Houston's army breaks camp and marched several miles down the east bank of the river to Beason's Ford or Beason's Crossing (Columbus, Tx). As they approached the site, they were met by Captain Wyly Martin and his company of men which numbered roughly thirty men. The army is joined by several other companies during this time and their ranks increase to over 800 men.



Mexican army units of Gen. Joaquin Sesma arrive and set up camp midway between DeWees and Beason's crossings on the west bank of the Colorado. Houston's men expect to fight. Large cottonwood trees were cut for fortifications along the bank at Beason's. Trenches were dug at DeWees crossing. Several men are sent downstream to guard the Atascosita Crossing.

Urrea placed his artillery on the slopes overlooking the Texan position and grouped for battle at 6:15 A.M., March 20.

After the Mexican artillery had fired one or possibly two rounds, Fannin was convinced that making another stand would be futile. Another consultation among his officers produced the decision to seek honorable terms for surrender for the sake of the wounded, and to hope the Mexicans would adhere to them. Fannin's men apparently drafted terms of surrender guaranteeing that they would be considered prisoners of war, that their wounded would be treated, and that they sooner or later would be paroled to the United States. But Urrea could not ratify such an agreement; he was bound by Santa Anna's orders and congressional decree to accept no terms other than unconditional surrender. He made it clear to Fannin in person that he could offer only to intercede on the Texans' behalf with Santa Anna. The extant document of capitulation, signed by Benjamin C. Wallace, Joseph M. Chadwick,qqv and Fannin, shows that the Texas commander surrendered his men "subject to the disposition of the supreme government"; but Fannin apparently did not make this fact clear to his men, since survivors' accounts indicate that the Texans were led to believe they were surrendering honorably as prisoners of war and would be returned to the United States. This discrepancy is significant only in light of the ultimate fate of Fannin's command. Nevertheless, traditional Texan renditions inaccurately imply some insidious conspiracy in the surrender episode.

Those Texans able to walk were escorted back to Goliad. Texas physicians were made to care for the Mexican wounded to the neglect of their own men. Many of the Texas wounded were not transported to Goliad for three days; Fannin himself was left on the field for two. Urrea, meanwhile, continued his advance to secure Guadalupe Victoria, from where he wrote Santa Anna recommending clemency for the Goliad prisoners. One week after Fannin's surrender, however, Santa Anna bypassed Urrea and ordered Col. Jos Nicols de la Portilla, the commander at Goliad, to carry out the congressional decree of December 30, 1835, that captured armed rebels must be executed as pirates. Fannin's entire command, together with William Ward and the Georgia Battalion, were shot in the Goliad Massacre on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836.

Although the battle of Coleto is usually considered meaningful only as a prologue to the massacre, it does have separate significance. The sequence of events underscores the tragedy of Fannin's inability to make timely decisions crucial for success. This disadvantage was worsened by his disrespect for the capabilities of his enemy and a reluctance, common in the Texas army, to coordinate campaigns. Urrea, by contrast, showed skill in staying alert to Fannin's plans, keeping the Texans inside the presidio an extra day, pursuing and catching them by taking advantage of every opportunity, and isolating Ward's men near Victoria while successfully battling Fannin's command at Coleto Creek. Still, the Texans, though most were relatively untrained volunteers, obeyed their commanders and withstood the onslaught of seasoned enemy troops. The intensity of this battle produced heroism on both sides.

The battle's greatest significance, however, remains bound up in its consequences. Urrea's victory gained him greater esteem in the army but also incurred the jealousy of other generals, especially Santa Anna, who had only recently suffered through his difficult victory at the Alamo. Ironically, the triumph caused overconfidence among Mexican leaders, who, like Santa Anna, now believed the campaign against the rebellion to be nearing a successful conclusion. Finally, it was the Goliad Massacre and not the defeat and surrender at Coleto Creek that soured United States opinion against Mexico and gave Houston and the Texas army the second half of the rallying cry that inspired victory at the battle of San Jacintoqv: "Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!" The assumed location of the Coleto battlefield is now maintained as Fannin Battleground State Historic Site by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is near Fannin, Texas (once called Fanning's Defeat), on U.S. Highway 59 between Goliad and Victoria.

