Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 3, September 1999 Page: 133
[68] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Writings of Fannie Amelia Dickson Darden
SECTION 1: PROSE
1. Dillard Cooper 's Account of his Escape
from Fannin s Massacre (published in Colo-
rado Citizen, July 30, 1874; reprinted in Ameri-
can Sketch Book, vol. 7, no. 2, 1882)
Columbus, Texas, Aug. 18, 1870
This is to certify that the following ac-
count of the escape of myself and companions
from the massacre of Fannin's men, prepared
by Mrs. Fannie A. D. Darden, is correct.
Dillard Cooper
As most of my readers are acquainted
with the history of Texas, and the surrender of
Fannin and his men at the battle of Coleto, I will
only premise my remarks by saying that the sur-
render took place on the 20th of March. It had
previously been stipulated, and writings drawn
up to that effect, that the prisoners were to be
treated according to the usages of the most civi-
lized nations, and sent over to New Orleans and
released upon parole. They were then hurried
off to a fort near where the present town of Goliad
now stands, where they were treated in the most
barbarous manner, and for their food, allowed
only a small pittance of beef, without either bread
or salt.
Mr. Dillard Cooper lives about three
miles from Columbus, and has been a resident
of Colorado county for some what over thirty-
one years. He is one of the survivors of Fannin's
massacre, and was slightly wounded at the battle
of Coleto. He is a fine looking man, and although
somewhat advanced in years, his appearance
does not indicate that "old father time" has dealt
very hardly with him. He is over six feet in height,
with light hair and blue eyes, and his form and
proportions seem well fitted for the part he had
to play in making his escape from the fiendish
instruments of Santa Anna's cruelty. He has a
fine memory, and can recollect with remarkable
distinctness every particular of his capture andescape. It was indeed a rich treat to hear him
recount, in his earnest, feeling manner, the awful
occurrences of that never-to-be-forgotten time;
and I will endeavor, in this account, to give his
plain, unvarnished statement; feeling, however,
my utter incapacity to interest my readers as they
would have been had they sat within the sound
of his voice. He commenced by saying that for
several years after the massacre, he could not
recount it without shedding tears.
On the morning of the 27th, about day-
light, we were awakened by the guard, and
marched out in front of the fort, where we were
counted and divided into three different detach-
ments. We had been given to understand that
we were to be marched to Copano, 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 is 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 about half a mile southwest of
the fort, when at length 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, about 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 among us who understood
Spanish. By this time there began to dawn upon
the minds of most of us the truth that we were to
be butchered; and that, I suppose, was the rea-
son that none answered. He then ordered us to
turn our backs to the guard. When the order was
given, not a man moved, and then the officer,
stepping up to the man at the head of the col-
umn, 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 and exemplary conduct,
but who had afterwards become somewhat de-133
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Nesbitt Memorial Library. Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 3, September 1999, periodical, September 1999; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151407/m1/5/?q=nesbitt%20memorial%20library%20journal: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nesbitt Memorial Library.