The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 10, July 1906 - April, 1907 Page: 181

Notes and Fragments.

NOTES AND FRAGMENTS.
THIE STORMING OF SAN ANTONIO, DECEMBER 6-9, 1835. - The
following letter gives another brief, but contemporary account of
the Texan assault on San Antonio in 1835. It was written to the
editor of the Southern Whig, published at Athens, Georgia, and was
copied from that paper -by the (Columbus) Ohio Monitor, February
18, 1836:
Near Cahawba, Ala., 15th Jan. 1836.
Dear Brother :-I have just arrived at this place, direct from San
Antonio, Texas, and some few particulars in relation to the storm-
ing and capture of that place may not be altogether uninteresting
to you. History does not record a circumstance of the same nature,
and perhaps never will another.
The Texian troops had been encamped before San Antonio near
two months without effecting any thing of importance, save daily
skirmishing in which nothing was lost and little gained. (I must
however make an exception of the battle of Conception in which
Col. James W. Fannin commanded 92 men when surprised by 400
Mexicans, who lost as has since been ascertained 104 killed, and
since died of wounds, while the Texian loss was one man killed
only.)
The Mexicans had 24 pieces of mounted artillery and 6
unmounted when the attack was made, which was brought on in
the following manner: After giving them two months to fortify
the Texian officers decided that it was impracticable and impossible
to carry the fort by storm, and had issued orders for the whole
army to march at sundown, with the intention of taking up winter
quarters at La Bahia 100 miles to the Southward and near the
coast. It was then about four o'clock, and from the noise in the
camp it was apparent that a mutiny was on hand. At the time
appointed to move, 300 men marched out and declared their in-
tention of storming the fort that night. Many of the officers made
speeches against the project, friends begged and entreated others
not to throw away their lives foolishly, &c &c.- All was in vain;
no persuasion had any weight; a great many mounted their horses
and left the Camp, expecting 'a total defeat.- Next morning just
at daylight the three hundred firm to their purpose marched to the
attack headed by Col. Benjamin R. Milan who had been the prin-
cipal in bringing about this manovre. The action was severe until

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