A gin screw marks the center of Fannin's battle line at Coleto Creek. It was place there in 1894 by Sol Parks.

General Jos Urrea's Report of the Battle of Coleto Creek

MINISTER OF WAR AND MARINE Central Section Desk No. I. Division of Operations Most Excellent Sir-On the 19th Inst., the fort of Goliad was abandoned by the enemy after an attempt to fight this division. The said fortress is, therefore, at the disposal of the supreme government. The leader, Fannin, and his companions with more than three hundred soldiers (who capitulated) that were garrisoning the said fortress are likewise at its disposal.

Yesterday, on the 21st of March 1836, sixteen yr. old Sion Record Bostick of Columbus joined Houston's army. He was already a veteran of the Battle of Gonzales and Siege of Bexar in 1835. He would later fight at San Jacinto, the Battle of Plum Creek, the Mexican American War and the Battle of Antietam in Hood's Texas Brigade in 1862.



From Bostick's memoirs (The Quarterly of the Texas Historical Assn, Oct. 1901) - Captain Moseley Baker told me on the morning of the (April) 22nd to scout around on the prairie and see if I could find any escaping Mexicans. I went and fell in with two other scouts, one of whom was named Joel Robinson, and the other Henry Sylvester. We had horses that we had captured from the Mexicans. When we were about eight miles from the battle field, about one o'clock, we saw the head and shoulders of a man above the tall sedge grass, walking through the prairie. As soon as we saw him we started towards him in a gallop. When he discovered us, he squatted in the grass; but we soon came to the place. As we rode up we aimed at him and told him to surrender. He held up his hands and spoke in Spanish, but I could not understand him. He was dressed a common soldier with dingy looking white uniform. Under the uniform he had on a fine shirt. As we went back to camp the prisoner rode behind Robinson awhile and then rode behind Sylvester. I was the youngest and smallest of the party, and I would not agree to let him ride behind me. I wanted to shoot him. We did not know who he was. He was tolerably dark skinned, weighed about one hundred and forty-five pounds, and wore side whiskers. When we got to camp, the Mexican soldiers, then prisoners, saluted him and said 'el presidente.' We knew then that we had made a big haul. All three of us who had captured him were angry at ourselves for not killing him out on the prairie to be consumed by the wolves and buzzards. We took him to General Houston, who was wounded and lying under a big oak tree.



Texas State Preservation Board, Surrender of Santa Anna. Sion Bostick is #9 in the William Huddle painting of Apr. 22,1836

Bad ju-ju Cen-tex! You jumped ahead by a month

On the 23rd or 24th, Houston sent a detachment of cavalry numbering, apparently, 64 men, to scout the Mexican positions. The cavalry, under Karnes' command, crossed at Beason's, but were spotted by the Mexicans before they could get near enough to gather any meaningful information. After the Mexicans opened up on them with artillery, they retreated to the river, threw their saddles in the ferry boat, forced their horses to swim across, and dug in to do battle. The Mexicans, however, never arrived. At dusk, Karnes' men crossed the river and returned to their campsite. Sherman, meanwhile, had set up an ambush and had attempted to lure the Mexicans into it by exposing a few of his scouts to their army and hoping they would pursue. Apparently, the Mexican army was well-trained to avoid such ambushes. For the third time, they passed up the opportunity to chase down mounted men. Sherman's gambit drew no response at all from the Mexican encampment

While across the Colorado, the Texians were able to liberate some tasty bacon from Benjamin Beason's smokehouse. -from San Jacinto veteran Robert Hancock Hunter.

Also on the 23rd - Col. William Ward and his men are marched toward Goliad. Ward and his 80-man Georgia Battalion surrendered to Gen. Urea the previous day near Dimitt's Landing at the mouth Lavaca River. Ward would be included in the Goliad Massacre.

