The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 4, July 1900 - April, 1901 Page: 38
366 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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38 Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
The night was not dark enough to conceal the attacking forces,
and they had just put their planks in position when the garrison
discovered and fired on them. Contrary to orders, the fire was
returned by one of Colonel Austin's party, one Robinson, before
alluded to, and at once the firing became general. It may be said
here of Robinson, who it seems was rather fond of the oleum fru-
menti, that his wife bitterly opposed his joining the volunteers, and
in her irritation at his obstinacy on this head, she expressed the
hope that the ,Mexicans might shoot him. Strangely enough he was
perhaps the first Texan killed on the occasion. The fight continued
fiercely through the night, and nearly every ball from the fort per-
forated -the planks protecting the Texans, scattering splinters in all
directions, and thus wounding many. Among others, Colonel (then
Captain) Robert H. Williams, of Matagorda, lost an eye from a
splinter.
By daylight many of the attacking party were disabled, the guns
of many more were clogged up, their ammunition was failing, and,
to use the expression of a brave participant, they were "right badly
used up." More than one of them, too, had "limbered to the rear"
for safety, without "standing on the order of his going." Colonel
Munson, the father of the present Judge Munson, of Brazoria, and
Thos. Westall, had charge of the guard to "keep. up stragglers," and
by their coolness and steadiness rendered great service in the engage-
ment.
'The fort "flashed its red artillery" for a space, but the Texan
riflemen soon silenced most of the guns. Their terrible precision
so intimidated the enemy that they dared not stand by their pieces,
but sponged and loaded lying flat on their backs under the guns.
Even this plan was finally abandoned, for the unerring marksmen
shot them in the hands and arms. The gallant war craft "pounded
away" with her two pieces, but was unable to do perfect execution
from the relative position of the combatants, and the fact that her
principal ammunition was "trace chains," which, though generally
useful, were not exactly suited to that purpose.
The work was principally done by small arms, and noticeable in
the garrison was a company commanded by a German, which was
posted in the ditch outside the fort. This detachment did earnest
work, and finally, being out of ammunition, the officer ordered a
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 4, July 1900 - April, 1901, periodical, 1901; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101018/m1/44/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.