Texas Almanac, 1859 Page: 45
[224] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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TEXAS REVOLUTION. 4
ply was: "General, I have no recollection of it." "Yet they blame me for it,"
said Houston.
ACCOUNTS OF FANNIN'S DEFEAT.
While encamped in this filthy place, some three of Fannin's men, wounded,
barefooted, and ragged, came into camp and related all the particulars of their
disaster. After a misfortune has happened, it is usually quite an easy matter for
any body to show how it might have been avoided. So after Fannin's defeat, it
was plain, that had he obeyed orders and joined the main army at Beason's, with
his fine artillery, he would not only have saved himself and his men from their
dreadful fate, but have probably prevented this retreat of the main army. It
was however, asserted by some, that there was not time for Fannin to effect
a retreat after the order had reached him, and indeed, it is believed to be a
matter of much doubt whether the order ever did reach him, as the bearer of it
only left Gonzales some seven days before the enemy's arrival at Goliad.
Of this, however, I can only speak from the statements made by' others.
The statements given by these three men have been substantially confirmed by
all subsequent accounts. They said that Fannin had received three expresses
from Travis, urging him to go to his relief in the Alamo, but that he refused to do
so, thinking it important to defend his position in Goliad, where he soon expected
to achieve a glorious victory over the enemy. Here he wasted some sixteen or
eighteen days, when he finally concluded to evacuate the place and cross the
river; but, by this time, the enemy was rapidly advancing upon him. He had
proceeded some ten miles on his retreat to the eastward, when he was overtaken
by the Mexican cavalry, who, in their hurry of pursuit, had taken with them but a
scanty supply of ammunition. They first appeared in a skirt of timber some mile
or two in advance of him, while he was in the open prairie, in which exposed
position he strangely orders a halt, without water or shelter of any kind. The
enemy were but few in number, but their actual force being concealed by the timber
they made all the display possible, and when night came on, after considerable
firing during the day, numerous fires were lit up for a great distance, presenting
the appearance of a vast army. Fannin had caused a temporary breastwork to be
thrown up by means of his carts, wagons, etc. He had, during the day, received
a flesh-wound from a musket-ball, from which he became feverish, and suffering
from want of water and food during the night, and witnessing great suffering from
want of water among all his men, he became disheartened. Early in the morning
the enemy, pursuing their usual resort to stratagems and treachery, caused their
accursed white flag to be again sent in, (this being the second time,) promising an
honorable capitulation, etc. In his despondency, and supposing himself over-
powered by numbers, Fannin accepts the terms, and surrenders without firing a
gun. It was soon after ascertained that the enemy's ammunition was about
exhausted, and that, had Fannin renewed the fire, he would have won the
victory. The subsequent unhappy fate of the Georgia Battalion is known to all.
SICKNESS IN CAMP-RE-ORGANIZATION, ETC.
While our army lay thus encamped in the Brazos Swamp, using stagnant water
from the old bed of the river, a great deal of sickness prevailed among the men,
which caused serious alarm. It was then deemed proper to organize the army on
the best possible. plan, and many promotions were made, by which means our
Liberty Company was reduced from eighty to fifty in nuinber, and of this Captain
Logan complained much. It was here also, that the Medical Staff was organized,
April 6. To Dr. Phelps was assigned the Hospital, which, for some weeks before,
had been kept on Groce's plantation, where a few sick had been sent. Dr.
Ewing received the appointment of Surgeon-general, and by him Dr. Bomer and
the writer were appointed Surgeons of the first regiment of Regulars. The Sur-
geons of the Volunteer Regiments were appointed by their respective command-
ers. Burleson of the 1st Regiment appointed Doctors Davidson and Fitzhue, and
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Texas Almanac, 1859, book, 1859~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123765/m1/46/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.