GEN. SANTA ANNA to LT. COL. PORTILLA, Commandant at Golidad by courier from Bexar, 26 Mar 1836. Order dated 23 Mar. I am informed that there have been sent to you by General Urrea, two hundred and thirty-four prisoners, taken in the action of Encinal del Perdito on the 19th and 20th of the present month; and, as the supreme government has ordered that all foreigners taken with arms in their hands, making war upon the nation, shall be treated as pirates, I have been surprised that the circular of the said supreme government has not been fully complied with in this particular; I therefore order that you should give immediate effect to the said ordinance in respect to all those foreigners, who have yielded to the force of arms, having had the audacity to come and insult the Republic, to devastate with fire and sword, as has been the case in Goliad, causing vast detriment to our citizens; in a word, shedding the precious blood of Mexican citizens, whose only crime has been fidelity to their country. I trust that, in reply to this, you will inform me that public vengeance has been satisfied, by the punishment of such detestable delinquents. I transcribe the said decree of the government for your guidance, and, that you may strictly fulfill the same, in the zealous hope, that, for the future, the provisions of the supreme government may not for a moment be infringed.

It was also at this time that he (Gen. Houston) first received word of Fannin's men having been trapped by Urrea's force outside Goliad. Houston turned to his aide and trusted confidant, George Washington Hockley, nodded toward his small army and said, "Hockley, there is the last hope of Texas. We shall never see Fannin nor his men." - Steve Goodson, Enchanted Rock Magazine Vol. 2, No.13 March, 1996

March 24th- Cuban born Gen. Antonio Gaona leaves San Antonio with 725 troops and launches a campaign from the north towards Mina, now Bastrop and then to Nacogdoches. Santa Anna's plan was to trap the Texian army with a three pronged attack. Gaona to the north, Urrea along the Atascosito (Coastal) Road and Sesma following Houston's army.

PORTILLA to URREA. 26 Mar 1836. From the Commandant at Goliad to General Urrea. In compliance with the definitive orders of his excellency the general-in-chief, which I received direct, at four o'clock to-morrow morning the prisoners sent by you to this fortress will be shot. I have not ventured to execute the same sentence on those who surrendered to Colonel Vara, at Copano, being unacquainted with the particular circumstances of their surrender; and I trust you will be pleased to take upon yourself to save my responsibility in this regard, by informing me what I am to do with them. J. N. de Portilla. Goliad, March 26, 1836.

26 Mar.- Realizing that his army was the only force left to deal with Santa Anna's legions, Houston ordered a retreat from Beason's Crossing on the Colorado. Many of the men left to attend to their families. His army headed east toward San Felipe de Austin on the Brazos River. They marched about 7 miles before making camp that day. Houston's small army was slowly being reinforced by settlers and recruits from the United States.

Extract from the Diary of Col. Nicols de la Portilla

March 26. At seven in the evening I received orders from General Santa Anna by special messenger, instructing me to execute at once all prisoners taken by force of arms agreeable to the general orders on the subject.

(I have the original order in my possession.) I kept the matter secret and no one knew of it except Col. Garay, to whom I communicated the order. At eight o'clock, on the same night, I received a communication from Gen. Urrea by special messenger in which among other things he says,

"Treat the prisoners well, especially Fannin. Keep them busy rebuilding the town and erecting a fort. Feed them with the cattle you will receive from Refugio."

What a cruel contrast in these opposite instructions! I spent a restless night. sdct

Extract from the Diary of Col. Nicols de la Portilla

March 27. At daybreak, I decided to carry out the orders of the general-in-chief because I considered them superior.

I assembled the whole garrison and ordered the prisoners, who were still sleeping, to be awaked. There were 445. (The eighty that had just been taken at Cpano and had, consequently, not borne arms against the government, were set aside.)

The prisoners were divided into three groups and each was placed in charge of an adequate guard, the first under Agustin Alcerrica, the second under Capt. Luis Balderas, and the third under Capt. Antonio Ramrez.

