the dead. I shall not enter
into that; but the general's orders were not executed; they were countermanded;
and the opportunity of obtaining artillery was cut off from him. He marched and
took possession on the Brazos, with as much expedition as was consistent with his
situation; but at San Felipe he found a spirit of dissatisfaction in the troops. The
Government had removed east. It had left Washington and gone to ilarrisburg,
and the apprehension of the settlers had been awakened and increased. rather than
decreased. The spirits of the men were bowed down. Hope seemed to have de-
parted, and with the little band alone remained any thing like a consciousness of
strength.
At San Felipe objection was made to marching up the Brazos. It was said
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
The Galveston News. The Texas Almanac, for 1860, with Statistics, Historical and Biographical Sketches, &c., Relating to Texas., book, 1860~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123766/m1/24/: accessed May 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.