I gave instructions to these officers to carry out the orders of the supreme government and the general-in-chief. This was immediately done. There was a great contrast in the feelings of the officers and the men. Silence prevailed. Sad at heart I wrote to Gen. Urrea expressing my regret at having been concerned in so painful an affair. I also sent an official account of what I had done, to the general-in-chief. [Portilla to Urrea, Goliad, March 26 1836 and Portilla to Urrea, Goliad, March 27, 1836]

Dillard Cooper's Remembrances of the Fannin Massacre

On the morning of the 27th of March, 1836, about daylight, we were awakened by the guards, and marched out in front of the fort, where we were counted and divided into three different detachments, We had been given to understand that we were to be marched to Capono, and from there shipped to New Orleans. The impression, however, had in some way been circulated among us, that we were to be sent out that morning to hunt cattle; though I thought at the time that it could not be so, as it was but a poor way, to hunt cattle on foot.

Our detachment was marched out in double file, each prisoner being guarded by two soldiers, until within about half a mile southwest of the fort, we arrived at a brush fence, built by the Mexicans. We were then placed in single file, and were half way between the guard and the fence, eight feet each way. We were then halted, when the commanding officer came up to the head of the line, and asked if there were any of us who understood Spanish. By this time, there began to dawn upon the minds of us, the truth, that we were to be butchered, and that, I suppose, was the reason that none answered. He then ordered us to turn our backs to the guards. When the order was given not one moved, and then the officer, stepping up to the man at, the head of the column, took him by the shoulders and turned him around.

By this time, despair had seized upon our poor boys, and several of them cried out for mercy. I remember one, a young man, who had been noted for his piety, but who had afterwards become somewhat demoralized by bad company, falling on his knees, crying aloud to God for mercy, and forgiveness. Others, attempted to plead with their inhuman captors, but their pleadings were in vain, for on their faces no gleam of piety was seen for the defenseless men who stood before them. On my right hand, stood Wilson Simpson, and on my left, Robert Fenner. In the midst of the panic of terror which seized our men, and while some of them were rending the air with their cries of agonized despair, Fenner called out to them, saying: "Don't take on so, boys; if we have to die, let's die like brave men."

At that moment, I glanced over my shoulder and saw the flash of a musket; I instantly threw myself forward on the ground, resting on my hands. Robert Fenner must have been instantly killed, for he fell with such force upon me as almost to throw me over as I attempted to rise, which detained me a few moments in my flight, so that Simpson, my companion on the right, got the start of me. As we ran towards an opening in the brush fence, which was almost in front of us, Simpson got through first, and I was immediately after him. I wore, at that time, a small, round cloak, which was fastened with a clasp at the throat. As I ran through the opening, an officer charged upon me, and ran his sword through my cloak, which would have held me, but I caught the clasp with both hands, and tore it apart, and the cloak fell from me. There was an open prairie, about two miles wide, through which I would have to run before I could reach the nearest timber, which was a little southwest of the place from where we started.

Massacre at Goliad by Herman Ehrenberg

From now on it is possible for me to give an account of my own experiences and to tell that of the others according to other, already named, sources, which, however, are no less reliable than mine, I can assure you, as three and sometimes more eye witnesses told identically the same account. And the Mexicans did not deny the thing maintained by them. Quietly the column marched forward on the road toward Victoria, contrary to our expectations. Where they were going to take us in this direction was an object of general consideration for us. Most of us seemed to think that they were taking us to an eastern harbor in order to ship us to New Orleans from there, which finally would be the same, and it would even be nearer and better for us this way.

The intolerable silence of the usually talkative Mexicans and the sultry heat increased the nervous expectations that were now lying on the breasts of all of us. This death march, as one can with justice call it, often recalls to my memory the bloody scenes that I was to witness at that time. Anxiously I looked back to the rear part of the column to see if Miller's people were marched off at the same time with us. But imagine my astonishment when neither Fannin's men nor the last captured Georgia Battalion was to be seen! They had separated us without our noticing it, and only the Greys and a few of the colonists were marching in the detachment with which I was. I glanced over at the escort and now first I noticed their festal uniforms and the absence of camping equipment. Bloody pictures rose up in my mind, among others those of Tampico, San Patricio and the Alamo. Then I thought of the character of our enemies, their duplicity, their banditry and their exultation in bloody deeds. All of these together prepared me for the worst, and there were moments when I was on the point of acquainting my companions with my apprehensions. But the never-dying hope detained me. It showed me the future even now in brilliant colors, and absorbed in thought I continued to step forward.

The pictures on our probable fate became ever livelier in my imagination, and soon the happy ones of the future exchanged places for the painful ones of reality. The next moment my few remaining articles rolled through the lines of the Mexicans out on the fresh green prairie so that I would not be hindered in my movements in case of need.

Probably a quarter of an hour had passed since we had left the fort, and not a word had passed over our lips nor over those of the enemy. Every one seemed to have dropped into deep reflections. Suddenly the command of the Mexican sounded to march off to the left from the main road; and as we did not understand, the officer led the way himself. My companions in misfortune still carelessly followed the leader. To our left a little five or six feet high mesquite hedge extended straight to the roaring San Antonio River about a thousand yards away, whose clear waves here at right angles with the hedge pushed their way through bluffs between thirty to forty feet high, which rise practically perpendicularly from the water level on the side. Our feet were directed down the hedge and towards the river. Suddenly the thought seized everyone: 'Where with us in this direction?" This and several mounted lancers to our right, to whom we had previously given no attention, confused us. And now we noticed that the line of the enemy between us and the hedge had remained behind and was now lining up on the other side so that they formed a double file here. Unable to comprehend this movement, we were still in a maze when a 'Halt!' was commanded in Spanish, which ran through us like a death sentence. At that moment we heard the muffled rolling of the musket volley in the distance. Involuntarily we thought of our companions, who had been separated from us and evidently led off in that direction.

Astonished and confounded we looked at each other, and cast questioning glances at ourselves and then at the Mexican officers. Only a few of us understood Spanish and could not or would not obey the order. Meanwhile the Mexican soldiers, who were barely three steps away, leveled their muskets at our chests and we found ourselves in terrible surprise. Only one among us spoke Spanish fluently, whose words seemed incomprehensible to him. In doubt he stared at the commanding officer as if he wanted to read a contradiction on his features of what he had heard. The remainder of us fixed our eyes on him to thrust ourselves on the threatening enemy at the first sound from his lips. But he seemed, as we were, possessed of the unfortunate hope that this order was naked threat to force us into Mexican service. With threatening gestures and drawn sword the chief of the murderers for the second time commanded in a brusque tone: 'Kneel down!'
A second volley thundered over to us from another direction, and a confused cry, probably from those who were not immediately killed, accompanied it. This startled our comrades out of their stark astonishment which had lasted from five or six seconds. New life animated them, their eyes flashed and they cried out:

quote:

---

'Comrades! listen to that crying, it means our brothers, hear their cry! It is their last one! Here is no more hope-the last hour for the Grays has come! Therefore-Comrades!'

---

A terrible cracking interrupted him and then everything was quiet. A thick smoke slowly rolled toward the San Antonio. The blood of my lieutenant was on my clothing and around me quivered my friends. Beside me Mattern and Curtman were fighting death. I did not see more. I jumped up quickly, and concealed by the black smoke of the powder, and rushed down the hedge to the river. I heard nothing more and saw nothing. Only the rushing of the water was my guide. Then suddenly a powerful sabre smashed me over the head. Before me the figure of a little Mexican lieutenant appeared out of the dense smoke, and a second blow from him fell on my left arm with which I parried it. I had nothing to risk, but only to win. Either life or death! Behind were the bayonets of the murderers, and before me was the sword of a coward that crossed my way to the saving stream. Determinedly I rushed upon him. Forward I must go, and-the coward took flight in characteristic Mexican gallantry. Now the path was open, near was the point of my escape. Another few moments had passed. The smoke rolled like a black thundercloud over to the other side, and I stood with rapidly beating heart on the rocks and back of me the hangmen were pursuing.

27 Mar. - General Houston's army continued its retreat and joined forces with Captain Sidney Sherman's division at the San Bernard River. They continued their long day's march of about twenty miles, and reached the home of Samuel May Williams around 9:00 p.m. The William's home is located on Spring Creek less than two miles west of San Felipe.

The Mexican army reaches the old Atascosito Crossing a few miles downstream of Beason's on the Colorado River. There, they began building rafts and ferrying men, animals, and equipment across the swollen river.

Statement of a Firing Squad Commander

This day, Palm Sunday, March 27th, has been to me a day of most heartfelt sorrow. At six in the morning, the execution of four hundred and twelve American prisoners was commenced, and continued till eight, when the last of the number was shot. At eleven commenced the operation of burning the bodies. But what an awful scene did the field present, when the prisoners were executed, and fell in heaps! And what spectator could view it without horror! They were all young, the oldest not more than thirty, and of fine florid complexions. When the unfortunate youths were brought to the place of death, their lamentations and the appeals which they uttered to Heaven, in their own language, with extended arms, kneeling or prostrate on the earth, were such as might have caused the very stones to have cried out in compassion. sdct

28-29 Mar. - The Army marched a few miles north of San Felipe de Austin, but were slowed by the muddy roads and the swollen Mill Creek. The Texas Army camped and crossed somewhere along the creek between this point and the Brazos River located 2 miles away.

Two of Houston's officers refused to retreat further. Houston, wishing not to completely alienate the officers and their men detailed one, under Captain Moseley Baker, with 110 men to take up defensive positions at San Felipe. Another, made up of 100 men under Captain Wiley Martin, he ordered to man the crossing at Fort Bend further down the Brazos River.

- Gen. Gaona's troops reach Mina (Bastrop).

29 Mar. - Santa Anna leaves San Antonio to join Gen. Ramirez y Sesma at the Colorado River. He leaves Gen. Juan Andrade in charge of Bexar.

Since February 24, 1836 to March 29, 1836 Santa Anna's army has killed approximately 650 Americans in 2 major engagements.

His armies have marched over 226 miles, in Texas alone.

They have suffered from 250 to 1,500 casualties.

30 Mar. - The Texian army crosses Mill Creek and moves about 3 miles north. This places the campsite west of the Brazos River near FM 529. (Approx. 10 mi. east of Bellville)

quote:

---

30 Mar. - The Texian army crosses Mill Creek and moves about 3 miles north. This places the campsite west of the Brazos River near FM 529. (Approx. 10 mi. east of Bellville)

---

Map of the Texas Army camps and route to San Jacinto

quote:

---

It is a cool scene. Susannah ****inson, an Alamo survivor, recalls The Flowers of Edinburgh, as a tune that Davy Crockett played on the fiddle, with piper John MacGregor, during the 13 day siege. The song that Mr's ****inson recalled was "The Flowers of Edinburgh" It is not the song in the scene, but is a beautiful old fiddle tune.

I learned the song on the 5 string banjo and play it in bluegrass and old time jams.

enjoy......

( )===='===::

---

37 - that version of The Flowers of Edinburgh was entertaining. But what happened to the Quebe Sisters video? They were both entertaining and a lot more fun to watch.

Agree....Quebe's are more entertaining.
... But posted that version in because it was played on Crockett's fiddle (allegedly to have survived). ...... And a clearer track.

A. J. Yates to A. C. Allen, April 5, 1836. Yates, assisting the Texas commissioners to the U.S., writes from Baltimore to the future co-founder of the city of Houston that he has just been in Washington. President Andrew Jackson and Congress in favor of recognizing Texan independence and, if Texas so desires, annexation to the U.S

https://books.google.com/books?id=QImQteDRqQYC&printsec=titlepage#v=onepage&q&f=false

5 Apr. - Gen. Gaona is ordered to abandon the occupation of Mina (Bastrop) and move his 725-man Morelos Battalion and Guanajuato Auxiliaries to San Felipe. When the Mina residents return after the war, they find the town burned by either the Mexican army or Indians.

"Soon after the soldiers left Bastrop, a band of Comanches crossed the river, took all they wanted, and set fire to the town."

-Bastrop Advertiser and Bastrop County News (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. [121], No. 45, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 9, 1975

7 Apr. - Santa Anna's army reaches San Felipe. Moseley Baker and his militia refused to abandon the town, so Houston ordered them to defend the ferry crossing, andaccording to Bakerburn the town. Unable to cross the Brazos River at San Felipe, the Mexican army turns southward and begins a march 24 miles down stream to Thompson's Ferry.

David G. Burnet to Henry Raguet, April 7, 1836. President Burnet calls the "Runaway Scrape" premature, judges the army under Houston to be "in fine condition and high spirits," and calls on eastern Texans to join the fray



Executive Department
Harrisburg 7th April 1836
To Henry Raguet Esqr.
Chrmn of Committee of Safety etc.
Nacogdoches.
Sir
I have the pleasure to
inform you and, through you, the good citizens of
your vicinity, that the late premature and unhappy
panic, which pervaded so large a portion of our citiz-
ens, has subsided, and that a more generous and
worthy feeling of confidence is gaining ground, and
diffusing itself among all classes.
The fugitives are, for the most part, preparing
to return and join Genl Houston in the field.
Our army is in fine condition and high spirits.
All that is wanting is reinforcements, to enable the
Commander in Chief to commence offensive oper-
ations, and to prosecute them until the savage and
treacherous enemy are extirpated from the soil
and air of Texas, which they have already polluted
too long.
The day of vengeance is at hand. Let the
citizens of Texas do their duty manfully and as bec-
omes the name of Americans, and these minions
of despotism will soon be annihilated.
The enemy have passed the Colorado,

about 1300 strong. An addition of a few hundred to our
gallant army will insure their speedy destruction. Will
not the Red Landers "rush to the rescue" and join in the
glorious strife that shall emancipate Texas from
her ruffian and dastardly enemies? I know they
would not be denied the opportunity; that they
will not loose [sic] it, and waste their time and strength,
in shameful inactivity; while others, and Strangers
too, are winning honor, fame and the future gratit-
ude of Texas, by the overthrow and expulsion of
her enemies, and the establishment of her Indepen-
dence.
Rally then, citizens of the Red Lands; Assert
and maintain your right to participate in the glory
of saving your country, and avenging the atrocities
committed on martyrs of Liberty, who perished in
the Alamo, and on those who have been massacred
in cold blood. Teach those half civilized, barba-
rous Mexicans, by a just, though severe retribution,
that we know how to temper justice, with mercy,
and humanity with justice[.] That their unexampl-
ed cruelties may provoke a just retaliation, but can-
not intimidate a brave and generous people.

David G. Burnet
President of the
Republic of Texas

Harrisburg 10th April 1836
Dearest Brother
I leave this in the morning for the
army; a dreadful Battle is to be fought in three
or four days on the Brazos, decisive of the
fate of Texas; I shall of course have to be in
it. Wm
D Redd [of] Columbus is with me. Texas is in a
dreadful state of confusion; the Mexica[ns]
thus far are invading. St. [San] Antonio has been
retaken by them and every man in the fort
murdered. Crocket was among the number.
Fannin's Army is entirely lost. After
fighting four or five hours, the enemy held out
the white flag and proposed terms of capit-
ulation to which Fannin yielded. The terms
of surrender was that they were all to be
transported to New Orleans, not again to engage
in the war; they were about four hundred, in-
cluding Ward's men and Capt Miller's just
arrived & taken at Copano. They were kept
prisoners 9 days, then marched out and fired
upon & all butchered with the exception of
two or three who escaped by flight. Almost the
whole of the Americans from Georgia and
Alabama have perished. The Citizens of Texas
are fleeing in every direction; house, farms
etc. are deserted and every thing left behind.
Houston's Army has retreated from the
Colorado to the Brazos; the Mexican army
is in San Fillipe [sic], ours 20 miles from them;
they